Fearns warns more will quit England amid Shields row
CARL Fearns believes Eddie Jones’ decision to fast-track Hurricanes captain Brad Shields into England’s squad could backfire by persuading more home-grown back rowers to move abroad.
Fearns, whose decision to join Lyon in 2015 was prompted by Rugby League convert Sam Burgess usurping his back row spot at Bath, claims Premiership standouts Don Armand and Jamie Gibson can feel particularly hard done by after being overlooked.
Fearns told TRP: “There’s no issue with Shields actually playing for England because his parents are English, but for me it sends out the wrong message to guys who are slogging it out in the Premiership and playing well week-in, week-out.
“Eddie’s basically telling them they’re not good enough and it’s difficult for the other back rowers because they get told they have to play in the Premiership to play for England, but then see a guy fast-tracked in who hasn’t been playing there.
“I could understand it if he was a Billy Vunipolatype player who gives you huge go-forward in midfield, which is what England missed in the Six Nations, but I’ve watched Brad Shields play and I don’t see what he brings that the others don’t.
“When you’ve got the likes of Don Armand and Jamie Gibson, who’s had a fantastic season in a struggling Northampton side, playing as well as they have and proving themselves weekly in the Premiership, it just seems very strange to me.”
Fearns, 28, added: “It reinforces that I made the right decision to play in France because even if you are in England they’ll still do anything just to get in people they want.
“When you’re fast-tracking people there’s always a danger that you’ll lose some of your existing talent. Players work hard to gain credit and when someone just comes in ahead of you, as happened to me at Bath, it’s annoying and very frustrating.”
Fearns believes England lack power at the gain-line and have missed a trick by not recalling enforcer Dave Attwood after an impressive loan spell at Toulon.
He said: “If Dave carries on playing as he did here he should be knocking on the door for England again. The game is becoming more about power and Dave’s certainly got that. England got belted back by France in the Six Nations but Dave’s made a big impression here and he could have made an impact in South Africa.”
Fearns, meanwhile, is recovering from the ACL injury that wrecked his season but did not prevent shock troops Lyon reaching the Top 14 play-offs.
“I’ve just done a threeweek block of rehab at Altius Healthcare, based at the Manchester Institute of Sport, where their guys Doug Jones and Simon Edward have really stepped up my recovery so I can be back for next season,” Fearns explained.
“It’s been frustrating being out but Lyon have achieved everything they wanted this season and I’m looking forward to my next two years here.”