England coaches banned from dressing room

Meanwhile, the stricken hosts are still awaiting the outcome of World Rugby’s investigation into an alleged approach to match officials by two members of their coaching team at half-time of Saturday’s tournament-ending rout by Australia. It is understood they were annoyed at the lack of action taken against Michael Hooper for his aggressive clear-out of full-back Mike Brown, an offence for which the flanker was later cited and then banned for a week.

Having considered all the evidence, including a detailed review of the CCTV footage, witness statements and submissions on behalf of Farrell and Rowntree, Justice Mew determined that there was a breach by each of the coaches of the Match Officials Protocol as the teams entered the tunnel at half-time by engaging in contact with the match officials which was unauthorised.

The duo will “have restricted access to the England changing room and tunnel for England’s final Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A match against Uruguay”, said organisers.

However, they denied it had nearly sparked a mutiny within the squad. “I was at training”, Lancaster said. That was a surprise to me.

Little attention has been paid to the showdown with minnows Uruguay – tickets for which are available at £2.50 – but Lancaster is determined to leave a positive impression at the home of Manchester City.

“We have a lot of young talent on show and that talent will excite the crowd and it’s up to us to do that”.

“There is no excuse for the behaviour of Mr Farrell and Mr Rowntree”, said World Rugby judicial officer Graham Mew, of Canada.

Mew delivered a stinging rebuke to the pair, dismissing Farrell’s statement that it was “an insignificant incident”.

They will have to remain in the designated coaches’ box or in seating reserved for non-playing team members.

The coaches and the Rugby Football Union have also been reprimanded and warned over their future conduct, in particular with regard to complying with the match officials’ protocol.

A Wallabies win over Wales, or even a draw, at Twickenham on Saturday would have left the door open for England when they concluded group proceedings a few hours later at Manchester City’s stadium.