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What Eddie Jones told axed England stars in 'uncomfortable' calls
England boss Eddie Jones has explained how he endured an uncomfortable Monday when calling players such as Billy and Mako Vunipola, George Ford and Jamie George to let them know they had been excluded from the 45-strong training squad that will assemble in London next Sunday for a mini-camp. All four were starters in the November 2019 World Cup final in Yokohama and they were also involved against Ireland last March for the finale of a disappointing 2021 Six Nations.
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Jones’ side finished that championship in a derisory fifth place and after introducing 16 new caps in the two-game summer series, the England coach will now assemble what he feels is the best mix from those two campaigns, including rising star Marcu Smith. He has also chosen eight more uncapped players, including recent Premiership title winner Louis Lynagh, while Lions tourist Sam Simmonds has also earned a recall for the first time since 2018.
Of the matchday 23 that played for England in their very poor loss to Ireland in Dublin six months ago, Jones excluded seven in total, Ben Earl and injured duo Elliot Daly and Mark Wilson joining the aforementioned Vunipola-led quartet in being left out. For Billy Vunipola it will be seen as a huge England setback for him as Saracens boss Mark McCall claimed last week: “He has got the bit between his teeth. He is as fit as I have seen him in a long time.”
Jones insisted it wasn’t the end of the line for the seasoned crew he had omitted, but he explained what Vunipola and co must now do to get back in favour ahead of an autumn schedule featuring November matches versus Tonga, Australia and South Africa.
“It’s two years before the World Cup. We are now selecting with the World Cup in mind and some of the experienced players we have left out, we feel this is a good time for them to refocus and refresh and get ready to challenge again for a spot,” he outlined after his squad announcement on Tuesday morning.
BREAKING:
Eddie Jones has named a 45-man England squad?that has excluded a number of seasoned campaigners likes the Vunipola brothers and George Ford and includes 8?? uncapped players #Englandhttps://t.co/fcCQfLXwZf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2021
“I had a very uncomfortable yesterday [Monday]. We were up here in Birmingham for a coaches conference… and I was making calls to the players so it’s an unpleasant part of the job but an important part of the job. For those players, the door is not closed. It’s just an opportunity for them to refresh and refocus and you have got to also realise we are coming on the back of what has been two difficult seasons for the players and some of those players went on the Lions tour, so we just think it is an opportunity for them to regroup and refocus and then challenge again – the door is still open.
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“They are all disappointed. Those conversations are never nice conversations because once you tell a player they are not in the squad, listening tends to be not a great attribute they have like anyone. The response will be different for each individual and we will see how they go.”
What was his message to them? “Get back to their best. They are all good players and when they are at their best they are going to be in strong contention but there are a lot of good, young players coming through so competition is hot. It’s hot and they need to find their best and they probably haven’t been at their best over the last period of time, so we are giving them the opportunity to find their best.”
While the Vunipola brothers and Ford were available for selection, Daly – another 2019 World Cup finalist – had a different reason for being omitted. “He has just had an operation on his stress fracture that he has had for a long time but he exacerbated it on the Lions, so he won’t be playing any rugby. You’ll need to check with his club [Saracens] the exact details of when he will be available but I believe it is early, mid-December so he doesn’t qualify for the November Test matches.”
“To be honest I messaged him to say, ‘Well done, mate, well deserved and good luck on the tour’ and I haven’t spoken to him yet." @J0nnyMay on Leicester, Gloucester, Lions, competing for his England place and being challenged by LRZ, writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/aMh2omsROj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 19, 2021
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Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments