EDDIE CALL-UP WOULD MAKE ME ECSTATIC
Sarries’ South African Michael Rhodes on his hopes of playing for England. . .
THE BEST player in the best team in Europe is a South African who wants to represent England.
Michael Rhodes is keen to join Saracens’ vast England contingent when he qualifies on residency next year.
While the north London club are supplying six players to the Lions — three of whom made it on to the shortlist for the latest world Player of the Year award — Rhodes was recently voted player of the season by his team-mates, ahead of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, the Vunipolas and all the rest.
The 29-year-old from Durban has appeared in all but one fixture throughout another epic campaign, including Saturday’s European Champions Cup win over Clermont Auvergne, and has been a major influence.
When Saracens face Exeter in their Aviva Premiership semifinal at Sandy Park tomorrow, director of rugby Mark McCall will be well aware of Rhodes’s vital importance to his team.
Now the blindside flanker — who can also operate at lock — has revealed his desire to play for England when he’s eligible.
Rhodes told Sportsmail: ‘I didn’t come over here thinking about playing for England.
‘I knew there was a qualifying period so that wasn’t part of my thought process at all, but things have gone really well.
‘If England came calling, I would definitely be keen to get involved. They are really playing well and seem to be doing everything right. They are winning games and have a really strong, competitive team.
‘I would be delighted to be involved. It’s a tough one though. It’s a weird situation. There’s the boyhood dream of wearing that Springbok shirt, but then potentially a great opportunity to play for an England side who are winning trophies all over the shop and playing really good rugby.
‘If I was asked to get involved with England, it wouldn’t be a case of turning it down because my heart was with South Africa, but boyhood dreams make it a complicated one. I think you have to make a decision based on how you feel at the time.
‘I feel like I’m playing well and I qualify next year, in June. If I got a call-up, it would be a dream come true. I would be ecstatic.’
Rhodes spent several years striving to make an impression in South Africa in the hope of earning a Springboks call-up.
He had stints at the Sharks, Lions and Stormers, and took part in a couple of training camps with the Boks, but caps continued to elude him.
Last year, there was contact from the South Africa set-up to let him know he was still on their radar, but that was as far as it went. Now, there is a new selection criteria which would count against him representing the land of his birth.
‘They have a rule now that you have to have 50 caps to be picked if playing outside the country,’ he said — as someone 50 short of that tally.
‘I sort of stuck a pin in my Springbok aspirations and decided I wasn’t going to put off experiencing new things just in the hope that I would be picked for the Springboks. I had been patient. I wanted a change.’
What a change! Rhodes is coming to the end of his second season and is laden with medals. And the players’ player prize meant a lot.
‘It was unbelievable,’ he said. ‘It’s an honour to have won an award voted for by the players. To earn their respect is great. I’ve played consistently this year.’
If he keeps doing that, Eddie Jones might just decide that the best player at the best club in Europe is simply too good to ignore.