Thirty days after his England World Cup exclusion, Mike Brown talks Treviso, Te'o and Eddie Jones
Mike Brown could have easily ducked out of Wednesday’s new-season Gallagher Premiership launch. Thirty days after it was confirmed he was not in Eddie Jones’ England squad for the World Cup he could have let sleeping dogs lie and got on with the daily routine that now revolves around Harlequins.
The 34-year-old is not that type of guy, though. There he was seated at a round table at Twickenham’s Spirit of Rugby facility talking precisely about that – the spirit of rugby. For now, there would be no full disclosure. Not when he considers himself to be still on standby for a Test call-up if an injury arises in Japan.
Some time in the future, when the dust has properly settled, he insists the shackles will come off and he will definitely tell his side of the mysterious story about what precisely happened that fateful week in Treviso. The damaging allegation was that he and Ben Te’o got involved in an altercation that contributed to them being excluded from the Test squad for the August 11 game against Wales, the day prior to the World Cup squad announcement that neither were chosen for.
Did what occurred in Italy mark the end? Brown couldn’t say for certain. “We’re not in Eddie’s head, so we don’t know what cost me selection, or whether I was going to get selected, whether I was close or whatever,” he said at what was the day’s most attended interview at the Premiership launch in London.
“It’s not right at the moment (to go into detail) because I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. I’ll speak about it in my own time, but the people who are close to me know the details and that’s most important for me.
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“For me I think it’s right to say that it’s not the right time to go into full details of what happened. I always try to stick to the team ethos and it wouldn’t be right for me with the guys preparing for a World Cup, Eddie and the players, to start talking about things that went on during the pre-season.
“It’s more important for them to focus on what they are doing. But obviously the World Cup won’t last forever, so there will be a time and a point where I feel comfortable and the time is right to speak about what my experiences were.
“It’s important that the people close to me and who matter in my life, my family and my close friends, my team-mates, they know what happened. And for everyone else, the details will come out when the time is right… when the details come out people will know how everyone in that situation handled themselves. And I’ve got no regrets.”
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What Brown does confirm is that there has been no contact with Te’o since Treviso and this his own gut-wrenching let-down by Jones was delivered by telephone. “No. He’s in France, isn’t he?” he replied when asked had he spoken to Te’o before moving on to address the issue of being released by Jones.
“His message to all of us players is ‘be ready because you never know what’s going to happen’… I think everyone who was in the 45 who isn’t in Japan is on standby, that’s my understanding.
“I was in the 45, I have no regrets about anything that happened through pre-season because I gave my all. I came into camp in the best shape of my career, felt fit, sharp, good. I put everything I could into training, I didn’t miss one second of training, even with niggles and things like that.
In the 2019 Six Nations, nearly half of England's tries came from counter-attack. A revived ability to score in transition was part of their return to form, writes @bensmithrugby https://t.co/evLNvZ3115 #rwc #rugbyworldcup #england
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 10, 2019
“I’m not sure how many other players could say that – I did every second, every minute of every session when I was in camp. But it didn’t go my way. Eddie’s the boss, so who are we to argue with his selection? But I’ve got no regrets.
“I still feel I’m the best English full-back, that’s not being arrogant. That’s just what I believe… look at the stats, look at my game, I am the best under the high ball. I’ve worked so hard on that, it’s one of my points of difference.
“I don’t need people to tell me if it is or it isn’t, I know it is. I made it one of my points of difference and that’s what I hang my hat on,” he continued, insisting he hasn’t thought about retirement from international rugby on the back of his RWC exclusion.
“Oh, I’d never do that, that’s not what I’m about. I feel you could be any age but if you’re at the top of your game, why shouldn’t you be playing? I feel that people like LeBron James, Roger Federer, I’m not saying at all that I’m at their level, but they are getting on a bit but are still at the top of their game.
“I would say it would take a brave head coach to pick me because I’m sure there would be a massive backlash with me, being the player I am and being older. I feel as soon as you get past 30 you are over the hill. I do think that. I think that’s the perception of people in professional sport.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking to miss out, you want to put things right from 2015. You want to be involved in the exciting things coming up. I’ve worked hard my whole career to be involved in these big tournaments.
Prem Rugby Launch well under way ??
New season, new kits, same big name stars ? pic.twitter.com/O3WpkDfzG6
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 11, 2019
“I still feel I’m the best full-back for England. If I didn’t feel that I would have stopped playing for England. But like I said, selection is one man’s choice, and he’s the main man with that job. Unfortunately, it didn’t go my way this time.”
Picking up the pieces has been considerably assisted by the approach of Paul Gustard, his boss at Harlequins. “I’ve been going a long time now but I’ve come back into Quins, and credit to Paul with the way he’s handled me. It’s been great.
“Firstly with the disappointment, secondly with managing me with the support. He gave me a week off last week and that’s the first time I’ve had time off over my birthday, so it gave me a chance to go away with the family. So that’s refreshed me and now I’m looking forward to the season and, like everyone else, just desperate to play some rugby,” he continued before adding that he expects England to go well in his absence.
England settling into the way of life in Japan with Steve Borthwick providing an update on Joe Launchbury https://t.co/zQiIsCfzjo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 11, 2019
“I can’t see why not. They’ve had a good pre-season in training, I’ve seen that. They’ve played pretty well. It’s going to be a close World Cup, probably the closest ever.
“South Africa are looking good, New Zealand may not have played to their best but they will be different when they reach the World Cup. Then teams like Ireland and Wales, you never know because they are tough competitors who can turn it on on their day.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass stadium guide to Sapporo where England will open their World Cup campaign against Tonga
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
24 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
24 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
24 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments