‘Outstanding’ Heinz is backed for finishing role
EDDIE Jones feels that Willi Heinz can play a crucial role as one of England’s finishers at the World Cup.
The uncapped Gloucester captain has emerged as a shock contender to go to Japan in September and has been named in the 35-man squad for the first official training camp, which begins on Sunday.
Heinz, 32, has been training with the squad this week and his only previous involvement came in a training squad two years ago.
He was one of three scrum-halves in the squad and looks set to compete with Saracens’ Ben Spencer as a chance to act as understudy to first choice number nine Ben Youngs.
Explaining the reason for his selection, head coach Jones hailed Heinz as “outstanding” for Gloucester last season.
“We had a look at him a couple of years ago, he had a couple of injuries so we let that slide for a while,” he said.
“We just feel at the end of the game potentially we need a half back who can really organise the team and he’s very good at that.”
Heinz was joined in the England squad by Gloucester team-mate Danny Cipriani, although Jones insisted their half-back partnership did not influence his decision.
Cipriani made his first international start in 10 years against South Africa last summer and was named Premiership Player of the Season and RPA Player of the Year after some superb performances for Gloucester.
The 31-year-old had been overlooked by Jones since being arrested on Gloucester’s pre-season tour to Jersey last year but he has now given him the chance to show he has the right character to be part of his plans in Japan.
“This is the most exciting opportunity for the team because it’s the only time in England Rugby where you get four or five weeks with the players to actually build the team and he’s got an opportunity to show it just like the other 37 players (including injured players Mako Vunipola, George Kruis and Jack Nowell) so I’m eager to see how we go,” said Jones.
Another one of the eye-catching names in the squad was Ruaridh Mcconnochie, who is a former student at the University of Gloucestershire.
He has enjoyed an impressive first season with Bath after making the move from sevens, where he played for England and won an Olympic silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
“Players pick themselves,” said Jones.
“It was a pretty easy selection. He’s played brilliantly for Bath, then we
delved a bit into his background, his character.
“I had a few meetings with him. He’s a good character, a good team man, an ideal guy to fit potentially as a utility back for the Worlcup.
“He can play 11, 14, 15, maybe 13 at a pinch. He reminds me of Peter Hewitt the way he moves. He’s a handy player.”
Former Gloucester player Dan Robson was one of those players cut from the squad that has been training this week with Saracens and Exeter players added.
The Wasps scrum-half fought his way back to fitness after blood clots were discovered in his leg during the Six Nations but Jones has suggested he could still come back into the reckoning before the final 31-man squad is announced on August 12 and thus compete with Heinz for a place on the plane to Japan.
“It’s been difficult for him,” said Jones.
“He’s been out for three months. We’re satisfied enough that he can keep competing and he can feature in later camps.”
Jones’ “open door policy” still gives hope for Gloucester pair Ollie Thorley and Val Rapava Ruskin who have been training with the squad this week but did not make the latest cut.
Joe Marler’s return from retirement may have seen Rapava Ruskin edged out but Jones insists he is not a shoo-in for the final squad.
“He’s got plenty of competition, guys like Ben Moon, Ellis Genge, Ruskin, all competing against him,” said Jones.
“There’s no entitlement to a squad selection.
“We’ve got 45 players (in the elite player squad) we can potentially select from and we’ll continue to manipulate the squad to get the best we need. There’s competition still going on for places. “We’ve just got to try and make sure we get the right squad for Japan.”
Former Gloucester players Jonny May and Sam Underhill and former Hartpury College student Ellis Genge were also in the squad.