Jamie Hosie caught up with Ugo Monye at the launch of the Urban Rugby Squad, a new partnership between BT Sport’s The Supporters Club, Restart Rugby, the Official Charity of The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), and Premiership Rugby.
How are you finding retirement and being out of the game?
At the moment it’s not too bad, I’ve been able to enjoy my time off. I think it’ll really hit me when the boys are going back to training and start playing games. I’ve shared some unbelievable memories with these guys over the past few years and I won’t have that anymore.
You must be looking forward to not doing pre-season though…
Well in fact I go away to Thailand on the exact day that the boys go back for pre-season, so I’ll be loving it for those two weeks, but then I think they’ll probably be laughing at my potbelly afterwards… it’s a bit of a trade-off!
I’m sure it’ll be worth it – I know where I’d rather be. What are your plans for next season then?
I’m looking forward to carrying on with BT Sport, I’ve obviously done a lot of work with them previously, as well as ITV where I’ll be covering the World Cup. I’ll still be involved at Harlequins, I’ve got a role there which will be brilliant. It’ll be an easy transition, hopefully, as I’ll still be involved in the game.
You’re in the unique position of having played against most of the wingers available to Stuart Lancaster at the World Cup – if you were in his shoes, who would you pick?
Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson had a very good Six Nations – they’re in charge of the shirt at the minute. Then you’ve got the likes of Dave Strettle and Chris Ashton, who offer something a bit different – a bit more experience of those bigger games. Then you can’t ignore the likes of Marland Yarde, who’s had a really good season in his first year at Harlequins. I’m not really answering your question, but I suppose the great thing is that Lancaster has a wealth of talent to choose from.
What’s your opinion on Christian Wade? A lot of people seem to focus on his defensive frailties, but having played both against and with him do you think he deserves a shot at international level?
Definitely, he’s a wonderful talent. Everyone talks about his weaknesses all too frequently, but you’ve got to focus on what he does well. What he does better than anyone else is that ‘X Factor’, in terms of finishing, which is just unbeliveable – better than anyone in Europe, I’d suggest. He beats players for fun, makes them look silly. I was playing a couple of weeks ago when he scored a hattrick against the Barbarians, but he’s been doing that all season. Whether or not they think he’s right for 2015, you’ve got to consider 2019 as well.
You have to remember that Shane Williams was written off for being too small, but ended up as a legend – top try scorer in Wales’ history and a two time British Lion.
Looking at it from the outside, what’s your opinion on the Manu Tuilagi saga – was Lancaster right to exclude him from the World Cup?
I don’t know the details of what happened with Many unfortunately, but the one thing I do know is that Lancaster is a very honest and consistent now. Discipline is a massive for him and is a huge thing within the culture of England. He’s not making exceptions for exceptional players, which is brilliant. If that’s his stance, you’ve got to buy into it and it’s up to the players to uphold his standards.
The other slightly contentious issue coming into this World Cup is around the Englishmen playing in France – as someone who spent their whole career in England, do you think the policy to exclude them is the right one?
Everyone knows the score. If you go to France you’re not going to play for England – I knew that in 2010 when I was approached to go over the France, and I wanted to stay here and play for my country – that was my prime objective. It’s about priorities. The important thing for Nick Abendanon is that he wasn’t wanted when he was here, and then he goes away and has a stellar season, and everyone wants him back in their team.
It’s fair on lads that have turned down big fortunes to go to France and stayed here on a smaller wage. It’s unfortunate because Stef Armitage is one of the best players in Europe, but everyone went into their contract negotiations knowing the story.
Lastly then, what’s your prediction for England at the World Cup – do you think they can win it, and do you think they will?
I think they can definitely win it. They’re playing very well, and they’ve got a quality squad – not just a XV, but there’s 35 players that can do a job if called upon. Every player that’s been in the team through injury has really stepped up, and that’s the competition element that you want. They’ve got a culture that can deliver, and they’ll have the whole nation behind them.
