When the England squad reconvenes to get back into their World Cup groove on Thursday, Jonny May could find himself in hot water. By his own admission, the very fact he has disclosed how Joe Marler is in charge of a fines system, where punishments include having to wear a suit for a day, or doing a run to the patisserie, is likely to leave him at the mercy of the dice, which ultimately determine what sanction players face.
It is a stay of execution for May, though, because most of the squad have taken the opportunity to disperse to all corners of France – they have been instructed not to return to the UK – after Steve Borthwick gave his players a few days off. The bye week is a quirk of this tournament – and it means that should England reach the final week of the World Cup they will have been away from home for nearly nine weeks – so understandably, the bulk of the squad have snapped up the chance to have a change of scenery.
