England talk up de Glanville and Lawrence, sidestep the omission of Spencer
New England attack coach Simon Amor has claimed Bath’s Tom de Glanville and Worcester’s Ollie Lawrence have a credible shot at playing for their country this autumn, but he refused to elaborate on why Ben Spencer was omitted from Eddie Jones’ latest three-day squad camp.
Uncapped Lawrence and de Glanville were both chosen in the 26-strong squad confirmed on Thursday evening. Nathan Earle, Piers Francis and George Furbank missed out from the backs who were involved in the previous week’s three-day camp.
Called into the forwards were Tom Curry, Tom Dunn, Ted Hill and Beno Obano in place of Jack Clement, Lewis Ludlow, Alex Moon, Jack Singleton and Mako Vunipola, the prop who was listed as ‘reconditioning’.
There was no inclusion, though, for Spencer despite his excellent Premiership form in recent months at Bath, whom he joined from Saracens during the lockdown. Spencer played off the bench in last November’s World Cup final after joining the squad following the semi-final win over the All Blacks, but he hasn’t been capped since.
“Look, I know Eddie has spoken to Ben. I’m not here to talk about Ben Spencer, I’m here to talk about the guys in camp,” said Amor, who moved on to do just that, specifically focusing on de Glanville and Lawrence.
The latest batch attending Eddie's England training https://t.co/VjoxmYOGXL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 15, 2020
“Very talented guys with an awful lot of potential. We are excited to see what they can do coming into camp and what is really important is not for them just to experience camp, it’s to really attack the camp, really put their best foot forward.
“They are here with the potential but it’s about fulfilling that potential and driving things forward. We’re excited about seeing them pushing on, excited about them attacking this camp and going for it. We know that Ollie Lawrence has got a really good attacking, strong running game, a good physical player as well so we are looking to see that transfer into our camp here and progress.
“And we know that Tom de Glanville has shown some really good examples and some wonderful counter-attacking. A good read of the game as well, fast play. So again, young players with potential – they [Jones and co] are really keen to have a look at and for them really attack this camp.
“Definitely, there is an opportunity for all the players. Every day becomes an opportunity for all the players to take a step forward in Eddie’s thinking, so definite opportunity for all of them.
“It’s a great opportunity to bring some new players into our programme and this is us just building ahead towards the Barbarians game which is going to be a fantastic test. I’ll be really looking to see that attitude and that effort from the off so it’s a very exciting time.”
England begin their six-match autumn programme versus the Barbarians on October 25 at Twickenham before facing Italy away in the Six Nations six days later.
Seven players are also in England camp reconditioning, including loosehead Vunipola. Amore explained: “All the reconditioning players are training and they are on specific programmes to help their progressions going forward to step up to international rugby.
“It’s just specifically looking at players we feel can benefit through a specific individualised programme to take then to the next level and keep on progressing them on towards international rugby.”
"Maro was ready to go. Good as gold, playing well in European, Premiership rugby, doing what he does now, and Eddie was saying, 'He's not ready yet'"
– @DylanHartley cautions the clamour for Exeter's Joe Simmonds to get an England call ???????? https://t.co/S24yaOrmrX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
55 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
55 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
55 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
55 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
55 Go to comments