Jonny May has been dropped from the England squad preparing for the crucial match with Ireland this weekend.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “Preparation has gone well and we’ve had a good build up so far. The guys who played against Wales and Italy did really well and the good thing is that others who are now fit and training are pushing hard for selection. We’ve had to make some tough decisions but it’s a good position to be in and those players going back to their clubs have another big weekend ahead to lay down a marker for later in the tournament.
“Chris Pennell is in camp for the first time since last summer so we are taking this opportunity for him to spend some additional time with us as Worcester have no Greene King IPA Championship game this weekend.”
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons) pulled up in training with a hip flexor strain so Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) has been called in for training tomorrow. Mike Brown (Harlequins) successfully completed a running session today and should be able to take part in non-contact training with the squad tomorrow.
Forwards
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins)
Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Retained in camp for recovery
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Players released to Aviva Premiership clubs:
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
45 replies on “Lancaster trims England squad ahead of Ireland clash”
If Brown is fit to play, it’s pretty great that we could be fielding an XV for a third consecutive round where the only change has been through choice. A far cry from the autumn of 2009.
Can someone explain the reasoning in dropping Jonny May. He is a world class winger and probably the fastest guy in the competition. Just like one swallow doesn’t make a summer, one indifferent game doesnt make him a bad player.!!!
He can’t dine out on the NZ try forever. He hasn’t done enough to keep the shirt – plus we need to be at our very best defensively and under the high ball against Ireland.
May is undoubtedly a good winger but to call him world class is going too far. Before the NZ game he was subject to criticism from many people better qualified to judge than I and that NZ try just bought him some time. I think this selection is best thought of as the promotion of Jack Nowell rather than the dropping of May. This sort of thing is bound to happen more often given Englands strength in depth in many positions. Surely that’s what competition for places is all about.
Nowell has been in electric form – May indifferent. Nowell is strong under the high ball and that’s May’s biggest weakness. the Irish kicking game is their biggest strength with Murray and Sexton, and Nowell, Watson and Brown is a back 3 taylor bade for that challenge.
“World Class” is the opposite of Jonny May. He’s talented no doubt, but he also has a habit of butchering tryscoring opportunities and doesn’t use his pace to fully punish opponents. The NZ game shouldn’t be an aberration – it should be a common sight.
As others have pointed out – Nowell is strong under the high ball and his form is too strong to ignore. Watson/Nowell are absolutely the best options at 11 and 14 for this particular game, and May doesn’t offer the versatility of a Twelvetrees/Watson etc who can play multiple positions.
Surprised Lawes didn’t even make the bench. He’s been one of England’s most consistent performers.
May. Hmm he really has disappointed. What’s the point in having that pace when he hardly backs himself.
Anyone else think that Goode’s kicking game might be better suited for this match than Brown’s? Sometimes I do think that SL should pick a side best suited to beating the opposition rather than always persist with the same winning 15. Granted he has seemed to do that with the Nowell selection, unless Brown is earmarked for the wing alongside Goode *shudders*.
Agree with your point on Goode. Those that say he has never impressed for England should watch how he played when we won in Dublin two years ago. His defensive positioning and kicking game is absolutely brilliant. This is the one fixture that I actually wouldn’t mind seeing him come in for. We all know Ireland play a heavily kicking orientated game plan.
Understand the May/Nowell selection, and it does seem a mixture of Nowell’s brilliant form and May looking average. There was a time when SL looked desperate to drop Ashton but was looking around to see no challenging wingers about – he has Brown on the other wing! With the emergence of Nowell and Watson we have genuine quality options.
I also think with both Nowell and Watson’s ability to cover FB, I think we will see Goode come into the attacking line quite a bit. He’s been covering 10 for a couple of games for Sarries, and he’s been putting in sneaky chips and grubbers to get behind tight defences.
As a Sarries fan I would rather see Pennell play, simply because we need Goode this weekend as I’m not sure Charlie Hodgson is fit either?!
I would also add that I’m not convinced by Mako on the bench. Appears an absolute liability in the scrum. Would rather Corbs.
I feel sorry for May and I do believe he will learn from being dropped and will be back in contention. Much like Yarde at Irish, May looks great at club level because the rest of the team are relatively unimpressive. Not a knock against either team but May and Yarde were the stars. Much as Yarde failed to impress at national level (my opinion) and is still struggling for form at quins May is much the same. Nowel coming in is a smart move and I like the thought process. I would possibly give Wade the nod against Scotland but that’s another issue. Can we pleas all start a petition to have Nowels scrum cap banned. So stupid on a back.
