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'There was no hesitation about the fact that he wanted to play for England'

(Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has expressed his delight that Wales-qualified Harry Randall has instead declared for England, the Bristol scrum-half becoming one of three uncapped Test players included on Friday in the 28-strong squad that will assemble next Wednesday ahead of the February 6 championship opener at home to Scotland.

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The flow of uncapped players who have dual allegiance has gone against England in recent times. Callum Sheedy and Jonny Williams, who had played for England against the Barbarians in 2019, were capped by Wales in 2020, as was England age-grade pick Nick Tompkins.

It also emerged on Wednesday that Cameron Redpath, an England age-grade player who trained with Jones’ senior squad during last spring’s 2020 Six Nations, had declared for Scotland.

However, the selection of Wales-qualified Randall, 23, along with Italian-qualified Paolo Odogwu, also 23, in the England squad for the upcoming Six Nations gave Jones plenty reason to smile at his post-squad announcement media briefing.

Speaking over Zoom while in self-isolation following the recent positive test for Covid of forwards coach Matt Proudfoot, Jones said about Randall: “Look, he wants to play for England. We want guys who want to play for England.

“There are a lot of players out there that have options to play for a number of countries. We want players that want to play for England. There was no hesitation about the fact that he wanted to play for England. He is a good young player. He will put pressure on Ben Youngs and Dan Robson, which is a good thing. But it is not so much the youth that is a factor, it’s the quality of his play that is the key thing for us.

“We have been watching Harry for a long time now, at least two seasons. He continues to develop his game, and his running and initiative in attack is the thing that has really caught the eye. I’m really pleased with his development.”

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Switching to Odogwu, who came to prominence in recent months as both a midfielder and winger at Wasps, Jones added: “Paolo is a guy we saw at the end of last season, he has got power, has got a bit of an X-factor and we are looking for another centre that has got that, another winger that has that. He has been consistently dynamic in that and able to break lines.

“His ball-carrying ability, he has got the ability to beat people. He has got a good sense for the line and just an enthusiastic player, a very enthusiastic player.”

Jones chose 33 players when he picked his squad for their last outing, the Nations Cup final win over France in December. That number has now been cut by five. In going from 15 down to 12 backs, Odogwu and Randell came in for Joe Cokanasiga, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Ollie Thorley and Jacob Umaga.

Also, in going from 18 to 16 forwards, Courtney Lawes, the uncapped Beno Obano and Mark Wilson were included instead of Alfie Barbeary, Charlie Ewels, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola and Jack Willis.

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The injured Vunipola will join with the squad to undertake rehab during the tournament, while the likes of Marchant, Mitchell, Umaga, Ewels and Willis are part of a twelve-strong shadow squad who will undertake the same testing procedures that are being used by England so that they can immediately come into camp if needed.

“The reason we have named the shadow squad is they will be under the same testing procedure as our 28 players and if we do have a difficulty with the squad we will be able to bring in players from the shadow squad because they will be on the same testing regime as our squad. “It is an easy fit for us, but otherwise they are with their clubs and they will continue to play and train with their clubs.”

Regarding Sinckler, his usual first-choice tighthead who has been excluded due to round one suspension, Jones said: “We’ll judge his selection when he becomes available. That is the judgement we will make when he becomes available.”

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J
JPM 43 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 45 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

11 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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