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Surprise selection in England squad has irked many fans on Twitter
Eddie Jones has announced his 31-man squad to train this week ahead of the final Six Nations match against Scotland, and there is one noticeable change that has caught many fans’ attention on Twitter.
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The Australian has opted to call up Marcus Smith to the training squad, with many bewildered why Danny Cipriani is overlooked again.
This comes after a Cipriani inspired Gloucester to a dominant win over Harlequins at the Stoop on Sunday. To make matters worse, Smith was on the bench for Quins.
It is not necessarily Cipriani’s omission that has shocked so many fans, rather the decision to select Smith over him. The former Wasps 10 is one of the form players in the Premiership, and his display against Harlequins showed that. His exclusion has left many fans once again wondering what he has to do to work his way back into the England squad, particularly with precious little time ahead of the World Cup in September.
This is the reaction from the fans:
https://twitter.com/phil_world88/status/1105039932446437376
https://twitter.com/Rusty_Rascal/status/1105053369020882945
https://twitter.com/thesatnav89/status/1105055633689190401
https://twitter.com/guysbeingguys1/status/1105048921376731137
https://twitter.com/cookjoh8/status/1105066839468658688
https://twitter.com/Buddyboy51/status/1105044674153250819
https://twitter.com/jmconnor6/status/1105045008661532672
https://twitter.com/_katyhomewood/status/1105055638424637440
https://twitter.com/Whinney_B/status/1105049999602302976
Of course, not selecting Cipriani should come as no surprise to many, as after all, he has been omitted from the England team on plenty of occasions. However, it is just the fact that Jones opted to select Smith ahead of him.
While the 20-year-old Smith certainly has a very bright future with England, and will play a prominent role after the World Cup, very few would say that he is the third best fly-half in England currently. Cipriani’s display against Harlequins yesterday resoundly proved that point.
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This latest selection has left many fans resigned to the fact that the mercurial Gloucester 10 will never play for England again. Cipriani’s face just doesn’t seem to fit with England after a long career that has seen some controversy, and many fans are accepting that.
This is what they are saying:
https://twitter.com/GarethTheHop/status/1105043988753584128
https://twitter.com/lepetitgenerale/status/1105053183007690752
Surely time for him to head off over the water to earn some crazy € in the Top14? If he doesn't get called up now and is behind Marcus Smith he has zero chance at a World Cup spot
— Matt Pritchard (@MattLPritch) March 11, 2019
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments