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Eddie Jones' snubbing will likely see Ben Te'o leave England
By Ian Cameron
Snubbed England centre Ben Te'o will likely depart England following his apparent Rugby World Cup snubbing at the hands of Eddie Jones.
Te'o is currently 'unattached' but has been linked with a move back to the Southern Hemisphere after Worcester Warriors confirmed he would be departing the club last April.
The former NRL star has also been linked with clubs in Japan and France.
In France, Racing 92, Toulouse and Toulon have all been reported to have expressed interest in the centre, while the Sunwolves in Japan are also said to be eager to add him to their team in what will be their final Super Rugby Season.
However, it is his native Australia that is the most likely destination for the blockbusting centre.
The Auckland born Te'o is thought to he be a target of Brad Thorn at the Queensland Reds. The Reds are set to lose Samu Kerevi to Japan at the end of the season and it seems Thorn views Te’o as the perfect replacement for the departing centre.
The now 32-year-old joined Warriors from Leinster three years ago and has won 20 international caps, two for the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand two years ago, during his time at Sixways.
He made a total of just 36 first-team appearances for Warriors in three season. He scored eight tries.
Born in New Zealand to an English mother, Te’o has 18 caps for England and featured for the British and Irish Lions in their Test series versus New Zealand in 2017.
But with the former South Sydney Rabbitoh set to turn 33 before the 2020 Six Nations, the Rugby World Cup in Japan would likely have been his last hurrah for his adopted country.
There is some hope for Te'o's England chances. Jones said of those left out of the 33-man squad for Wales: “Players excluded from being involved in this camp are naturally disappointed but may get another opportunity so they must be ready.”
Leaving selection aside, Te'o's ability to cover both centre positions could see him involved as an injury replacement even if he doesn't make the 31-man plane.
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Latest Comments
A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!
The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.
Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)
I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.
This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).
This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.
Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!
Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍
Go to commentsWouldn’t mind seeing that grounding in slow mo there. Too much to ask?
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