Friday 1 May 2015 17:07, UK
Clermont Auvergne wing Nick Abendanon insists a place in Stuart Lancaster's England World Cup squad this autumn is 'out of his hands' and any sterling performance in the Challenge Cup final will not improve his chances.
Abendanon has been discussed for a potential return to the international fold but England are expected to continue their resolute stance of not selecting players who play abroad.
Steffon Armitage is another who would seemingly walk into Lancaster’s squad if he was playing in the Aviva Premiership but Abendanon insists England is out of his mind ahead of Saturday's clash with Toulon, live on Sky Sports 3.
"To be honest with you, I know there's been a lot of talk about the World Cup, but at the end of the day it's got nothing to do with how well me and Stef are going to play tomorrow," Abendanon said.
"We've both done our part for our teams to get ourselves into this position in the first place and Stuart's going to be the only one who can make that decision.
"I'm sure we'll just go out and do exactly as we have done throughout the tournament and it's out of our hands so there's nothing we can really change.”
Abendanon has been in excellent form this season since moving to the French Top-14 league from Bath last summer, and he said: "I think I've definitely improved as a player, coming into a new environment.
"I was very comfortable at Bath having been there 10 years. but you learn things being coached by new coaches and playing with some of the best players I've had the privilege of playing with.
"The reason I left Bath in the first place was to come to a team like Clermont that would compete for titles and in the Champions Cup. To have reached a final in my first year at the club is a dream come true."
Clermont Auvergne v Toulon, Champions Cup final, Saturday May 2, Sky Sports 3HD, 4pm
