England must curb card fever

ENGLAND try again at Twickeham this afternoon to cure their chronic habit of leaving referees no alternative other than to reach for their pocket. Keeping 15 on the pitch from start to finish has been hopelessly beyond their collective wit in all but one of eight Tests this year.

Last time out, in Argentina during the summer, they fell for a four-card trick, their recurring lawlessness leaving Australian referee Angus Gardner no option but to brandish a quartet of yellows.

They have accumulated 14 cards in all, 13 yellow (Maro Itoje, Henry Pollock double offenders), one red, Henry Arundell against Scotland. Pierre Brousset of France has given England three cards in two matches, Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli two in two.

Both will be responsible for law and order this afternoon: Brousset in the middle, Amashukeli as one of his two assistants.