'I haven't had any contact with England this season' - the English qualified backrow being left out in the cold
Sale Sharks captain Jono Ross is the hardest working player in the Gallagher Premiership and admits he is getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of interest from Eddie Jones, the England head coach.
While statistics don’t tell the whole story, they do provide ample proof that Ross is setting a standard very few other back row forwards in England can match and he currently tops the Premiership tackling chart with 288 and is the third highest ball carrier with 237.
The 28-year-old has played in 25 matches in all competitions this season for Sale Sharks, averaging 76 minutes a game, while making a phenomenal 370 tackles and carrying the ball 299 times. While England have not spoken to him this season, he remains determined to pull on the red rose jersey despite having to compete against Newcastle’s Mark Wilson, Brad Shields, of Wasps and Harlequins Chris Robshaw for the No6 role.
South African born Ross is England qualified through his grandmother, joined Sale from Stade Francais in 2017 and was included in England’s training squad last May leading into the Barbarians fixture. Despite continuing to impress for Sale, Ross remains on the fringes and said: “I haven’t had any contact with England this season and the last time was when I was with them was in the summer.
“It is a little bit frustrating because I think that at times my performances have deserved to get a bit more recognition, but, I can only control what I can, not if a coach picks me or not.
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“I have ambitions to play for England and to go to the World Cup. Hopefully, I can do enough to show Eddie Jones and the coaches that I am good enough to play at that level. For me, it is about helping Sale improve every week and if I am lucky enough to get some contact from England, that would be great.
“Stats aren’t everything but I do pride myself on my work rate and I try to be more effective at what I do. At this point of the season we all have to dig deep.”
Ross’s match statistics equate to nearly 15 tackles in every match and 12 carries and he will be leading from the front again on Saturday when Sale head to La Rochelle in their European Challenge Cup semi-final. Yet again, Ross will be asked to put his body on the line for the team against one of the most physical forces in the Top14 with their pack spearheaded by All Black Victor Vito.
“We know the magnitude of the test that awaits us in France,” added Ross. “We know we have to be better than we were against Worcester. We have been inconsistent this season, producing some really good results and then not turning up in games like Northampton and Bordeaux at home.
“We are a squad that is hurting a bit after the loss to Worcester and hopefully that will spur us on this weekend. La Rochelle play some good rugby and we are going to have to fight for everything and put in one of the best performances of the season. “
Sale scrum-half Faf de Klerk is a big fan of Ross and said: “He rarely misses a tackle, carries well and is all over the pitch. Hopefully, he will get higher honours very soon but he is very much a team man and he will do anything to help us perform.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments