Healey in the dock again

He referred to the newly-capped Wallaby as a ' plod', ' a plank' and 'an ape' and was less than complimentary about Australia as a country. The Lions, incensed at what they saw as one of their own giving the opposition ammunition before the Test decider, are unlikely to concur with Healey's admission that it was 'a bit cheeky'.

Cotton, the Lions manager in South Africa four years ago and a formidable figure among the RFU hierarchy, will discuss the issue at Twickenham in the light of the Lions verdict.

'Everyone in rugby is disappointed with any player that shows disloyalty to his own team-mates,' he said on his return from Sydney yesterday. 'We were guests in Australia and you have to show due respect. I was embarrassed by it. Certainly the Australians I met, including their officials and players, are outstanding people as well as being very good rugby players.'

A veteran of three Lions' tours as a player, Cotton also spoke out against Matt Dawson, the other English rebel whose mid- tour attack on the management resulted in the player apologising - but without retracting a single word of his criticism.

He said: 'It was an extremely disappointing part of the trip that people broke ranks, and in doing so made it more difficult for everyone else. This was an unnecessary distraction which gave a number of people the opportunity to question the unity of the squad. I just could not believe the timing, in both instances.

'Knowing Rod Macqueen as I do, he would have cut the Healey article out and stuck it on the dressingroom wall. You don't want to give the opposition anything to feed off but that was exactly what Healey did.

'I am concerned at the total lack of professionalism and the lack of responsibility to the sport which has given them so much. I am surprised because I was on the previous Lions tour with both players four years ago.

'Austin is a bit of a Jack-the-lad but I have never seen him or Dawson get involved in anything like this. Lions tours can be very high-octane stuff and as a player you have to be able to cope with the contrasting emotions.

'Jason Robinson is a good example of how to behave, a consummate professional who always impresses with his humility. Martin Johnson is another excellent example, a man of immense stature and dignity as well as being an absolutely outstanding player. It will be discussedby the RFU and we will need the full facts. Who is to say that when we are preparing for the World Cup in two years' time that the same thing doesn't happen? We have to make sure there is a clear code of conduct in place.' The Professional Rugby Players' Association, meanwhile, has offered Healey its backing.

Chief executive Damian Hopley said: 'If Austin wants us to be at his hearing, we will be. We have to ensure any player is fairly represented.'