England’s Borthwick keen for swift end to Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell red card fallouts

DUBLIN – England coach Steve Borthwick was left hoping for a rapid finish to rugby’s often lengthy disciplinary procedures, after Billy Vunipola joined Owen Farrell as a Rugby World Cup doubt by being sent off during a 29-10 warm-up loss to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

As happened to Farrell last weekend, Vunipola saw his initial yellow card upgraded to a red by the recently introduced bunker review system. He was dismissed for a head-high challenge on Andrew Porter early in the second half at Lansdowne Road.

That offence threatens his involvement at a World Cup where he is the only specialist No. 8 in England’s squad for a tournament they start against Argentina in Marseille on Sept 9.

England kicked off without Farrell, the son of Ireland coach Andy, as the fly-half faces an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday. This, after World Rugby appealed against the controversial decision to downgrade his red card for a high shoulder-led challenge on Taine Basham during a 19-17 warm-up win over Wales at Twickenham to yellow.

Borthwick, refusing to be drawn on Vunipola’s dismissal, said: “I’m not going to comment upon the incident specifically because it goes into a disciplinary process this coming week. Probably as every England fan, I feel disappointment in the game today and I said beforehand we want 15 players on the pitch for 80 minutes of every game.”

The former England captain added: “Hopefully we will find a conclusion on both matters this week and it won’t go into another week. Once I have all the facts, I will deal with them.”

England were already well behind before Vunipola’s 53rd-minute sin-binning was upgraded.

Ireland scored five tries, all through their backs, with Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Mack Hansen and Keith Earls – winning his 100th cap off the bench – all crossing. England managed a late try through replacement prop Kyle Sinckler. But a fourth successive Test without a try by one of their backs spoke volumes about England’s attack.

“Whilst I’m incredibly disappointed with the result, the players kept fighting. When it was 15 against 15, it was a tight battle. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay 15 on 15,” said Borthwick.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell was not entirely happy with his team’s performance.

“It had a bit of everything: good, bad and ugly. I wasn’t too happy at half-time. We had them in a place where we could push a little bit harder and make it a little bit easier for ourselves but we didn’t kick on,” he said.

“I was really pleased that we found our rhythm back into the game. I thought we scored some great tries. Obviously, the story of the day is it’s very fitting that Keith gets his 100th cap and we made sure he does that with a win and also him scoring a try in Keith Earls style in the corner just made the day for everyone really.”

Over in Nantes, France survived an uncomfortable examination of their World Cup potential as they won their penultimate warm-up test 34-17 against Fiji on Saturday.

The boot of fullback Melvyn Jaminet, returning to the team for the first time in more than a year after a series of injuries, provided 19 points as a French team full of players looking to win a World Cup squad berth outscored the Pacific islanders by three tries (Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio and Sekou Macalou) to two (Tevita Ikanivere and captain Semi Radradra).

The World Cup hosts will announce their 33-man squad on Monday.

Meanwhile, South Africa captain Siya Kolisi returned to action as the Webb Ellis trophy holders overwhelmed Wales 52-16 in a World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Saturday. AFP, REUTERS