WAITING GAME
»Morgan denied England chance after missing out on final squad,
BEN Morgan has been released from England’s squad ahead of their international against South Africa on Saturday.
Head coach Eddie Jones has retained 25 players but Bath’s Zach Mercer looks set to start at number eight after being preferred to Gloucester’s Morgan.
Morgan has been training with the England squad in Portugal after earning his first call-up in over three years ahead of the autumn internationals but will have to wait longer if he is going to get another chance to pull on the white jersey.
But Morgan insists he never gave up on playing for England again.
The Gloucester number eight has not played for his country since the pool stage exit at the 2015 Rugby World Cup but his early season form earned him a call-up to Jones’ squad.
Morgan, 29, accepted he would not add to add to the 31 caps he added over a three-and-a-halfyear period but always hoped his chance would come again.
“I never gave up. That’s not me, not my character,” said Morgan.
“I’d made peace with the fact I’d made my last appearance, but I’m not the sort of person to give up.
“I thought I’ll give my all and see what happens.
“Thankfully I made it back into the training camp.
“Last year when I was injured so much, I couldn’t even throw my name into the hat.
“When you’re injured and not playing, you don’t deserve to be up there.
“You have to prove you’re worth and why you’re there.
“It’s not about what you did previously, it’s about what you’re doing currently. Eddie wants to pick on form.”
Morgan was not even on Jones’ radar earlier in the season but a string of impressive performances for the Cherry and Whites, combined with an injury to Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes’ suspension, put him back into contention.
He struggled for fitness and form in the 2017-18 season after tearing his hamstring in pre-season and faced a battle to get into Gloucester’s side after the arrival of South African Ruan Ackermann but paid tribute to the club coaches for helping to get him back on track.
I’d made peace with the fact I’d made my last appearance, but I’m not the sort of person to give up
Ben Morgan
“I had a pretty torrid last season with injuries and niggly things,” said Morgan.
“I sat down with Johan (Ackermann, Gloucester head coach) and in my mind I was focusing on pre-season and how could I develop myself for next year because I’d missed most of last season.
“My attitude to pre-season is that it’s a massive opportunity to get into shape because you’re not taking the impacts.
“This year the biggest difference has been able to do a full pre-season.
“Being able to do a full pre-season was a massive advantage. I was able to run quicker and farther is a testament to the S&C guys.”