God no, have you seen his hair-do?! Keep it on at all times, on and off the pitch!
Also, why shouldn’t a back want to protect his ears?
My two penneth – Goode FFS.
Brown won’t be playing this weekend I believe as he likely won’t be ready to do contact until Friday.
Lots of backs wear hats these days (Halfpenny, Davies, Giteau), and I suspect that it will become more as its more prevalent in young players these days.
To be fair to those that wear scrum hats, they are also recommended to concussion issues. When I had similar issues a few years back I was told to wear one as additional protection to my skull so there’s a chance some players wear it for that reason.
That being said; I don’t know each individual case.
Scrum caps offer next to bugger all protection against concussion. There’s even a theory that they may encourage more risk-taking.
The reason so many of Lancaster’s favourites (Corbs, Eastmond, Lawes, Parling, Wood) have been released back is because they are all on the comeback from injury. No use having ‘better’ players playing at 60% when their replacements are in fine form.
Brown is now out
I’m not sure this is a bad thing for England. Brown is a good player but Goode kicking and positional play might be slightly better suited to this game. Interesting England have a back 3 that have all played fullback, I wonder if SL thinks they might be receiving a few kicks…..
Not just played… Watson IS a fullback, and Nowell considers himself one (his Twitter handle ends with 15)
There’s going to be six fullbacks playing on Sunday.
DDD
Don’t understand the comment re Mako on the bench, since his return from injury his scrummaging has been first rate
Agreed – a preconception based on the Lions tour?
Given Daley’s blistering form at Wasps surely SL should at least bring him into the squad with a view to sending 12T back to Glos in due course.
People seem to forget that the EPS agreement doesn’t allow for wholesale changes each time. Daly and Slade are both in the Saxons and would presumably be next in line if a 10 or centre got injured, but he can’t just promote players at will for no reason. It’s a limitation, but it’s better than a constant club v country row.
I don’t actually think 12T has done much wrong this tournament to get dropped. Granted he’s not as eye catching as others but adds something different to the squad at the moment.
He was like a man possessed when he came on against Wales, winning a great turnover at the breakdown and making some decent tackles. Trying to answer the critics, perhaps?
I agree. Sometimes a little criticism works wonders. It seemed to with 12T and Billy V maybe it will galvanise May too.
Absolutely – the sight of Billy V charging into contact only to lose the ball in contact (think he did it 6 times in South Africa’s 22?) became all too common in the autumn. He’s like a changed man now.
Personally I would have stuck with May on the wing, brought in Nowel on the other side and moved Watson to fullback as has been said it is his preferred position as I recall (will defer to Bath supporters for a definitive response).
Goode has failed at international level on several occasions, do people not remember the screams for Foden / Brown to be given a run at full back during his tenure as the England backs seemed to come alive when he LEFT the field….a good player at club level but in my opinion no “x” factor and seems unable to step up….I am happy to be proved wrong.
Areas I have concerns going into the world cup, 8 Billy V (in my opinion a bit of a 1 trick pony but getting better) is our only tested option (bar Easter and Wood….really?!?!?) with Morgan by no means certain to be back for the WC when is a back up going to be tried, same at 7, ONLY Robshaw tried since the Arg tour…..to be clear the Ireland game is NOT the time to experiment….but am concerned.
Totally in agreement with you about Goode. I think of him playing and horrible memories of him and Flood butchering what seemed like a thirteen man overlap against Italy rise to the surface of my mind. Not to mention that awful stuttering run he always does that fools no one at this level and normally results in him being turned over.
Too slow and too poor a tackler to be anything other than a stopgap internationally.
I’d have much preferred your option of Watson at fullback or I would have been happy with Pennell. I know its a big game but I think Pennell has what it takes to be an international player – he just needs the chance to show it
Agree with the Goode “lacking X factor ” comment. He’s played his best rugby at International level. Really should have given Cips more game time against Italy. He needs more game time to develope his game management skills at The top level. If Ford gets injured in the first 10 minutes, it’s a big ask to get Cips to construct a winning strategy over 70 minutes against Ireland. Against Italy he came into a game with the result already assured.
