Details of Clive Woodward's understrength squad for England's tour of the southern hemisphere had barely landed before the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) accused England of an "insulting" selection and called for sanctions.
Dick McGruther, the ARU chairman, said he would recommend to the International Board in Dublin next week that England be stripped of the right to host a pool at next year's World Cup as punishment for choosing "probably the most under-equipped group of Englishmen sent to Australia since the First Fleet".
He added: "We are disappointed and insulted. It is stretching the imagination to think they have to pick uncapped players. This is the biggest sell-out by the English since Gallipoli."
McGruther's outburst reflects the southern hemisphere belief that English clubs are withholding players from international duty. It is not worth suggesting in Sydney at the moment that Woodward's squad might contain some World Cup contenders.
There is no question of the ARU cancelling the Test in Brisbane on June 6th. McGruther also ruled out sending a weakened Wallabies side to Twickenham in November as retribution, but strong words can be expected in Dublin. "You have to wonder whether this mob deserves to host a World Cup pool," he said.
However, the Australians are not the only ones unhappy with the number of top England players absent from the tour, including a dozen Test players, three of them for family reasons.
Woodward said: "It does concern me that players go on playing for their clubs when they're injured." The England coach has been forced by circumstances to appoint Northampton's Matt Dawson as tour captain because Lawrence Dallaglio needs to rest his injured shoulder.
"I feel for those players who have to turn out for their clubs because they could lose their jobs if they don't. Nevertheless I wish players would give England priority, resting when necessary and allowing their injuries time to mend."
Woodward took pains to exclude Dallaglio, who played in last Saturday's cup final defeat by Saracens, from his strictures - "there is no criticism of Lawrence, he'll be welcome back" - but Leicester's Martin Johnson who misses the tour because of a groin injury, was not let off so lightly. "I'm disappointed Martin has been playing for Leicester in games in which there is nothing to play for since Europe is not an issue," he complained.
Apart from Dallaglio and Johnson, who Woodward revealed would not have been picked had England to play a Test next weekend, the daunting list of high-profile casualties includes Kyran Bracken, Jason Leonard, Tim Rodber, Richard Hill, Mike Catt, David Rees and Tony Underwood. In addition, Jeremy Guscott and Phil de Glanville have decided to spend more time with their families while Paul Grayson wants to be with his wife when she gives birth to their first child in mid-June.
There is an outside chance that out-half Grayson may fly out to New Zealand in time for the two Tests on June 20th and 27th.
In his 37-man squad, the biggest England have ever taken on tour, Woodward stuck firmly to his customary policy of giving youth its head, promoting emerging talents such as the 19-year-old Saracens flanker Ben Sturnham and the Richmond wings Spencer Brown and Dominic Chapman.
In a squad that generally looks more junior than senior, there are inevitably places for newcomers virtually unknown outside their own clubs: Josh Lewsey, a 21year-old Bristol fullback, Duncan Bell, the 23-year-old Sale prop, and Lewis Moody, the 19-year-old Leicester flanker have all been given the chance to make an impression.
Woodward has left out Dean Ryan, Darren Garforth, and Dorian West who were all capped this season, mainly because he believes their skills are not tailored to the quick flexible playing style he wants England to develop. Ryan's omission is bound to raise eye-brows, in view of his compelling leadership as Newcastle's number eight and captain, though his age (32) would count against him as a prospect for next year's World Cup.
