HAVING written about too much pitchside interference in the pro game in this column – whether from platoons of water-carrier coaches, or subs warming up in the in-goal area during play – the Billy Twelvetrees incident involving a Sale water-carrier Kingsholm last weekend was no thunderbolt from blue.
The Gloucester centre had every reason to be incensed when, with his club trailing 22-19 with a minute left to play, he was prevented from taking a quick throw-in after a Sale forward hoofed the ball into touch.
As the ball hit the pitch side safety barrier, the Sale waterboy standing behind the...