Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Campaigning England fans get half of what they wanted

Danny Cipriani stretching at an England training in July (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Video Spacer

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:

https://twitter.com/s_n_e_l_l_s/status/1146746752067919872?s=20
https://twitter.com/tjjodmill117/status/1146744469498269696?s=20
https://twitter.com/RichKisbee/status/1146751856552624128?s=20
https://twitter.com/DMWoodward17/status/1146744013845909504?s=20
https://twitter.com/ashbaker6/status/1146746805138460672?s=20
https://twitter.com/ryanharding97/status/1146744122868477952?s=20
https://twitter.com/LastWordOlly/status/1146744590076207106?s=20
https://twitter.com/MaxyHendo/status/1146745374377463809?s=20
https://twitter.com/michaelsearles_/status/1146744788802293761?s=20
https://twitter.com/CottonSebastion/status/1146747249562722304?s=20
https://twitter.com/rendellx/status/1146747027960844288?s=20

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

England XV v France XV | Full Match Replay

South Africa v British & Irish Lions | 1997 | Second Test | The Vaults

"The Opportunity Of A Lifetime" | Wallabies All In: Episode 1

Are these the best ever Lions performances?

Pollock Loses Bill, Players Meet Their Roommates & Training in Portugal | Ep 1: The Ultimate Test

Top 10 inspiring Lions speeches

United States of Rugby | Episode 1 – Welcome to Dawgtown

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
B.J. Spratt 30 minutes ago
Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

Great team. I really hope the All Blacks give France their biggest defeat in Test History.


Fabien Galthie: “I have no choice but to select a second-choice squad for their upcoming three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand in July”


As explained by the FFR (Fédération Française de Rugby), Fabien Galthié will be allowed to:

– Select a group of 42 players, composed primarily of players who had played little to no game time in the previous Six Nations.


– Five players in total from the Top 14 finalists can be in the squad. However, those who have already played a certain number of games [not stipulated by any of the parties] can’t be included.


It suits Galthie’s aspirations for the next World Cup to tour with a second choice squad. No doubt the tour will ‘produce a star or two for France.


Let’s hope the All Blacks start well in the First Test of the series and sit the frogs on their arse.


Galthie is also allowed to bring French players to N.Z. who didn’t play in the First Test.


If France B, excel in the first test, I am pretty sure Galthie won’t be calling on his French Test players.


Let’s hope the All Blacks turn the French into "cuisses de grenouille"

99 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING ‘The journey continues’: Fan favourite makes call on Chiefs future ‘The journey continues’: Fan favourite makes call on Chiefs future
Search