Sam Burgess called his ex-club coach Mike Ford a “snake” and accused him of “sabotage” as he opened up about England’s disastrous 2015 Rugby World Cup.
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“I came back from the World Cup and I literally went in his office and said, ‘Hey Mike, I don’t trust you. I think you’re playing games behind my back,'” Burgess told the House of Rugby podcast.
“‘You used me as a bit of a pawn in your game of chess. I can’t put my boots on and play for you every week.'”
Burgess said Ford used his son – England flyhalf George – to “infiltrate” the team camp. He also said the elder Ford had stirred up stories in the media to unsettle him.
“Mike Ford wanted the England coaching job, so his job was to try and sabotage Lancaster, and his decision-making and his coaching methods.”
He added: “I’ll never forget Mike’s face when I said to him, ‘Mike I don’t respect you any more, I really don’t. I think you’re a bit of a snake.’
“And I’ll never forget the little quiver that I got from him.”
MOST DISAPPOINTING ENGLAND PLAYERS:
n a recent rugby fan poll, focus honed in on the five England players deemed the poorest to ever don the national team jersey.
Among these five, two players with rugby league backgrounds managed to secure spots.
The inclusion of these athletes raises the inquiry of how and why they were ever given the opportunity to represent their country on the global stage. Be it their subpar performances, lack of skill, or consistently disappointing outings, these individuals have indelibly left their mark on the wrong side of the spectrum.
#5. Danny Cipriani
World-class on his day, but I don’t think any England fan will argue that the mercurial fly-half winning just 16 caps during his career can only be considered a complete disaster.
He was never able to replicate his club form on the international stage. So disappointing.
