Worsley incurs Woodward wrath

Joe Worsley tonight received a severe reprimand from England boss Clive Woodward following an incident during the World Cup record victory over Uruguay.

Wasps forward Worsley was given an ovation by English fans as he walked off after being sin-binned for a high tackle on Uruguayan wing Joaquin Pastore.

Worsley returned their cheers by applauding them, even though Pastore was still down receiving treatment from the Uruguayan medical team.

“I’ve had some very serious words with Joe Worsley. I think he made a bad error. It wasn’t the appropriate thing to do,” said Woodward, following the 111-13 success at Suncorp Stadium.

Woodward added: “I wasn’t happy at all with what he did. I think he’s made a big mistake. People were clapping him off, and it wasn’t the right thing for him to do, especially considering one of their players was still down.

“But he will learn from it. He knows my views very clearly, and he will also apologise when he gets the opportunity.”

Worsley later issued an apology for his actions, stating: “My gesture of applauding the crowd was a misplaced one and an error of judgement.

“I would like to unreservedly apologise to the Uruguay squad and fans, and wish them every success in the future.”

The Worsley episode ended a week when England were fined £10,000 and fitness adviser Dave Reddin received a two-match touchline ban following the Dan Luger 16th-man episode against Samoa in Melbourne.

And Woodward made no attempt to hide his anger as the dust began settling on a result that gave England top spot in Pool C and confirmed a Brisbane quarter-final against Wales next Sunday.

News elsewhere was much better, with two-try wing Iain Balshaw not thought to be seriously hurt, despite being stretchered off with an ankle injury.

“Hopefully, the Balshaw injury is not as bad as it looked. He is walking around, and the official line is that he has a minor ankle sprain,” said Woodward.

Woodward also reported that lock Martin Corry had suffered a hamstring twinge, and was taken off as a precaution.

England smashed three of their own World Cup records as full-back Josh Lewsey inspired a century points spree.

Wasps full-back Lewsey scored five tries on England’s first visit to Suncorp Stadium since Australia embarrassed an under-strength red rose outfit 76-0 in 1998.

The final scoreline also eclipsed England’s previous World Cup best of 101-10 against Tonga at Twickenham four years ago, and their 17-try tally was another landmark.

Lewsey’s effort was an England record-equalling figure in all rugby, matching Rory Underwood’s effort against Fiji during the late 1980s and Dan Lambert (1907) against France.

There were also touchdowns for Balshaw (two), scrum-half Andy Gomarsall (two), centre Mike Catt (two), Balshaw’s replacement Jason Robinson (two), Stuart Abbott, flanker Lewis Moody, wing Dan Luger and centre Will Greenwood.

Fly-half Paul Grayson played his part with 11 conversions, and Catt added the extra points to two tries.

Uruguay prop Pablo Lemoine grabbed a consolation score for Los Teros, yet it was their worst Test defeat, surpassing a 70-0 loss to Argentina in 1977.

“I wasn’t aware of the record,” said Lewsey. “I didn’t score against Georgia (England won 84-6), and it was nice to get on the scoresheet.

“The guys up-front produced the ball, and we had possession in time and space. Scoring five tries is the stuff boyhood dreams are made of.

“The performance was all-important today. We wanted a bit of confidence going into the knockout stages, and I think we achieved that. We are fully aware though, that Uruguay are not New Zealand or Wales.”

Woodward praised the performances of Balshaw, Lewsey, Catt and Abbott, but he knows that the serious World Cup business is about to begin.

“The phoney war is over,” Woodward added. “We are looking forward to being in Brisbane next week, and having a complete change of mindset. The serious business begins now.

“We always go game by game, and we will never look beyond the next game.”

It was like a home fixture for England, with a huge contingent of travelling support among the 46,000-strong crowd, and the Six Nations champions made an immediate impression, going ahead inside three minutes.

Catt and wing Dan Luger were both heavily involved in stretching Uruguay’s defence to the limit, and England inevitably worked an overlap for Moody to touch down wide out.

Grayson, one of seven England players making their first tournament starts, slotted the conversion, serving Uruguay with immediate notice of intent.

Full-back Juan Menchaca cut the seven-point deficit with a short-range penalty on five minutes, and England did not help themselves by turning over possession in the tackle, with Luger a major culprit.

England then sacrificed a kickable penalty for a scrum, and skipper Phil Vickery’s call proved correct as Gomarsall broke blind to send Lewsey scampering over. Grayson booted the conversion, and after 18 minutes, England led 14-3.

England, settled by the Lewsey score, began to increase the tempo, and they confirmed their supremacy through a dazzling Balshaw double burst in two minutes.

The gifted Bath back firstly cut open Uruguay’s defence from 45 metres for a sparkling solo score, then he picked up and wrong-footed Los Teros’ defence through an amazing ghosting run.

Grayson kicked both conversions, and England were out of sight at 28-3 ahead early in the second quarter.

England struck again on 34 minutes, and again Balshaw was the catalyst.

Every time England found Balshaw in open space, he caused havoc, and another weaving run mesmerised the Uruguay defence for Catt to prosper with try number five.

Grayson continued his 100% conversion rate, and approaching the closing stages of a lively opening period, England led 42-3 after another converted try when Gomarsall scurried over from close range.

The second period resembled merely an opposed training session for England, as they amassed 69 more points.