2. Austin Healey (2003)
Sir Clive Woodward opted for three scrum-halves – Matt Dawson, Kyran Bracken and Andy Gomarsall – Healey being ignored despite his ability to play almost anywhere in the backline from scrum-half, to fly-half, to the back three.
“It’s tough on Austin and I’ve had a long chat with him,” said the England coach.
“The biggest thing everyone has got to get their minds around is that I’m not taking a squad of utility players and when we play these games and we must have the best 22 available for the key games.
“Austin has had almost a year out and although he has done very well he has not quite done enough to be selected.”
Even worse for Healey, he would have been called up later in the tournament, but he was ruled out by a freak injury.
