EDDIE JONES HAS named his 31-man England squad for the World Cup, with former Leinster centre Ben Te’o missing out.
The powerful midfielder is left out along with the likes of Brad Shields, Mike Brown and Ben Spencer.
Jones has included the uncapped Ruaridh McConnochie of Bath in his group to travel to Japan, while scrum-half Willi Heinz and back row Lewis Ludlam are also included after making their debuts in a win over Wales yesterday.
England boss Jones has named his squad four weeks earlier than required and has opted to select just two scrum-halves in Ben Youngs and New Zealand native Heinz.
Jones has gone for five props, with only two tightheads in Kyle Sinckler and Dan Cole, while Jack Singleton – who also debuted against Wales – is named among three hookers.
Ludlam is included in a group of five back rows, although locks Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes also cover the blindside flank.
Jones has named Owen Farrell and George Ford as his out-half options, while centre Piers Francis can also cover the 10 shirt.
A competitive group of back three players numbers six in total, with the uncapped McConnochie among them.
“We have taken the decision to go early because of what we learned from previous campaigns,” said Jones. “We want the squad to know early and now we can get on and be the best prepared England side there has ever been, ready to win the World Cup.”
England’s 31-man World Cup squad:
Props: Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Dan Cole
Hookers: Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jack Singleton
Locks: George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje
Back rows: Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Mark Wilson, Lewis Ludlam
Scrum-halves: Ben Youngs, Willi Heinz
Out-halves: Owen Farrell, George Ford
Centres: Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph, Piers Francis
Back threes: Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson, Jonny May, Joe Cokanasiga, Ruaridh McConnochie.
Very simple one there. Cluxton should be considered for player of the year.
Dublin may not have won sam without his distribution from kickouts. First clasd
he is being considered for player of the year
To even suggest hennelly shouldn’t get it would be just stupid
you are entitled to your opinion, but he still most likely won’t get it
Must be a lot of mayo people voting here
This is quite simple. Football goalkeeper is Cluxton. He was vital to Dublin winning the All Ireland. And the hurling goalkeeper has to be Nash he was outstanding for Cork.
until Cluxton can prove himself at the basics of goalkeeping then he cannot be considered the best. under high ball, one on one with forwards, basically everything a goalkeeper must deal with aside from kickouts he has yet to pass any tests. Hennelly came in from the cold in June and put in some top class displays including being the best player on the pitch for the All-Ireland final while Beggan was also much harder to beat than Cluxton when it came to taking him on for a goal
he is well proven with the basics, hence his previous four all-stars, hennelly conceded against Brogan because Brogan beat him to the high ball
And in the final in which he was the best player? I wonder why Bernard Brogan got the man of the match, maybe the two goals he scored against Hennelly?
Frainc dunno what match you were watching but Brogan beat Cafferkey to the high ball.
First goal: The same game, Flynn kicked it long Brogan leaps for the ball, outjumps defender, Hennelly decides to leave his line and also jumps for the ball, Brogans timing was right so the ball could go into an open net because the keeper was committed to the tackle. In a similar way, Cluxton over committed and was off his line which made the Mayo goal easier to place in the net. Second goal: Hennelly doesnt seem to expect Brogan to go for goal, Hennelly takes a step or two forward and was left stranded, Brogan easily scores.
That’s rubbish talk
Funniest thing I’ve ever seen written.hilarious comedy stuff .
Cluxton conceded 5 goals, did he not? Needs to work on his goalkeeping.
and made up for everything he conceded in points, at the end of the day, his contribution won games and lead to victory, a change from the traditional goalkeeping role but a valueable one nonetheless
This is a real no-brainer. If Stephen Cluxton doesn’t get this, it’ll be a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. .
Is it the Mayo for Sam brigade making all the dislikes? Cluxton is guaranteed an allstar as he is a standout in 2013 and justifiably has been nominated for Player of the Year too.
Hennelly is a top goalkeeper and will win many allstars in the future, can’t see him doing it this year. Hennelly got through Connacht without conceding, but its all against inferior opposition. The real killer match for Cluxton was the semi but to be fair, there is little he could have done with all three, it was a system that exposed the backline and he and the backs were in the firing line consistently. When it really counted in the final, Cluxton conceded one and Hennelly conceded two and ultimately, thats the game changer.
Season total: Hennelly conceded three, Cluxton 5. Interestingly all goals from both sides were conceded against Division One sides. For the sake of argument, couldn’t you argue that every three points that Cluxton conceded was made up for in points on the board? 14points for Cluxton undoes almost all five. Just sayin!
Nonsense… No other word captures your rant
What is nonsense? when i said Hennelly is a top goalkeeper?
Or saying that not conceding in Connacht is not a big deal?
Is it nonsense to suggest that Cluxton wasnt in the firing line more often due to the system of play?
Or nonsense that I said Hennelly conceded more than Cluxton in the final?
Or maybe saying Cluxton compensated for every goal by kicking points?
Any counter arguments, simply saying nonsense proves nothing. Or will we stick with the five year old sentiments and say vote Hennelly because he’s deadly, everyone else is rubbish.
Cluxton is an all ireland champion, he will deservingly win. End of story.
Who would you want in your nets? Has to be cluxton he has revolutionized the position. Destroyed the o shea brothers with the kick outs, kicks phenomenal points with ease, and is a model leader. Pity about the speech making…
Cluxton should just be given the all star every year at this stage best keeper in the country by a mile !
Stephen Cluxton
Cluxton is on a different planet.a blind man can see that.