'He's a 36-year-old and the world's best footballer': England Rugby using footballer Cristiano Ronaldo for inspiration
Cristiano Ronaldo has been held up as the inspiration for England’s new generation as Eddie Jones outlines the possible futures available to his young prospects.
Twenty-one uncapped players have been selected in a provisional squad that has begun preparations for a summer series consisting of a second string fixture against Scotland ‘A’ on June 27 and July Tests against the United States and Canada.
Many will be jettisoned when the 34-strong group is revised with additions from Saracens and Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists Bristol, Exeter, Sale and Harlequins, but in the meantime Jones has told them to seize their opportunity.
And to illustrate his point he singled out Ronaldo, the Portuguese great who was raised in poverty and has gone on to become one of football’s finest players – and is now the highest goalscorer in European Championship history after netting twice against Hungary on Tuesday.
England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot said: “It’s about having a conversation and a relationship with a player, mapping out the best he can be.
“Eddie used the great example of Ronaldo, where he is and where he came from. He’s a 36-year-old and the world’s best footballer.
“Look at where he’s come from – it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, it’s what you put in every day to be the best you can be.
“Our message to the young players is to grow and to be as good as they can be and use this opportunity.”
One player Jones and Proudfoot will not be working with is Alfie Barbeary, the versatile Wasps forward who was set to make his Test debut this summer only to suffer a fractured cheek and eye socket in training.
Barbeary has been limited to just two appearances this year because of a run of injuries culminating in this latest setback, bringing a halt to the tackle-busting progress made last year.
“Alfie is a phenomenal player, absolutely phenomenal player and I’d just love to get to work with him,” Proudfoot said.
“It’s just indicative of how tough he plays that he picks up these niggles. That’s how opportunity is created for other players, but I feel for Alfie. He just wants to get a run of games.
“When you watch him play, he plays with a freedom and enthusiasm, being such a young man. So I just feel for him.”
England have provided four front rows to the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa and Proudfoot, the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup-winning forward coach, believes they will be hugely influential in the Tests.
“It’s going to be some series. The front row is where the series is going to be won and lost,” he said.
“If you look at the Springboks and how they’ve picked their team, they’ve obviously picked a heavier front row. The physical confrontation up front is going to be immense.
“I hope to be back in South Africa when those games are being played so I’d love to see what that vibe is like and just experience it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Yeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to comments