The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Surprise as Te’o left out of England squad
Eddie Jones explained Ben Te’o’s shock omission from England’s World Cup squad by declaring he was simply not good enough to be selected.
Until he had an altercation with team-mate Mike Brown during a social event at the squad’s warmweather camp in Treviso a fortnight ago, Te’o was considered a certainty for Japan 2019.
The 32-year-old Test Lion was an ever-present under Jones, was picked to play for England even when having spent months out injured and toured Australia in 2016 before having turned out for his club Worcester.
But in a dramatic fall from grace, he has been overlooked for the 31-man squad that will depart for the tournament on September 8, losing out to Piers Francis, who has been limited to five caps.
Jones said: “I’m not going to go into reasons why Ben Te’o hasn’t been selected. We’ve had that conversation with Ben. He understands it. Whether he agrees with it is another matter but we’ve had that discussion and he’s not in our top 31 players at the moment.”
Sevens specialist and 2016 Olympic silver-medallist Ruaridh McConnochie continues a great year by being present as the only uncapped player on the strength of an impressive end to his debut season for Bath.
Flanker Lewis Ludlam has been plucked from obscurity at Northampton in another pick that would have been unthinkable as recently as May and he profits from Brad Shields’ foot injury.
Hooker Jack Singleton and scrum-half Willi Heinz made their debuts in Saturday’s rout of Wales and are also chosen. Jones said: “Firstly, I think it’s always nice to bring new blood in. It freshens everything up.
“Ruaridh we’ve been watching quite closely through the club season. I was impressed. Once he came into camp, he cemented our impression of him.
“He’s a very good worker, a very good communicator. He’s a mature boy who has played a number of positions, so he was a pretty easy selection in the end.
“Lewis absolutely came from nowhere. We’ve been watching him in club rugby.
“He did particularly well and again we thought we’d roll the dice and bring him into camp. Every week he got better and against Wales we saw a display that’s only just the start of his career.”
Jones has gambled by taking only two scrum-halves – with Heinz deputising for Ben Youngs, who is first choice in the position – while George Ford will offer emergency cover.
The decision to pick just five props means Harry Williams misses out, Kyle Sinckler and Dan Cole travelling as the two tightheads to complement looseheads Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler and Ellis Genge.
Tom Curry (shoulder), Jack Nowell ( ankle), Henry Slade (knee) and Sam Underhill (toe) are expected to recover from their injuries before England set off for the World Cup.