Tensions between England and the Wallabies threatened to boil over at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night when England fullback Mike Brown pushed Australia assistant coach Nathan Grey while claiming the ball in touch.Grey, who was running the drinks for Australia in their 39-28 defeat to Eddie Jones’ England, was standing in his specified area next to the field of play when Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps put a box kick up into the air with the home side trailing 19-13 in the 45th minute.
Brown attempted to catch the ball and at the same time Grey, while standing in his marked box, tried to disrupt the catch in order to make sure England would not be able to take a quick throw-in.
It appeared to be a deliberate move from Grey and it was certainly not welcomed by Brown who pushed the former World Cup-winning Wallaby with his right hand in displeasure.
Grey took offence to the shove by chasing after Brown and afterwards can be seen mouthing to referee Romain Poite: “I’m in the box.”
The Brisbane crowd were also not pleased with Brown’s blow-up but those in the British commentary box saw it differently, saying Grey should not have got involved even if the ball did come somewhat near him.
World Rugby laws state: “A quick throw-in is not permitted if another person has touched the ball apart from the player throwing it in and an opponent who carried it into touch.
Brown’s push on Grey added even more spice to what was a fiery contest between two sides who have talked so much in the lead-up about being overly physical in a bid to take an early advantage in the series.