They’ve got a tough group – Australia will come over here confident after doing well in the autumn series and Wales – well, that’s a toss of a coin. If they can bring that emotional energy as well as their best game on the biggest stage, there’s no reason why they can’t lift the William Webb Ellis cup in a couple of months.
BT Sport Ambassador Ugo Monye was speaking at the launch of the Urban Rugby Squad, a new partnership between BT Sport’s The Supporters Club, Restart Rugby, the Official Charity of The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), and Premiership Rugby. The new initiative will run across all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs throughout the summer and will see young people aged 14-16 from disadvantaged communities across England given the opportunity to participate in regular sporting activity and personal development workshops that use rugby as inspiration. For more information about The Supporters Club, visit www.thesupportersclub.org
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Has Yarde had a really good season? He’s had his moments but I was hoping he’d have done more and cemented an England wing spot. Then again I expected Quins to do much better than they did.
Unfortunately Wade has not learnt to defend any better, despite that being the main requisite for him getting into the squad. He can tackle just fine, even guys much bigger than himself. He just gets himself well out of position at times, and is often found to have gone missing when someone scores where he should be defending. On the international stage this will show up big time.
It’s something that needs to be sorted out at club level first, and maybe a better defence coach working with him at Wasps would help. Wasps are not the best defensive team in the league, (90 more points conceded than the next team above them in the table!) and maybe that’s part of the problem.
Yarde is a player who has shown glimpses of excellence going forward, but has been playing in a team struggling for form all season. After moving from LI everyone was expecting him to push on in a better team, but Quins have been poor, and this has not helped his chances of a starting wing spot for England.
For me Nowell and either Watson or Ashton are our best wing options at the moment. Nowell is a strong direct runner very comfortable under the high ball, and can also cover the 13 channel, allowing him and Joseph to swap for set plays. Ashton has improved his defence and his kicking game a lot this season. He is still the best ball tracker we have, and still one of the best finishers. Watson is equally at home on the wing or at FB, and I would be quite happy with them as the back three with Brown on the bench.
Yes it is good to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses… But the media has made such a fuss about Wade’s defence that everyone and their mum’s know about it (though any team analysis worth its salt would pick on this anyway). Hm, so England have a winger who is defensively lacking? Roll up, roll up Mr North, Mr Savea et. al. It’s inexcusable that a professional player can’t tackle, let alone a perspective international one. This isn’t a size issue at all. Shane Williams is noted, but he was also a gutsy sod who didn’t back off of his defensive duties when he wasn’t dancing circles around people.
EC, agreeing with Dazza above that it is not his tackling that is at fault, but his positioning and his attention in defence. From the bits I have seen of him, he seems quite committed to the tackle, just finds himself in some awkward positions, which is very risky at the top level.
Everyone makes mistakes of course, but his butchered try in the Baabaas game points to a lack of concentration even when he isn’t defending.
If he can get rid of these incidents, we can still see him dazzle for England,
I do agree that players should be picked based on their strengths, not their weaknesses – that however comes with the caveat that should at least be able to do all the basics right.
Wade’s defensive positioning, kicking, and ability under the high ball are all substandard for an international winger. If I was an attack coach playing against England with him in the side my job would be made easy.
I also really get annoying with the Shane Williams/Jason Robinson comparisons. Both of those players had unbelievably good rugby brains, kicking games etc. Wade has their feet but not their their rugby brain or defensive instincts.
For the WC, Watson, Nowell and Ashton would probably be my choices. Assuming we take 5 back 3 players I’d also have Brown and Foden as options too.
Not sure Foden is going to be fit, and the way that Goode finished the season, I think SL would pick him over Foden anyway. Don’t forget that Goode can cover 10 (although not likely he’ll need to), and Nowell and Watson can both cover 15.
Personally I wouldn’t pick Goode; I’d have Yarde if Foden isn’t fit.
I would much prefer to see Watson at FB than Goode so I see no reason to pick him.
In terms of third 10, I’d pick Farrell, Ford and Cips so if I was picking the squad it wouldn’t be needed.
However, I’m not, and I fully expect to see Goode in there!