Fran Cotton has hit back at claims his independent review into England’s World Cup failure would have been tainted by critical comments he made about the team’s performances and their behaviour off the field.The Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary reports.
"Former Lions prop Cotton was asked by the Rugby Football Union’s acting chief executive Martyn Thomas to conduct a review of the World Cup campaign and the elite structure in general. But that review was shelved at an RFU board meeting on Wednesday, when Thomas was removed from all roles with the governing body. Rob Andrew, the RFU’s operations director, is understood to have spoken out against Cotton’s proposed review during the board meeting.
"He argued that Cotton should not have given an interview to Telegraph Sport shortly after his appointment, in which he described England centre Mike Tindall’s behaviour at the Rugby World Cup as “indefensible” and declared himself a “massive fan” of former coach Clive Woodward.
"But Cotton is furious at any suggestion his review would not have been objective and fair. “I take exception to anyone thinking I wouldn’t have been independent,” Cotton said. “That would be to question my integrity. I’m known as a fair-minded bloke. I did make some comments before the review came together and those comments are still valid."
RSS feed
