At 1.45pm today Stuart Lancaster will announce his 31 man Rugby World Cup Squad and we believe that even after months in camp and two warm up matches there are certain selection decisions that have gone down to the wire.
Last night in central London Heineken were formally launching their Rugby World Cup activity; #ItsYourCall. Out On The Full featured some details regarding this a few weeks ago (here) and it is where fans have the chance to perform the coin toss before every one of the 48 Rugby World Cup fixtures. In the heart of Central London at Somerset House I had the opportunity to speak with their esteemed Rugby World Cup team; Scott Quinnell, Jonah Lomu, John Smit, Matt Dawson and Will Carling and all shared with me their thoughts on a number of areas.
From an English perspective both Will and Matt were of the opinion that there isn’t any reason to panic just yet following Saturday’s defeat. The two men were very much in the school of thinking that these warm up matches are/were very much for the coaches to gain knowledge and understanding and as Will rightly said ‘everything is about trying to peak at the right time and if they get that right then we’ll all be happy!’
From an English perspective both Will and Matt were of the opinion that there isn’t any reason to panic just yet following Saturday’s defeat. The two men were very much in the school of thinking that these warm up matches are/were very much for the coaches to gain knowledge and understanding and as Will rightly said ‘everything is about trying to peak at the right time and if they get that right then we’ll all be happy!’
As I have shared many times selection is subjective, neither former International envies the job of Stuart Lancaster the decisions that he has to make and Will was clear on his personal thoughts regarding the two main areas of great debate; Sam Burgess and Danny Cipriani. For Will this World Cup has arrived too soon for Sam as he shared;
“He is not ready and I don’t understand the rush, I think that the guy was an outstanding Rugby League player. He was jaw dropping, there is no doubt about that but he is not ready to play in a RWC at centre. I don’t think that you pick people in the squad because they are good guys or because they are good for moral, they have to earn their place and be there for a reason. I don’t quite understand the rush with him, I think he will be good but at the moment there’s no-one that I know ex-player or coach wise that I respect who says that he is ready.”
“I think he will be selected anyway, there seems to be a slight obsession with him and I don’t understand why, apart from watching him to play rugby league, but that is not quite what we are asking him to do. I think that we have try to make it even harder by making him play at 12 and 6, it is hard enough to try and play union. Sonny Bill Williams took two years at Toulon, everyone forgets that and he was in one position.”
On the widespread reports from yesterday regarding Danny Cipriani’s omission, again Will was quite clear in terms of his personal thoughts on the subject;
"I hope that it is explained, because there has to be something apart from this playing ability. I’ve talked to a lot of players and as I understand there is no issue anymore with him in terms of personality, I have heard Farrell Senior saying that apparently you have to look at the intensity that some of the guys have been training at. My issue is that is that it is all about what happens on a pitch, at game time… there are certain guys that train brilliantly and always have done and there are certain great club players but then it comes to test rugby and they can’t do it. So I don’t quite understand it all."
Will’s opinions above may echo and reflect some of yours, speaking to others their thoughts may be the polar opposite with the beliefs that Burgess is ready and that Cipriani just hasn’t been as consistent as the likes of Alex Goode over the past few years.
Both Matt and Will were very clear that it is mighty difficult job to be a Head Coach and being the one that has to make these decisions with the spotlight of the world upon you. The perspectives of individuals are always interesting to hear however for now, we must all sit and wait before the formal announcement from Pennyhill Park later on today and then we will hear from the England management themselves and understand their thoughts because after all they are the ones in charge!
Will’s opinions above may echo and reflect some of yours, speaking to others their thoughts may be the polar opposite with the beliefs that Burgess is ready and that Cipriani just hasn’t been as consistent as the likes of Alex Goode over the past few years.
Both Matt and Will were very clear that it is mighty difficult job to be a Head Coach and being the one that has to make these decisions with the spotlight of the world upon you. The perspectives of individuals are always interesting to hear however for now, we must all sit and wait before the formal announcement from Pennyhill Park later on today and then we will hear from the England management themselves and understand their thoughts because after all they are the ones in charge!
