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.
(Continue reading below…)
“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.”
View this post on Instagram
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
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments