Woodward urges rulers to hand fine to Samoans
Woodward has revealed his "immense" respect for Samoan coaches John Boe and Michael Jones following last weekend's Dan Luger 16th-man saga in Melbourne.
And he paid a glowing tribute to the South Sea Islanders following an affair that saw England fined a five-figure sum and squad fitness adviser Dave Reddin receive a two-game touchline ban.
Reddin, though, was cleared of a post-match altercation with fourth official, New Zealander Steve Walsh, by independent Rugby World Cup judicial officer Brian McLaughlin at a hearing in Sydney on Thursday.
But fall-out from that incident continued yesterday when World Cup chiefs imposed a three-day ban on Walsh, meaning that he could not act as a touch judge in the Pool B fixture between France and the USA at Wollongong's WIN Stadium yesterday.
"Samoa have been outstanding," said head coach Woodward, following his return to England's Gold Coast training base from Sydney.
"They were outstanding before we played them, and my respect for them, especially their coaches John Boe and Michael Jones, is immense.
"Their line is that they didn't want anything to tarnish what was a great game of rugby. They were clearly being put under a fair amount of pressure to say something, and they wouldn't have anything to do with it.
"They said that it was a storm in a teacup, and England had probably done what many other teams had done, but they didn't want to be involved.
"So my thanks goes to them. That is what what World Cups are about, supporting other teams, and I hope the International Rugby Board hands over the £10,000 to the Samoan Rugby Union."
England received a relatively mild financial punishment over the Luger 16th-man saga, although Reddin's penalty for sending Luger on to the field against fifth official Brett Bowden's instructions was marginally greater.
While touchline bans are commonplace in soccer, such is the unusual nature of the sanction in rugby union, that it has not yet been confirmed whether Reddin will be allowed to carry out his customary pre-match warm-up with England's players before the next two games against Uruguay, tomorrow, and probably Wales.
England were also delighted Reddin had been cleared of being involved in an altercation with fourth official Walsh.
Walsh has now been suspended until Monday morning, although he will be available for post-pool stage.
"Following an incident involving the fourth official, Mr Steve Walsh, and a member of the England management team at the conclusion of the England versus Samoa match on Sunday, October 26, an investigation has taken place today," said RWC, in a statement.
"Mr Walsh has subsequently been suspended for inappropriate behaviour during an exchange with a member of the England management team.
Woodward added: "Some serious allegations were made against the team and myself, and we have now got to put a line under it, which we fully intend to do. This is not going to get in the way of our preparations, particularly the next game, which is only 48 hours away.
"It was an extremely fair hearing. I have to say that Brian McLaughlin conducted it in an exemplary fashion. In fact, from the moment we arrived in Sydney, things were handled very well and I have no complaints at all.
"Obviously, all sorts of things can happen in a World Cup. That is why I brought a lawyer with me."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
