OT: Come on Deano

Bloodgate just won't go away and is likely to remain in the headlines when later this week ERC release the written findings of their disciplinary hearing into the fake blood incident.

Richards looked to give his side of things in a supposedly reveal-all interview with former England squad-mate Dawson, and admitted to using fake blood on four previous occasions, which is a pretty big admittance of guilt.

Yet questions still remain unanswered, none more so than who cut Tom Williams? Richards refused to answer this question, claiming he was not privy to the act.

So what if he did not witness it directly? Does he expect us to believe that he does not know who, presumably using a sharp object - a scalpel perhaps - intentionally cut the flesh of one of his players, a player he incidentally hung out to dry in the first hearing?

Also, in which other games did Richards order the use of fake blood and did it affect the outcome of those games?

There is a sense that Richards is holding quite a lot back, perhaps still protecting certain individuals.

While we're at it, what has been the role of Quins chief executive Mark Evans in all of this?

Richards fell on his sword when it became apparent his actions were to be made public and it is hard to believe that Evans - a skilled, experienced rugby administrator, and former coach to boot - had no inclination of what was going on.

But OT digresses. Richards's revelations, while by no means uninteresting, appeared a well-devised piece of PR damage-limitation, in which the England icon offered up information in return for his 'mate' Dawson not pushing him on other points, which still remain unanswered.

It is pertinent that Richards chose a former player, a friend and now media 'pro' for the interview, rather than a trained journalist who would not have glossed over certain issues, who had no personal history with him and would have pushed him harder for answers.

Only by Richards coming clean on all aspects of Bloodgate could the interview have properly served its purpose and dowsed suspicions that it was more than a PR exercise.

Furthermore, OT cannot help thinking that Richards feels that by admitting his failings on national radio he has some how exonerated his actions.

It's almost as if Richards wanted fans to feel sorry for him.

We all know that he acted badly under the pressure of coaching a top-flight side, but admitting that does not make his actions any less wrong.

OT mentioned last week that rugby had got off lightly in the press over Bloodgate and the drug taking and brawling at Bath.

Richards's cosy interview with a Strictly Come Dancing contestant does little to dispel that thought.

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The Wallabies looked to have done enough to secure their first Tri-Nations victory of the year on Saturday, until a certain Dan Carter made two crucial interventions late in the game.

New Zealand were a better side under the returning Carter, but the world's best player was still far from his best, as were the All Blacks.

Indeed, Carter was all set to lose his personal dual with opposite number Matt Giteau, whose imperious kicking had kept the Wallabies ahead since the 11th minute.

But even a below-par Carter is someone very much to be reckoned with, and with the clock running down he produced two pieces of magic to get the All Blacks' Tri-Nations campaign back on track.

Firstly, he produced a pin-point chip into the corner that sent panic through the Wallabies' defence and resulted in a penalty to the All Blacks. Then he nailed the 78th-minute kick from wide out to secure the 19-18 win.

What is it they say about form being temporary and class being permanent?

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Tom Rees was appointed Wasps club captain last week for the forthcoming season, and OT got a distinct glimpse of England's future.

Despite what England supremo Martin Johnson tells us on a regular basis, his current skipper Steve Borthwick has yet to convince that he can cut the mustard at international level.

It's no good the Saracens lock having the odd good game for his country; he needs to be consistently excellent, like his current boss was when leading England with distinction.

Johnson's problem is that no-one else from his current squad looks to be skipper material of the future, bar Rees.

Yes, Jonny Wilkinson would fit the role that was indeed handed to him by previous England boss Brian Ashton, only for injury to scupper the plan.

No, Wilkinson should be left to concentrate on remaining injury free now he has recovered from his latest set-back. And anyway, playing in France presumably rules him out.

Which leaves Rees, who skippered Wasps for the second half of last season following the injury-enforced retirement of Rafael Ibanez, and has all the credentials for the England role.

Openside rival Steffon Armitage may have something to say about it, but unless Borthwick has a complete transformation as a player, OT can see Rees wearing the armband for the Six Nations.