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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
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments