Backs coach Andy Farrell has admitted that there is still time for any uncapped ‘bolters’ to throw their name into the hat for selection in England’s Rugby World Cup squad.
At the front of the queue are Saracens lock/blindside flanker Maro Itoje, who was imperious in a losing cause for Saracens in the Champions Cup semi-final, and Exeter utility back Henry Slade, who has consistently impressed for the last season and a half in a Chiefs side that has punched well above its weight.
Stuart Lancaster and his coaches will announced a 45 man training squad ahead of the World Cup next month, which will be trimmed down to 31 for the tournament proper. While Itoje and Slade, both still uncapped, remain long shots for a place in the final squad, their cases are being helped by the presence of their respective teams in high profile games deep into the domestic season.
“Maro would be a prime example of those fortunate that their club will be there and thereabouts in the big games at the end of the season,” Farrell told Press Association Sport. “There’s no bigger game for him to perform in than in the semi-final of the Champions Cup against the French giants of Clermont, and he performed outstandingly.
“There’s that type of player with potential all over the division, so we’ll keep an open mind. People think you’d know roundabout what your squad would be – and of course we have a good idea of what that would look like – but we’re also very open-minded and we always have been.
“We’ll do the right thing, because selection is so important, because it means so much to everyone involved; both players and coaches. Youngsters like Maro and Henry Slade that are shining through, it’s because they have characters strong enough to deal with top-level rugby, that’s why they are coming through so early.”
If they make the 45-man initial squad, the likes of Itoje and Slade will have a handful of warm-up games, as well as an altitude training camp in Denver, to press their claims for selection. As uncapped players they face a steeper uphill battle than others, but Farrell, speaking at a QBE coaching event at Twickenham, insists that nobody’s place has been confirmed just yet.
“We’ve got at least four more meetings as far as selection is concerned. We’ve always been a coaching staff that will bide our time and let things unfold. Experience tells us that you always shoot yourself in the foot, and you’re always wrong, if you try to presume things.
“Whether form [or] injuries, there’s always something that happens around the corner. All that matters to us as far as selection is concerned is making sure that it’s right for the squad. Whatever makes them united as one and to feel right going into the World Cup, that’s got to be at the forefront of our minds.
“What’s happening now is that this is the main stage of the season everyone’s worked so hard to get to. Nothing is settled as far as the top four and the top six in the league, so it’s still about who can perform and you’re already seeing over the last few weeks people really putting their hands up and saying ‘this matters to me’.
“You can see in some of the lads’ performances that they have selection into the wider squad in the back of their minds. Form matters, because at this stage of the season they are all big games and who can and who can’t perform in those big games is what international rugby is all about.”
Andy Farrell was representing England Rugby at an event hosted by QBE, the business insurance specialist and official insurance partner of England Rugby. To make a nomination and enter the QBE My Coach head to QBErugby.com.
10 replies on “Uncapped “bolters” on England coaches’ World Cup radar”
This sounds very encouraging. I would love to be pleasantly surprised come the announce ment of both training and WC squads. Unfortunately, I have been beaten down by the continued conservatism of the England selection policy.
Have to disagree re: conservative selection policy, Mike.
Lancaster made wholesale changes to the squad on his arrival and since then has tried 2, sometimes even 3 variations in almost every position since then. He may not be picking the people’s favourites, but to say he is being conservative is a bit strong. Multiple changes have been made to wing, centre, flyhalf, loosehead prop, second row etc.
Let’s also not forget that Lancaster hasn’t been able to field his favourite 15 for some time now, but look at the depth, albeit forced by circumstance, we have across the park now.
Do you mean by sticking with e.g. Farrell @ fly1/2? By not rotating or giving (or enough) game time to players like Cip @, you’ve guessed it, Mullan, Corbiseiro, Slade, Eastmond, Wade for instance?
No point in mentioning Mr. Greedies like ‘Bendo’ or Armitage of course as their selection would clearly damage English rugby beyond repair forever… wouldn’t it?
And flirting with returning to Barritt every time the team concedes a try. Important part of Lancaster’s selection policy, that.
I think there will be some exciting names in the training squad, not sure there will be too many in the actual squad though. Interesting to see a number of players getting game time at 6 I.e. Itoje and Burgess…could it be an area people feel England might be looking at?
Isn’t Ben Te’o English qualified?
As a Sarries fan I would love to see Maro in the training squad at least. He has proved himself to be a true leader in the last two seasons for both club and as the England U20’s captain last year.
As I said before Launchbury has not played for a while, and although he may be fit, will not get many games in before the World Cup begins. If he’s not fit, or doesn’t re-discover his fantastic form, Maro is a perfect replacement.
Surely Dave Ewers? Not exactly a bolter but he must deserve a chance to show what he can do.
still too early for Burgess. He needs to nail down a position at Bath first.
Daly,Slade,pennell,Itoje,ewers for me.
Agree with Teecee’s bolters , just add in form Ashton and the Armitage brothers( yea I know under pain of death) and we will have a nice pie.
There’s a few uncapped players out there who would improve the side, I think, Ewers in particular – we lack something on the flanks and I feel he could provide it. Has to be in the mix – treated Wood and Clark, two guys likely ahead of him in the flanker pecking order, like rag-dolls in the game at Sandy Park the other week, and is just huge in the tackle and on the carry. Also jumps at the line-out I believe, so that eliminates Wood’s point of difference there. Itoje is another obvious one, as is Slade, but I’d also throw Devoto’s name into the mix. Seems to have everything Lancaster demands from a 12 – physical presence, a decent kicking boot, distribution skills, pace – and slotting in between two clubmates in Ford and Joseph means he wouldn’t exactly be being thrown in cold. I look forward then, to Barritt and Twelvetrees fighting for the shirt come the WC…