World Class on the back of one try?
Jonny May would be world class if he backed himself more, take the Italy game for example the try line was begging for him to go over in the corner, so what does he do? He cuts inside and gets tackled and the move and momentum gets snuffed out.
This is not the first time he has done this, agreed he has electric pace but he needs to run his lines better as time after time he comes inside when the yards could be made by running stright, outside or into contact his brain seems to scramble and then he panics.
If he did more of what he did against New Zealand i’d be joining the chorus of disapproval but until then Nowell is deseving of a shot.
Goode performance against Ireland last time out was a key component in our win on that occasion, would not describe his run as stuttering, a more appropriate description would be mazy and usually is enough to defeat at least one or two defenders before creating space for others. Agree that he is not the fastest around, but with Nowells and Watson in the back three that is a pretty formidable back three.
Agree with you there GerryK. His style of running makes it look like he is not quick, but he is faster than he appears to be. Also he is possibly the best footballer in the squad, xcellent under the high ball, and an extra place kicker if needed.
Is it just me or does anyone else think May would be better at 13? He would play in much the same way that Joseph and Daly do. I know he’s played there for Glos before, so would be interested to get a point of view from their fans.
Having Nowell and Watson will allow Goode or Pennell? to come into the line more and have cover in the FB position. For me Nowell offers more than May. He may not be as quick, but he is a more powerful runner, a better defender, and much better under the high ball.
Not sure about that. Joseph and Daly run intelligent outside lines – May is gas but I don’t think he has a clue what an intelligent line is.
Agreed. If we’re going to play in this style for the foreseeable then Joseph and Daly are definitely our best options at 13, they’re very similar in their style of play.
I’m not sure Mays decision making is good enough to be a top class 13 although I was actually thinking the same about Nowell today, he seems to be thriving in that role at his club.
Playing @ club level is a step or so down from Int’al level… for anyone. Less time, room, better qual/skilled oppo.
Regds the May, Nowell thing, why hasn’t Nowell been in in the 1st place then? If May has such ‘D’ flaws & for instance he did go awol from his wing for that 1st Wales try & if he can’t field a high ball, or score enough tries, shouldn’t this have been picked up beforehand by England? Due dil & all that. Couldn’t his ‘deficiencies’ have been worked on in camp? Or is it just that some ‘freeze’ @ the higher level?
As to why Nowell wasn’t in in the first place he had surgery on his knee during the summer and has only recently returned to full training. Rob Baxter says he is much improved since the last 6 nations now that both knees work properly! He has also reportedly put on another 9kg of muscle. Roll on Sunday..
Ray
A good reason then. Thanks. Have to pay more attn to Bath it seems.
But if not Nowell, then someone else instead perhaps?
Don P,
I think there is a bit of the freeze element with May. At club level he is a good playersolid under the high ball tackles well, and finishes some outstanding tries.
But as you say, there is a step up to international level. more physicallity, less space more challenging on the high balls. I think the biggest impact on May is the lack of space.
p.s you may want to focus attn on Exeter if you are interested in Nowell.
Mike
As mentioned prev, saw the recent Quins game. Exeter looked a compact, competent outfit, altho I think there’s often a better overall view on TV. Haven’t seen that much of Nowell, but will keep eyes peeled for nxt Exeter match. Interested in wing play (& back line creativity generally) as used to play there myself 100 yrs ago.
Mike
In addition, when May left his wing, thereby letting in the Wales’ try (tho technically not his ‘man’) it was from a posi directly opposite from which May had vacated. For me it’s part a discipline thing, part an inherent positional sense, part a fear thing – of letting in a try IF he didn’t go infield to help with the (in effect & fact double) tackle – which resulted in a try anyway. If his timing had prevented the Welsh outside pass, we wouldn’t even be dissecting this point. However, it didn’t & May didn’t trust his inside team mate. IMO his emotion took over from his thinking. This is a v human thing to do, but NOT acceptable in that rugby situation. If a player is sufficiently drilled, he can overcome this ‘fear’. If not & he is inherently ‘flaky’, then it’s a character flaw & he, alas, must be discarded. Tough world sometimes. Interesting to see if he gets back… if he derives some ‘wisdom’ from his error.
Banged on a bit, but I find these things interesting. Individuals make up a team & their actions can/do effect it.. & their coaches’ (& our?) thinking/beliefs.