1
Ex-England scrum-half hits out at Eddie Jones' 'publicity stunt, nonsense' treatment of Ben Spencer
Former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken has slammed Eddie Jones’s treatment of Ben Spencer as a “publicity stunt” after the Bath No9 was left out of the latest national team training squad preparing for the autumn internationals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bracken likened Jones to Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho and his treatment of Dele Alli, claiming the louder the support for a Spencer call-up the more the England head coach will take the opposite view.
Jones opted to include 99-cap Ben Youngs (Leicester), fellow thirty-something Willi Heinz (Gloucester) and Alex Mitchell, the uncapped Northampton scrum-half, for this week’s three-day camp in London despite Spencer’s outstanding form for Bath following his move from Saracens.
Spencer won the last of his four replacements caps in England’s World Cup final loss to South Africa last November, having been flown that week to Japan to take over from the injured Heinz.
With Wasps’ in-form Dan Robson available to Jones after the Gallagher Premiership final with Exeter on October 24, Spencer could find himself inexplicably No5 in the England scrum-half rankings despite a series of eye-catching displays for Bath.
"I’m not here to talk about Ben Spencer, I’m here to talk about the guys in camp" https://t.co/kJGMav45CZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2020
Patently, he has failed to catch the eye of Jones and Bracken, who won 51 England, branded the decision to ignore the 28-year-old as “nonsense”. Bracken knows what it takes to claim the England half-back position. He was up against Dewi Morris, Austin Healey, Andy Gomarsall and Matt Dawson during his decade in the Test squad and cannot understand Jones’ current thinking.
He told RugbyPass: “Jones loves to go against public opinion and we have seen that in the past with Alex Goode, Danny Cipriani, Mike Brown and Chris Robshaw. Jones and Mourinho are in the same mould and they do things to surprise people and it is their trademark to do something controversial.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The more people say a player is doing well the more Jones digs his heels. It is not a rugby reason and it’s more to do with Jones’ relationship with the media and the public. He is making a statement as if he is a rugby genius – that is my opinion. It’s part of his ‘I know better’ attitude. It’s a publicity stunt and absolute nonsense.
“My question is where is Willi Heinz in all of this debate? Has he been scoring lots of tries for Gloucester? Why is he ahead of Ben Spencer? My top three scrum-halves for England at the moment would be Ben Spencer, Dan Robson and probably Ben Youngs because of his experience – although he has hardly been impressing in a struggling Leicester team this season.”
Dismissing the idea that Spencer was ignored because he is not vocal enough on the pitch, Bracken paid tribute to the man-management of World Cup-winning head coach Clive Woodward. “The reason Bath got to the Premiership semi-finals is Ben Spencer and he was on fire just like Dan Robson. Just think what those two could add to England.
“Clive Woodward was fair and if you were playing well he would pick you. It was all about form for your club and if you weren’t performing you would be out on your ear. When England play Italy at the end of this month I don’t see Ben Spencer being involved and I believe Jones will pick Youngs for his 100th cap.”
ADVERTISEMENT
"Maro was ready to go. Good as gold, playing well in European, Premiership rugby, doing what he does now, and Eddie was saying, 'He's not ready yet'"
– @DylanHartley cautions the clamour for Exeter's Joe Simmonds to get an England call ???????? https://t.co/S24yaOrmrX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments