Andy Robinson was yesterday vindicated for his attack on English arrogance when Delon Armitage, the man he had identified as the main culprit, let down their new management by being arrested after a nightclub incident last weekend.
The Scotland head coach's motivation and timing were questioned on either side of the border after his comments about the attitude of England players at last year's World Cup dominated last week's RBS 6 Nations launch.
Much of the analysis in the English media sought to suggest his comments might backfire on him, while Armitage, the one player Robinson had been prepared to name, gave an outraged riposte, claiming his pride in playing for England had been misrepresented by the country's former coach.
Stuart Lancaster, England's temporary head coach, had tacitly acknowledged that there was a problem when he outlined his intention to set new standards of behaviour but even he must have been astonished at having his authority challenged so quickly.
Armitage's future as an internationalist – he has 26 caps – appeared to be hanging in the balance yesterday as a result of his behaviour and the 28-year-old London Irish back has already been suspended from the England Saxons elite player squad.
Armitage was detained by Devon and Cornwall Police on suspicion of assault following the incident in a Torquay nightclub early on January 29, according to an RFU statement. He was later released on bail.
A police statement said that a local man received a split lip during the incident but did not require medical treatment.
Armitage's arrest comes in the same month that the Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care was told he would not be considered for England Six Nations selection this season. Care was arrested for drink-driving on New Year's Day and subsequently fined £3000 and banned from driving for 16 months.
Lancaster said: "We take issues surrounding the behaviour of England players very seriously, and as such have decided to suspend Delon from the Saxons EPS pending the result of the police inquiry. We will then consider if further action is appropriate under the code of conduct.
"High standards of behaviour are required from England players on and off the field, and they also need to understand they should not put themselves in a potentially vulnerable position or environment."
Armitage is no stranger to controversy having been banned on four separate occasions in 2011. He was suspended for eight weeks for pushing a doping officer after a Premiership game between a London Irish and Bath last January.
Then he received a three-week punishment for striking Northampton's Stephen Myler and a one-match ban during the World Cup campaign in New Zealand after a high tackle on Scotland's Chris Paterson.
Armitage was then hit with a five-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Bath wing Tom Biggs, and a three-week ban for kneeing Bath lock Dave Attwood in the same game, running concurrently, which sidelined him for Irish's opening two Heineken Cup fixtures this term.
calcutta cup Robinson's verbal attack justified as England man suspended after nightclub incident
Andy Robinson was yesterday vindicated for his attack on English arrogance when Delon Armitage, the man he had identified as the main culprit, let down their new management by being arrested after a nightclub incident last weekend.
The Scotland head coach's motivation and timing were questioned on either side of the border after his comments about the attitude of England players at last year's World Cup dominated last week's RBS 6 Nations launch.
Much of the analysis in the English media sought to suggest his comments might backfire on him, while Armitage, the one player Robinson had been prepared to name, gave an outraged riposte, claiming his pride in playing for England had been misrepresented by the country's former coach.
Stuart Lancaster, England's temporary head coach, had tacitly acknowledged that there was a problem when he outlined his intention to set new standards of behaviour but even he must have been astonished at having his authority challenged so quickly.
Armitage's future as an internationalist – he has 26 caps – appeared to be hanging in the balance yesterday as a result of his behaviour and the 28-year-old London Irish back has already been suspended from the England Saxons elite player squad.
Armitage was detained by Devon and Cornwall Police on suspicion of assault following the incident in a Torquay nightclub early on January 29, according to an RFU statement. He was later released on bail.
A police statement said that a local man received a split lip during the incident but did not require medical treatment.
Armitage's arrest comes in the same month that the Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care was told he would not be considered for England Six Nations selection this season. Care was arrested for drink-driving on New Year's Day and subsequently fined £3000 and banned from driving for 16 months.
Lancaster said: "We take issues surrounding the behaviour of England players very seriously, and as such have decided to suspend Delon from the Saxons EPS pending the result of the police inquiry. We will then consider if further action is appropriate under the code of conduct.
"High standards of behaviour are required from England players on and off the field, and they also need to understand they should not put themselves in a potentially vulnerable position or environment."
Armitage is no stranger to controversy having been banned on four separate occasions in 2011. He was suspended for eight weeks for pushing a doping officer after a Premiership game between a London Irish and Bath last January.
Then he received a three-week punishment for striking Northampton's Stephen Myler and a one-match ban during the World Cup campaign in New Zealand after a high tackle on Scotland's Chris Paterson.
Armitage was then hit with a five-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Bath wing Tom Biggs, and a three-week ban for kneeing Bath lock Dave Attwood in the same game, running concurrently, which sidelined him for Irish's opening two Heineken Cup fixtures this term.
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