Rowntree backing for under-fire Wells
GRAHAM ROWNTREE rallied round under-fire forwards coach John Wells last night as England’s management team set out to quash rumours of a split in the camp.
Wells’ position has been thrown into uncertainty amid speculation that a clash in philosophies with attacks coach Brian Smith is hindering England’s progression.
Poor performances from the pack against Australia and Argentina have led to question marks over Wells’ position, while it has also been reported from an ‘insider’ that Wells’ influence is beginning to wane.
But Lions scrum coach Rowntree has hit back at such suggestions, describing Wells as one of the “best practitioners” in the game while insisting the England management are treading a “common path”.
“I am sick of hearing about Wellsy and about this difference of opinion he is supposed to have on his view of the game,” the former England prop said. “He is one of the best practitioners around in forward play and he wants us to win. He will sit in with whoever is coaching.
“We will take the criticism but some of the comments about that coach in particular are uncalled for.”
Team manager Martin Johnson has responded to the uninspiring 16-9 victory over the Pumas on Saturday by recalling Simon Shaw and Mathew Tait for the squad to play New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.
Shaw, the 36-year-old Wasps lock, is a welcome addition to the squad having missed the first two autumn internationals with a foot injury.
He replaces Northampton’s Courtney Lawes, who made his Test debut off the bench against Australia, but did not feature in the victory over Argentina.
Sale back Tait has been surplus to requirements in recent weeks but his pace and versatility in the back division has given him the nod ahead of specialist fly-half Andy Goode.