I don't think it was quite like the opening poster described.
Yes, he did make a flying start, but he then seemed to have a series of niggling injuries and be in and out of the team. At the start of the 2008 season he seemed out of condition and not really interested - and again was in and out of the team. There was also that bizarre thing about him flip-flopping between wing and prop
OK, he then did get the serious injury which has eventually led to his sacking, but even before that there seemed to be an ongoing problem with injuries and attitude