Two red cards in two Test matches makes Charlie Ewels sound like someone from a young offenders list but the reality is far from it.
When he was pulled aside by England’s in-house lawyer in the changing rooms of Tokyo’s National Stadium, he knew his tour was not going to end well. The 6ft6in lock had just become the first player to be sent off twice in as many Tests and, on second viewing, his reckless clear-out on Michael Leitch did not look good.
‘I watched it back in the changing room with the KC, Richard Smith, and thought, “Yeah, that’s a red card”,’ recalls Ewels.