Wednesday 6 May 2015 16:22, UK
Dewi Morris has questioned whether it is the RFU or Premiership clubs that are preventing overseas players being picked for England.
For the third year in a row an Englishman has been named European Player of the Year as Clermont Auvergne's Nick Abendanon follows Steffon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson.
Abendanon and Armitage are not eligible to play at this year's World Cup because they ply their trade in France, but Morris told Sky Sports News HQ that Stuart Lancaster needs to pick the best players if they are to triumph on home soil, and that includes the above duo.
“Why wouldn’t you want to pick your best players going into a World Cup?” asked Morris. “As long as these players who move to France negotiate a contract that allows them to be released at certain times, I don’t think that is a problem.
“People can play up in Newcastle and it takes the same amount of time as travelling from Paris, but that’s not the problem. England want to keep their best players in the Premiership, and my problem here is, who’s making these rules? Is it Stuart Lancaster and the RFU or is it the power of the Premiership? If it’s the latter, I think that’s wrong.”
Who’s making these rules? Is it Stuart Lancaster and the RFU or is it the power of the Premiership? If it’s the latter I think that’s wrong
Morris believes the form Abendanon has shown since swapping Bath for Clermont last summer has increased the pressure on Lancaster and the RFU.
“I think Nick is an outstanding player,” he said. “He does make mistakes, by his own admission, but he also has moments of brilliance. He is Clermont’s favourite player and has only been there for one season. He can light up the dreariest of matches.
“I’ve watched this guy many times in a Bath shirt and an England Saxons shirt and I’m a big fan of his. The problem is England’s inability to pick these players in France. I’ve never been a fan of that and I would like to think Stuart Lancaster and the RFU will pick their best squad for the World Cup. It’s just around the corner and it’s not only Abendanon.
“It’s well documented what I think about Steffon Armitage and England’s balance in the back row. They need an out-and-out seven. I would love these two to be included in England’s squad for the World Cup warm-up games.”
England duo Tom Youngs and Tom Wood believe parachuting overseas players into the squad will upset morale, but Morris doesn’t believe that is a good enough reason to keep them out.
He said: “Steffon Armitage is a very good seven and would give England an added weapon, and while I’m a big fan of Chris Robshaw, I believe his position is at six, where Wood currently is.
“These players can say what they want, but who is European Player of the Year? There are players playing in France at the top of their ability in fantastic sides, learning more about the game than they have in the Premiership.”
Toulon pair Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell could be lining up against England and Wales at the World Cup after Australia relaxed their rules on overseas players, and Morris says it could prove a huge decision in the battle for the quarter-finals.
“Toulon have won the Champions Cup three times and everyone points to Jonny Wilkinson’s kicking for the first two. I’m sorry, but it was Giteau’s influence that was the crucial aspect.
“Drew Mitchell is an incredible finisher, as he proved on Saturday, and he can play across the back or the midfield.
“Michael Cheika has gone to the ARU and said, ‘I need these two on board’. So they’ve made a rule where you need at least 60 caps.
“Wales, Australia and England are all in the same World Cup group, and only two are getting out.”
