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'Real mental shift': Rugby Pod sees no way back for George and co

(Photo by Getty Images)

Jim Hamilton believes the international careers of Jamie George and the Vunipola brothers are more than likely over after Eddie Jones opted not to select them in his latest England squad despite their much-improved club form in recent weeks with Saracens. All three were major parts of the English pack that didn’t deliver in last spring’s Guinness Six Nations, the 2020 champions slipping to an embarrassing fifth-place finish. 

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That outcome left the Australian mulling over the future of his squad and after blooding multiple players new to Test level in the summer series, Jones has decided that the Saracens trio – two of whom (George and Mako Vunipola) travelled with the Lions in summer – are no longer worthy of a place in the England squad. 

It’s a gutsy stance by Jones to exclude a trio who have 157 England caps between them, especially as the soon-to-be 31-year-old George, the 30-year-old Mako Vunipola and the soon-to-be 29-year-old Billy had played their part in the opening weeks of the Premiership season in helping Saracens into third spot with three wins in four outings.

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Eddie Jones explains his choices at his England squad media briefing

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Eddie Jones explains his choices at his England squad media briefing

Club boss Mark McCall suggested to RugbyPass in recent weeks that Billy Vunipola was as fit as he had ever been. However, with this improved current form unable to catapult them back into the selection picture, ex-Scotland lock Hamilton, a former teammate of the trio of forwards at Saracens, fears the omission likely spells the end of their international careers unless there are injuries or Jones somewhere along the line has a now unexpected change of heart.  

Speaking on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod, Hamilton said: “Just on the Saracens players, they have been hard done by off the back of playing a season in the Championship, being picked when they weren’t on form, went on a British and Irish Lions tour not on form – they have been judged on a time when they weren’t playing well and probably at that point shouldn’t have been picked and now they are not in the mix (when they are on form). 

“I don’t think there is any way back. I can’t see with the way that they are playing now there is a way they can get back in unless there is an injury, unless Eddie flips its again. He’s so hard to read, isn’t he? Jamie George has been one of the leading hookers in the world for the last three or four years, unquestionably, and then he has had a quiet season, has gone on the Lions tour, hardly played, and then he has been dropped out of the squad having not playing any rugby, so what are you judging him on? In that sense, it is a big call.

“Billy? I understand you have got Dombrandt, who is absolutely carving up but unproven at international level. Sam Simmonds, who looks great. Can he step up to Test rugby? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just one of them, their time is up, that’s it and that is Eddie’s prerogative.”

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Show co-host Andy Goode, the ex-English out-half, reckoned the change in Jones’ approach regarding who is in his squad hinted a big shift in how England will look to play next month against Tonga, Australia and South Africa. “The big thing for me is around how England have played the last 18 months. Since they got to the World Cup final they have regressed in terms of how they attack.

“Think of all the games they have played since then, they finished fifth in the Six Nations, played a long, boring kicking game. I’m excited that now hopefully Eddie Jones has had a real mental shift on how he sees the game played. He talked last year about ‘we are going through this defensive phase’

“There was a lot of other teams not in this defensive phase playing in a different way but that was Eddie’s way at the time, but with the likes of Raffi Quirke, (Adam) Radwan and a lot of other young guys, they haven’t got the fear of anything, they just want the ball in hand and to play quick. 

“When Freddie Steward and Max Malins get the ball, they look to attack. They haven’t got this kicking mentality in them, they have got this attacking mentality. Marcus Smith, imagine him at ten being able to pull the strings with a forward pack that is dominating on the front foot? That is why I am quite excited about it.”    

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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