Campaigning England fans get half of what they wanted

Throughout the entire 2018/19 season, there has been a campaign by fans to get two of England’s biggest pariahs, Danny Cipriani and Alex Goode, back into the national team.

Fans had been baffled all season why Cipriani was neither in the Autumn internationals or Six Nations squads after his impressive displays in white in June 2018 against South Africa. Fans have been perhaps even more confused as to why Goode has not played for England since 2016.

Based on accolades alone, it could be argued that these two are the best players in England currently. Goode won the European Player of the Year this season, as well as the double with Saracens, while Cipriani was named both the RPA Players’ Player of the Year and the Premiership Player of the Year. These are the two most coveted awards in the domestic game in England, and were richly deserved.

Therefore, it was a mixed bag of emotions today as Eddie Jones announced his 38-man training squad for the World Cup, with Cipriani being selected but Goode missing out.

With Saracens and Exeter Chiefs players only being announced in the England squad today, after both had made the Premiership final, Goode’s omission has come as the greatest surprise. Cipriani was included in an initial training squad last week, and some felt that Jones may have been relenting on his perplexing exclusion of these two, but it was not to be for Goode.

The Saracen is capable of playing at fullback and fly-half, which could be an asset to England, particularly with Mike Brown also being overlooked in the England squad. But it is simply a case of his brilliant form which is why the fans cannot work out why he was not picked.

This is what has been said about Cipriani and Goode:

Cipriani has had a long history with the England team, which has been marred controversy at times, however, when looking solely at what he has done on the pitch this season, he had to be picked.

While the same could certainly be said about Goode, perhaps Jones feel the 21-cap international has had enough chances with England, much to the fans’ dismay.