Wallabies head coach, Eddie Jones, has made a surprising statement regarding Marcus Smith's selection for England, claiming that Steve Borthwick was coerced into picking the Harlequins flyhalf.
“The selection of Marcus, to me, that’s always the political selection,” Jones said.
“A player has been out of form, hasn’t quite done well at Test level, and then he plays one or two club games, and he’s a hero.
“The media starts banging on the door – ‘you’ve got to pick him’ – and then the board reacts to that, and ask: ‘Why aren’t you picking him?’ When you’re a young coach at the start of your career, you can get influenced by that.
“I really felt for Marcus in that game [against France]. The thing you’ve got in England is the intenseness of the media, which then affects the board, and they start to step in, and that’s when you get problems. Allow the coach to coach.
“The board have a strategic role, but because they feel the pressure, they try to get involved in the operational side, and that’s when things get worse.
“Unless you have strong people around the team, that can be a difficulty.”
The claims of the board influencing Borthwick's decision were denied by an RFU spokesperson.
“Team selection is entirely Steve’s decision as England head coach,”
“It’s personal” – Five players who won’t play for England again under Steve Borthwick
Steve Borthwick has been brutal In his short time in charge of England, dropping a number of major stars ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
Below, we look at three established stars who are unlikely to win another cap.
#1. Joe Marler
Age: 32
Position: Loosehead-prop
Caps: 83
Joe Marler of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Marler is unlikely to return to the England team during the 2023 Six Nations after he breached one of Steve Borthwick’s main rules.
The new England boss has a “no sh**talking policy” with England, whereby he expects players to behave appropriately on the pitch.
As a result, Marler was left out of the Six Nations squad despite his fine form with Harlequins this season.
Marler’s latest ban was for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan about his mother.
At this stage, an international return looks very unlikely.
DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
#2. Billy Vunipola
Billy Vunipola of England in possession ahead of Kazuki Himeno of Japan during the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
Age: 30
Position: Number 8
Caps: 64
Borthwick excluded Powerhouse No8 Vunipola from the Six Nations squad, opting for Alex Dombrandt from Harlequins and Sam Simmons from Exeter as specialists.
Vunipola made a return to the England squad last summer under Eddie Jones and played in the autumn Test series.
However, in Borthwick's first selection, he made significant changes, resulting in Vunipola being among several experienced players left out.
With Zach Mercer set to return to England this summer, yet another recall for Billy is starting to look very unlikely.
Appearing on The Rugby Pod, Andy Goode said: “This is the thing, pre-match doing the analysis, seven of that eight pack that monstered by France started every Six Nations game.
"Dombrandt, non-existent in the game, has been poor in the Six Nations. I look at the squad thinking, ‘You want some ballast, bring Billy back’.
"Billy ain’t there and I’m hearing the reasons around Billy not being involved in the Steve Borthwick squad is because they had a fallout. Had a fallout and Steve won’t pick him for that reason.
“From what I hear and understand it’s personal. Steve won’t pick Billy Vunipola because of what happened previously between them.”
DID YOU KNOW? He is the nephew of two other former international players, Manu and 'Elisi Vunipola, who both represented Tonga in the 1990s
#3. Danny Care
Age: 36
Position: Scrum-half
Caps: 87
Returning to the England squad in the summer for the tour of Australia, Borthwick reported told Care that he had 'no chance' of a recall as he looks to take the team in a different direction.
Danny Care of England arriving before the six Nations Championship match, between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, London , UK, on the 17th March 2017. (Photo:Dean Lancaster/PPAUK)
#4.Jack Nowell
Age: 29
Position: Winger
Caps: 51
With a move to France pending, the Exeter Chiefs flier went from vice-captain in the Autumn to being completely out of the squad for the Six Nations, reportedly without a phone call.
Jack Nowell of Exeter Chiefs during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park, Exeter on 28th January 2023. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#5. Jonny May
Age: 32
Position: Winger
Caps: 72
The Gloucester speedster, who is England's second top try-scorer of all-time with 35, was another veteran who was unceremoniously axed by Borthwick. h
With injury problems becoming more and more frequent, May will need a significant upturn in form to have any chance of a recall.
Ollie Hassell-Collins is primed to start for England this weekend with the likes of Max Malins, Adam Radwan, Cadan Murley and Henry Arundell all vying for a place in the England team.
DID YOU KNOW? studied at Hartpury College, where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included future Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert
Luke Cowan-Dickie of England, Kyle Sinckler of England, Jonny May of England and David Ribbans of England looks dejected after losing during the Autumn Nations International Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham, London on 26 November 2022 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
