England Selection | Rugby Union | Sport | Express.co.uk
It shouldn’t be, but the fact is that 31 of the 33 players summonsed for the last national training camp came from seven clubs. The other five provided just two between them.
If you are a player at a bottom-three club or based in the north the selection odds appear to be weighted against you. Ben Te’o, of Worcester, was the sole representative from the Premiership’s relegation zone while Tom Curry, of Sale, was the only player from a northern club in Oxford.
Is Eddie Jones missing something in shopping at the established giant supermarkets rather than the corner shops? Is there a potential gem out there?
Take Alex Lewington, the London Irish wing who takes on Leicester’s Jonny May today. He has been outstanding in a losing cause this season. If he had stayed at the Tigers, where he came through the academy, would the England management have given him a chance by now instead of, say, Marland Yarde?
“To get into a training camp and to have the opportunity for them to see me at first hand would be awesome,” said Lewington.
“Maybe lads who are in my position at a top club would have more opportunities within games to impress but Eddie is a fair judge. We’ve seen him pick people who he has seen something in rather than just those who score the most tries or whatever so I have as good a chance as anyone as long as my performance is there.