SALE SLAM SNUB FOR PROP JOHN
SALE boss Steve Diamond has hit out over Wales’ autumn snub to prop Willgriff John, saying he is ‘astounded’ by the decision. The powerhouse Sharks tighthead had been picked by Wayne Pivac to start last March’s postponed Six Nations clash with Scotland – but suddenly finds himself axed entirely from the 38-man squad.
Pivac has instead gone with Tomas Francis, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis and Leon Brown, his options for the number three role having been bolstered in recent weeks.
John is the unluckiest player to miss out, given he was Pivac’s firstchoice for a game that wasn’t played and didn’t get a chance to prove himself in the Test arena.
Diamond, Sale’s director of rugby, insists he hasn’t been told the reasons for his star forward’s surprise Wales omission.
“I was astounded when I saw they hadn’t picked him,” Diamond is quoted as saying in The Rugby Paper.
“I think it’s a poor decision, I’m disappointed.
“We have had no contact from Wales. I spoke to Griff on Wednesday just to make sure he was OK and allay any fears he may have had over missing out
“Usually with our English, Scottish and South African players, their management teams are in regular contact with some suggestions of things to work on. I’ve not heard from the Welsh camp, which is very strange.”
Wales have six games this autumn, starting with France and then the rearranged Scotland clash, that John originally had been due to play in, this month.
Pivac feels the available again Francis and Lee can help resolve that problem in the big games this autumn, while the younger duo of Lewis and Brown will continue their development.
But Sale feel Wales have made an error in overlooking their man entirely.
“While Griff has been a massive work in progress over the last two years, he has also been a dominant tighthead,” continued Diamond.
“In two-and-a-half years he has only missed four games for us out of 100 due to injury.
“He’s a huge man, a good scrummager and a good defender.
“He’s disappointed, but he’s worldy-wise.
“Griff’s just got to keep working hard.
“You’d think that in building a squad for the World Cup Wales would like to have a look at him.”