'All the other non-23 players went out on the p***, so I got the, 'Go on, you can play' pretty much'
Poised to win his 50th cap for England, Jonny May has recalled the missed drinking session that created the opportunity for his debut six years ago. May will start Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia on the left wing armed with a strike rate of a try in every two games, his total of 25 touchdowns making him his nation’s sixth highest scorer.
As England’s most lethal finisher – a status earned over the last 18 months but a product of years of hard work – he will spearhead the assault on the Wallabies at Oita Stadium. The 29-year-old wing’s Test debut was always a question of when, not if, but 49 caps later he enters the biggest match of his career revealing the chain of events that presented his chance.
“I’ll always remember my first cap because it didn’t come how I’d have thought it would,” May said. “It was Argentina in 2013 and I can’t really remember the numbers but we picked 14 backs or something. I was looking around, it was Lions year and I thought, ‘I’m probably going to get a game’. My mum and dad came out and I wasn’t picked for the first game, then I wasn’t picked for the second game.
“I didn’t feel ashamed but I didn’t feel great because my parents were out there and it looked like I wasn’t going to play. But then funnily enough Christian Wade got called up for the Lions on the morning of the second game and, because my mum and dad were out, I had gone out for dinner with them while all the other non-23 players went out on the piss, so I got the, ‘Go on, you can play’ pretty much!
“It’s funny how it works out as I ended up starting that game and what was probably quite a challenging couple of weeks finished on a really good note as my parents got to watch me play and I got my first cap. It all worked out in the end.”
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May takes pride from having forged a path amid numerous hurdles, not least the inauspicious start to his Test career that included completing his first seven games without crossing, not helped by his tendency to crab sideways across the pitch.
A serious knee injury sustained in 2016 was successfully overcome with no reduction to his blistering speed, which is now matched by a fuller range of skills including a heightened sense for the try-line. And throughout it all he has been forced to fight off a number of rivals in a position of strength for England.
“I wouldn’t change any of it and that’s what I’m proud of – I wouldn’t say I’ve cut a corner, I’ve just stuck to it, every day,” May said. “I’ve had injuries, I’ve been picked, I’ve not been picked, I’ve had terrible games and good times as well. That’s how it’s got to be – the same every week in terms of striving to get better.
Two-week break a problem? Not according to some performance experts who are backing England to deliver versus Australia in Oitahttps://t.co/hVp8CiIbBX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 15, 2019
“I came into this set-up with Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly and Mike Brown. It really has been a challenge. You have to fight to be a part of the squad, let alone to start. You do change over the years. I’ve changed a lot, not just as a rugby player but as a person as well. It is chaotic really and challenging to do.
“You’re under pressure, the pressure you put yourself under, not just here but every week. Those other players have been around and every week I’ve had to play my best so it has been challenging and tough, but I’m grateful for that because it has made me the player that I am now and I’m proud of the player I’ve become.
“I’m sitting here now and I’ve got goosebumps because I’m so excited to go out there this weekend and try raise the bar and stick to what I’ve done every week. When you get to 50 caps you can say that the hard work does pay off and that’s something that I’m proud of.”
– Press Association
WATCH: RugbyPass explores the stunning scenery of Oita and the surrounding area ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments