Emotions have been running high at Sixways following the announcement of the 30-man England squad to play in the autumn internationals.

While there was joy for Pat Sanderson, there was also despair for Andy Gomarsall and bewilderment for John Brain.

Brain, Worcester's director of rugby, last night questioned the handling of his two England stars after Sanderson was included by head coach Andy Robinson but Gomarsall left out, despite their contrasting fortunes when the Elite Player Squad was named less than two months ago.

Brain was particularly bemused by the handling of Gomarsall and specifically by the fact that Robinson - or indeed anyone else in the national set-up - had failed to contact the veteran scrumhalf to tell him why he had been omitted.

He raised doubts over the effectiveness of the Red Rose communication channels but more witheringly suggested the situation smacked of mismanagement.

"No one has spoken to Andy and that begs a question about communication," Brain said. "I found it strange that you reduce the squad from 60 to 30 and do not phone people who are not in it and tell them why. If we did something like that to people we would be accused of mismanagement."

Brain was referring to the Elite Player Squad (EPS) selected by the England head coach at the start of August. Sanderson was left out of that group, despite captaining the national side to victory in the Churchill Cup a few weeks before.

Strangely Gomarsall was included, even though his tour to Canada was not nearly as successful as his team-mate's, and although the new situation is probably a true reflection of the two players' recent form, the route Robinson has taken to reach it can only be described as bizarre.

Brain said the former Gloucester man's omission did not come as a surprise to anyone at Sixways. "I am disappointed for him," he said. "Maybe the writing was on the wall when Peter Richards was getting in ahead of him in the Churchill Cup this summer."

And while he was happy for Sanderson and agreed the recognition was a just reward for his skipper's inspiring performances over the last year, the way it came about confused him.

"His call up was made all the more surprising because he was not in the EPS," Brain said. "How can you pick a player in the top 30 but not pick him in the top 60? I cannot understand how he was not in the original 60.

"He should have been in the EPS in the first instance, how he was not is a mystery. But he's in now and credit to them for recognising that."

Sanderson was equally quizzical about the way things have worked out. As much as he tries to protest to the contrary, the flanker would have been devastated at his failure to make the EPS having put his body on the line for his country in North America.

And even though he talks mundanely of concentrating on his club form he is elated, if shocked, by his selection.

"It was a bit unexpected but I am delighted," the 28-year-old said. "It is hard to distinguish the logic in it, other than the fact that rugby is a fickle sport. It has changed quickly in my favour this time but could soon change the other way."

Sanderson revealed he was informed of his elevation by text message but was immediately suspicious and searched, in vain, for verification.

"I thought it was a hoax," he said. "There are quite a few players at the club who would do something like that so I went to check on teletext but the builder working outside my house had cut through my cable connection. Eventually I got loads of other messages from mates."

However, Sanderson expressed his sympathies for Gomarsall and maintained that the international door was not closed for his colleague.

"I am a little surprised by that decision too," he said. "But there are plenty of chances for him to get back in this season.

"You can never take anything for granted. People get injured or lose form and Andy is old and wise enough to know that."

The Birmingham Post contacted the Rugby Football Union for a response to Brain's comments but they declined to comment.

Meanwhile, another Warrior, wing Ben Hinshelwood, has been named in the Scotland training squad to meet at Murrayfield early next week.