England’s Rugby World Cup campaign descended further into crisis on Wednesday after it was announced that Billy Vunipola, the only specialist No 8 in the squad, will be banned for the opening pool match against Argentina on 9 September.
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Vunipola was sent off in the warm‑up defeat against Ireland in Dublin last Saturday for a high tackle on the prop Andrew Porter, with his initial yellow card upgraded to red by the bunker review system. England’s captain, Owen Farrell, had already been hit with a four-game ban after World Rugby’s appeal against a decision to overturn the red card he received for a high tackle in the previous match, a narrow win against Wales at Twickenham.
A disciplinary hearing on Tuesday determined that Vunipola must serve a three-match suspension, reduced to two if he attends tackle school. Consequently, he is unavailable for England’s final warm-up match against Fiji on Saturday plus the World Cup opener, but the Saracens back-row will be free to play in the second pool match against Japan eight days later.
The starting point for Vunipola’s indiscretion was a six-week ban, but the independent judicial committee reduced the punishment. “Having acknowledged mitigating factors including his exemplary previous record, immediate apology and remorse, and noted the absence of any aggravating factors, the committee reduced the six-week entry point by three weeks,” Six Nations Rugby said.
With Farrell being forced to sit out the crucial games against Argentina and Japan, the absence of two of his most influential players for the first match is a severe blow to the head coach, Steve Borthwick. Both will be available to face Chile on 23 September and Samoa on 7 October, but England’s hopes of progress to the quarter‑finals hinge on the first two fixtures.
The credibility of rugby’s disciplinary procedures is being called into question after the controversy surrounding Farrell’s eventual punishment, but that is the least of Borthwick’s problems. As well as serious disciplinary issues he is also overseeing a poor run of performances.
Since the former England, Bath and Saracens second row took control of the national team in December his record is five defeats in eight, and concern is mounting over England’s playing style. With his template of kick-chase pressure Borthwick won the Premiership with Leicester last year, but his current side have become one-paced and predictable.