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'I need someone to explain it to me': Former England star Matt Dawson puzzled by Eddie Jones' selections
By Online Editors
Former World Cup-winning England halfback Matt Dawson has questioned Eddie Jones' selection of some players in the scrum-half position ahead of his nation's World Cup warm-up clash with Wales at Twickenham this weekend.
Jones named a 33-man squad for the fixture earlier this week in preparation for next month's showpiece tournament, with veteran halfback Ben Youngs and the uncapped Kiwi-born Willi Heinz both included.
Dawson, who played 84 test matches for England and the British and Irish Lions between 1995 and 2006 and played a key role in England's World Cup success in 2003, said on BBC Radio Live 5 that he was a fan of the 87-test Youngs, but wasn't impressed at the squad's back-up options.
"If Ben Youngs goes down before [England's World Cup pool match against] France, that number nine has got to run the show," he said.
"Potentially you have someone with two or three caps going into that scenario. I need someone to explain it to me."
The experienced Danny Care is one of Heinz's rivals for the back-up position in Jones' squad, but the 32-year-old hasn't featured internationally since last November.
Others who care in the running for a place at the World Cup include rookies Jack Maunder, Ben Spencer and Dan Robson, who have five test caps between them, but all are playing second-fiddle to Heinz this week.
Born and raised in Christchurch, the ex-Crusaders scrum-half has been playing for Premiership outfit Gloucester since 2015, and qualifies for England through his Southampton-born grandmother, Aylieff.
The 32-year-old's selection in Jones' squad has garnered some criticism in the English media, but it's something he has brushed aside as he prepares for a potential test debut for his adopted nation.
"Honestly, I just ignore it," Heinz told The Guardian.
"I'm not on any sort of social media apart from Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family. If I worried about what 99 percent of the public were saying about me I'd get bogged down pretty quickly."
He went on to say that his grandmother helped shape his love for rugby, and that he had an affinity for both New Zealand and England.
"She was a very proud English woman and I was always sport mad. Not just rugby, all sports, and she was always really encouraging of me to come over, live in England and experience life over here.
"I know she would be really proud of me, playing professionally and bringing up a young family in a country she was so proud of."
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Latest Comments
I do in that sense yes. I just think when it gets to 'don't stand out, toe the line', team first becomes a poor excuse for anti-individualism. If this 10 feels aggrieved and believes in himself, he should have the right to say it and put his money where his mouth is. That said, you can't fault Galthie's response. Very gallant gallic insouciance. ( I too live in France) :)
Go to commentsHe was Defence coach with Castres when they won the French Championship and they had the best defence in the competition so he does have credibility, he also has coached Oyonnax with limited resources to beat teams in the top 14 with much bigger budgets so the idea that he has no credibility is ignorant and incorrect, whether he will turn out to be a success is something that nobody knows however the RFU didn't just just say to Borthwick pick your friend, he had been on their radar for at least 5 years or more.
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