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Training squad exclusion of Robshaw and Care leave England fans puzzled
By Josh Raisey
Eddie Jones has announced an England training camp ahead of the World Cup later this year, and there have been a number of noticeable omissions.
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The squad does not contain any players from Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester or Northampton Saints, as they all took part in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs, but a few big names are missing nonetheless from other clubs.
Former captain Dylan Hartley, who has not played for Northampton this year due to injury, misses out, as do Harlequins duo Chris Robshaw and Danny Care. The three of them have a combined total of 247 caps, which is a lot of experience to overlook.
Despite featuring for England recently, and having a great finish to his season with Wasps where he scored six tries in eight games, Nathan Hughes is another big name that misses out. However, it’s the exclusion of Robshaw and Care that has surprised many fans on social media.
Robshaw has not played for England since last summer’s series in South Africa, while Care played his last Test for England against Japan last autumn. But both players have had great seasons with Harlequins and were in with a shout for a recall.
Eddie Jones names his initial 29-strong England World Cup training squad https://t.co/bC6COkuWcc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 20, 2019
Robshaw was carrying an injury for the first half of the Six Nations, but he and Care were overlooked for the entire championship. However, with Jones trying to blood some young players into the squad, many put this down to the coach knowing what to expect from the flanker and the scrum-half.
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Therefore, this latest exclusion has confused many fans. This is how they have reacted on Twitter:
Feel sad that Robshaw and Care are not going but it's pretty inevitable. Pretty happy that Dombrandt is in the RWC squad. No Marler comeback?!
— Paul Harrison (@paulbharrison) June 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/burman_j/status/1141666707532066816?s=20
Staggered Robshaw has missed out to Shields.
— Edward Hale ? (@EdwardJBH) June 20, 2019
Hartley I thought should have been in getting treatment with Vunipola & Kruis. Care & Robshaw are more surprising does he know enough about them to not need them at what just a preliminary training camp?
— Gareth Rees (@garethrees9) June 20, 2019
@dannycare being overlooked by Eddie Jones is an absolute joke.
One of the world's best 9s and can change a game in a flash.
Terrible decision.— Jerry O'Sullivan (@JerryofSelby) June 20, 2019
I think they'd be justified in doing so in the case of Robshaw. Arguably the best 6 of the season, whilst Shields continues to under-perform. A lot of leadership dropping out with Care, Robshaw and Hartley as well
— Heads Up Rugby (@Heads_Up_Rugby) June 20, 2019
Shields over Robshaw ? pic.twitter.com/pIcRVib0hH
— Jack (@jackrobbins71) June 20, 2019
Shocking that Robshaw and Care have been omitted considering the season's they've had. Worried now about the 9 position as Youngs is the only real experience in the squad and we've got a tough group.
— Dom (@DomB116) June 20, 2019
Staggered Robshaw has missed out to Shields.
— Edward Hale ? (@EdwardJBH) June 20, 2019
Interesting that EJ has left Chris Robshaw out of England’s prelim World Cup squad, Danny Care too ? that’s a lot of experience and quality in key positions
— Kisset.C (@kyrosrugby) June 20, 2019
It would seem Eddie Jones doesn't want to win this world cup. How you can go with (aside from Ben Youngs) 50 minutes of test rugby at 9 is insane. Leaving out over 200 caps worth of experience in Care, Robshaw and Hartley. I'll get behind the boys all the way but not convinced
— Dom (@DomB116) June 20, 2019
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One of the main reasons why England fans are shocked at Care’s omission is due to the lack of experience at scrum-half after Ben Youngs. While Dan Robson and Ben Spencer, who is likely to be included at some point, are two emerging players for England, Care carries with him 84 caps’ worth of experience, which could be valuable.
Additionally, many fans are not completely convinced by Brad Shields yet, who is in the squad ahead of Robshaw. Shields arrived in England this season from the Hurricanes in New Zealand with the aim of making the World Cup.
He has been solid for both Wasps and England, but not necessarily spectacular. Some feel that he has not done enough yet to oust Robshaw from the England team.
Hartley’s inability to recover from a knee injury has meant that his World Cup chances, and potentially his England career, is over. However, to some fans there was a sense of inevitability that this would happen as he has fought a losing battle to recover.
Like Hartley, the absences of Robshaw and Care could spell the end of their England careers as well, which is unfortunate in these circumstances.
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary series on what the fans can expect in Japan at the World Cup
