England fury at ref Rolland - Sport - Evening Standard
       

England fury at ref Rolland

English rugby chiefs are upset by Irish referee Alain Rolland's handling of the New Zealand game, during which he sent four England players to the sin bin.

With match officials taking charge of Six Nations encounters to be announced on 12 December, there are suggestions within the Rugby Football Union hierarchy that Rolland, 42, should be kept away from England games.

Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, was reported to have been particularly angered by what he saw as harsh treatment handed out to England while the All Blacks were allowed more room for unpunished errors during the Test.

If they do take issue with Rolland, however, England could be accused of trying to deflect attention away from three defeats in a row to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

It is more likely the matter will be raised by Ed Morrison, head of the RFU's referees, on an informal basis.

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