'Clive was down with the squad and I hadn't been involved in the French game, so he phoned me on the Sunday morning. I don't want to go into the conversation, but it wasn't the nicest phone call I've had from him.'
Rowntree's shock and disappointment was alleviated by his swift return to the banter of a squad in training. His Tigers team- mates helped him through and now the 32-year-old can see light on the other side.
He said: 'I was on a downer for a couple of days but I've put it into context. There are millions of people in the world worse off than me. Getting back into training was a pleasure. You don't get any special treatment. They take the mickey out of you and that's what you need.
'I don't think that's it for me with England. I still have huge ambitions to play for England, but I can only do that if I play well for Leicester.'
While Rowntree's emotional week ended on a high, Healey was on the up a few days earlier when his daughter, Daisy, was born. He celebrated by conjuring a try for Smith with his first touch as a second-half substitute.
The scrum half, 30 next month, was philosophical about missing the England cut and admitted to on- going concerns about his knee.
Healey said: 'It's not 100 per cent yet and it's always in the back of your mind. I can't see what the outcome will be. I don't know how much longer I'll go on playing, it all depends on my knee. If it caves in, it caves in. As for England, if I hear one more person say "Chin up" I think I'll hit them on the chin.
'If I hadn't been injured and hadn't been picked, then my England career would probably be over, but I still think I may get back into that white shirt in the future.'
Leicester's win was ultimately deserved, though it took Healey's arrival to galvanise them. Daryl Gibson and the impressive Leon Lloyd have the makings of a dynamic midfield combination, while Smith looked sharp on the wing.
The Exiles saved face in the final moments with a try for Michael Horak, but for all Ryan Strudwick's towering authority and Justin Bishop's energetic running out wide, they were undermined by turnovers and defensive lapses.
