Alleged breach of coaching protocol adds to misery for England

England's torrid time at their own World Cup has continued with the news they are being investigated for an alleged breach of protocol - communicating with matchday officials - during Saturday's 33-13 routing at the hands of Australia. 

World Rugby will probe the hosts over the incident involving two members of England’s coaching staff that was reported to have taken place in the tunnel at Twickenham at half-time. Possible sanctions should the allegations be found to be true include a touchline ban and/or a fine. 

No names have been released, nor has the nature of the conversation, although England went into half-time trailing 17-3 to Australia with their scrum struggling to abstain from infringements, and Wallabies openside Michael Hooper had just moments before escaped punishment for a shoulder charge on Mike Brown. 

"We're aware there is a discussion going on with World Rugby and England. We'll let the process take its course and we'll comment after that. I don't actually know what the allegations are," backs coach Andy Farrell said. 

The investigation couldn’t have come at a worse time for England, set to conduct a post-mortem on a World Cup campaign that lasted just 16 days following the lop-sided defeat to Australia which confirmed their elimination from the tournament. Farrell described the mood in camp yesterday as one of “mourning”.

 The positions of head coach Stuart Lancaster and his assistants including Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt are set to be reviewed with details beginning to emerge of disquiet and animosity circuiling the squad in the runup to this year’s competition. Allegedly there was discontent within the playing squad over the influence of Farrell in both selection of players and tactics, with rumours also abound that Farrell was the key figure in management's determination to pick Sam Burgess. 

When the notion of unrest was put to Farrell – who was also forced to deny a charge of nepotism after his son Owen replaced George Ford at fly-half for the clashes against Wales and Australia - it was met with a flat denial. 

"Sam worked unbelievably hard and has given his all to team. It's unfair to comment on a situation like that. I don't think players would say this," Farrell said. 

"A player was in a selection meeting now? Is that how the process works? The four of us coaches meet together and we have a discussion on selection.

"You all put your two pennies' worth in and then ultimately Stuart makes the call and we all buy into that, no matter what the discussions were beforehand.

"We have all been unanimous in selection and nothing has ever changed in the last three and a half years. The head coach makes the final decision and that's that." 

Farrell offered an impassioned defence of Lancaster, who will spend possibly his last week in charge of England preparing his side for Saturday's dead-rubber clash with minnows Uruguay in Manchester. The team will be announced on Tuesday lunchtime. 

"Stuart is a brilliant coach who has done wonders for this team and connected everyone back to this team," Farrell said.

"We have lost two games and people will try to define us by those two defeats, but what Stuart has built here was more than that. 

"This campaign, this whole three and a half years under Stuart's leadership, has been built on rock-solid foundations. 

"He's the proudest Englishman and the hardest working Englishman I have ever met. It's been an absolutely privilege to work for such a caring guy.