Old news...he was already involved in an England camp last month...
...SA born Schonert another notable inclusion to an ever more multinational looking England team..
...Latest England training squad
Forwards: (20) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs: (16) Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Nathan Earle (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
OK - was the culprit Meyer in this case? Further playing club rugby In England - does that automatically qualify him for Springbok selection? The man is already 30 years of age and even if he start playing international rugby he is a relatively short career prospect.
It is in fact a real problem that he was not selected by Meyer when he was at his peak three years ago, Why was Alberts preferred when he actually played circa 10 minutes rugby in the WC and played virtually no rugby in the 15 months before the start of the WC?
Not sure about Willemse and Du Plessis at all. I see very few matches they played in - but from what I saw they may not have benefitted from a rugby performance development perspective.
Fact is that it is always better for players to get a solid platform on the international stage before going for the big club money. It definitely enhances their monetary value.
For Willmse to get into contention is very difficult as there are players like Etzebeth, Schickerling and Snyman blocking him in getting to the international stage in SA. Fact is that Willemse will soon be eligible to play for France and that may be the way he sees his own career going. The position of Du Plessis is even worse - he has De Jager, Du Toit and Roux blocking his way up the ladder ahead of him.
Dave may be right - he probably saw more games than the few I saw and the near to zero Mozart saw. I cannot make a firm deduction from what I saw - but Mozart does not hesitate to make comments without any matches being seen by him.
Excellent loose forward was Michael Rhodes, one of which was overlooked and could have make a great contribution to the Boks...the Saracen player is now an England selection...good for him.
Michael could have the 5th rugby Springbok for Michaelhouse (Patrick Lambie, Ross Cronje, Andries Coetzee and Ruan Combrink.).
It's a big pity.
