Dallaglio calls for Wilkinson ban

[TRF_Cymro]

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio believes Jonny Wilkinson should be banned from for playing for his country after committing his future to French Top 14 club Toulon.

Speaking in an interview with Rugby World, Dallaglio outlines his view that once a player accepts a big money move abroad he gives up the right to play for England. His hard-hitting comments follow the Rugby Football Union recent announcement that players based outside of England following the next World Cup would only be selected for national duty under "exceptional circumstances".

But Dallaglio's preference would be to go one step further and have players like Wilkinson dropped from the squad for this year's Six Nations Championship and ruled out of the World Cup equation.

"It's clear to me that if you want to play for your country you stay in your country," said Dallaglio. "If you want to go and earn lots of money then by all means do that, but don't expect to play for your country."

Wilkinson, who recently agreed a contract extension with Toulon that will see him stay in the south of France until the summer of 2013, would not be the only victim of such a ban with Stade Francais back row James Haskell and lock Tom Palmer also currently playing French rugby's top flight.

http://www.espnscrum.com/francetop14-2010-11/rugby/story/131798.html​

 

[MichaelBoard]

Fair play to Dallaglio for making his feelings public. Was a bit surprised that he would do so considering that Wilkinson was a former team mate and a friend of his, but what he says is spot on. If you want to play for your country you should abide by the selection policy and stay playing in their country.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Makes sense,

Wilkinson shouldn't really be considered anyhow. He was always in there because he was the best kicker around, but now he's not better than many others - in defence he's still one of the best 10s going, but we should be bringing new guys (or at least different guys) through - his new contract (and all the bull plop about not picking overseas players) should mean he won't be in there anyhow

It's nice to know you've got a guy like him to fall back on in a bad situation, if there's a ton of injuries, but I wouldn't have him in my 6N/WC squad

 

[The big Kangaroo]

well he did kick the walabies out of the last two world cups. but he probally will still end up playing for england

 

[MichaelBoard]

I agree with you Olly, nice to know that you've got a player of that calibre and experience to fall back on but hes no longer the best around and its time for England to move forward and blood players like Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty etc. Its much the same with Wales, as much as I hate to admit it because think hes an exceptional player, its time for Wales to slowly fade out Stephen Jones and start playing Dan Biggar (though I really detest him and think hes rubbish) and Jason Tovey because Stephen Jones can't go on forever although I'd like him to!

 

[Feicarsinn]

I agree with you Olly, nice to know that you've got a player of that calibre and experience to fall back on but hes no longer the best around and its time for England to move forward and blood players like Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty etc. Its much the same with Wales, as much as I hate to admit it because think hes an exceptional player, its time for Wales to slowly fade out Stephen Jones and start playing Dan Biggar (though I really detest him and think hes rubbish) and Jason Tovey because Stephen Jones can't go on forever although I'd like him to!

Wouldn't do that until the World Cup now! Jones is still the best 10 in the Valleys and should be first choice come the WC. Trying to bring in the likes of Tovey and Biggar before then could be a big mistake in Wales' preparation.

 

[MichaelBoard]

Wouldn't do that until the World Cup now! Jones is still the best 10 in the Valleys and should be first choice come the WC. Trying to bring in the likes of Tovey and Biggar before then could be a big mistake in Wales' preparation.

Oh yeah I agree with you, didn't make myself clear, he is our undisputed number 1 and it would be daft to mess about with at this stage and definitely not before the World Cup. If we have any hopes of doing well in the World Cup then Stephen Jones has got to be at 10 but looking abit further ahead Gatland is going to have to start giving Tovey and Biggar some time or even Hook because after the World Cup if Stephen Jones drops a bombshell out of the blue and decides to retire then we'd be in the **** having to drop Tovey or Biggar into the deep end. But for now Stephen Jones stays and should stay for as long as possible until somebody steps up to the plate and is ready to take over. Even when/if he loses his starting place he would be an excellent player to have on the bench like O'Gara for Ireland now that he has fallen behind Sexton in the pecking order.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Out of curiosity, who'd you have as the next Welsh 10? As far as I can see there are only three options at the mo, in the form of Tovey, Hook and Biggar. Hook is the only one with real international experience , while Biggar doesn't seem to have progressed in the way people would have wanted him to. Tovey no the other hand, doesn't seem to have got a look in so far.

 

[MichaelBoard]

Feircassin for me it would be either Hook or Tovey. Theres also Priestland in the framw whos been playing particularly well for the Scarlets. As for Biggar I've never liked him since the buildup to the Dragons - Ospreys game at Rodney Parade when he said something like he was the better 10 and just was being generally cocky (he ended up eating his words because Tovey was by far the better 10 that day and the Dragons were by far the better team) but he couldn't back it up that day on the pitch. Like you said Tovey hadn't been given a chance partly because Gatland seems to ignore the Dragons and partly because he had an injury but given the opportunity I think he will prove himself to be the next in line so to speak. Hook is the obvious player due to his experience but as we found out when we played him at fullback we'd lose too much creativity from the midfield putting him at 10 (eventhough hes more than capable), having said that he'd still have a major influence creativity wise at 10 aswell. But overall Tovey would be first choice when Stephen Jones decides to hang up his boots, followed by Priestland.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Tovey for me but old Rhys P has been running the Scarlets attack well, although his kicking is suspect!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tovey for me but old Rhys P has been running the Scarlets attack well, although his kicking is suspect!

Keep Halfpenny on the wing and job's a goodun (I imagine Hook wont be involved too much when he moves wherever he moves to in France)

 

[MichaelBoard]

Keep Halfpenny on the wing and job's a goodun (I imagine Hook wont be involved too much when he moves wherever he moves to in France)

I don't know about that, I think Gatland will find it hard to leave out a player like Hook. The best thing all these players who decide to leave their country to play abroad can do (other than just stay in there country like they should if they want to play for their country) is make sure that they have it written into their contracts to be released for all training camps and matches.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Hook's contract will have the inbuilt WRU release clause in it. I don't think he will ever be left out for playing in France, just to good of a player to do that to.

 

[dullonien]

Well it looks likely that we'll need to find a replacement ten for the beggining of the 6 nations anyhow, as it doesn't look like Stephen Jones will be back from injury the beggining of the tournament. The options are, Hook, Biggar, Robinson, Tovey and Priestland. Unlike Michael, I think Hook offers much more creativity from 10 and personally think he's the best option, especially with the return of Roberts, Davies and possibly Henson in the centres. Biggar isn't international standard just yet, and whilst he looked good against the Scarlets when his pack were massively on the front foot, he's generally been playing quite poorly recently. Tovey, whilst talented, needs to seriously work on his defense if he has any international aspirations. Then theres Priestland and Robinson. Very similar players in many ways, both great tactical kickers and attacking fly-halves, but neiher consistent with the boot. If Halfpenny's in the team though, his kicking is easily good enough to take responsibility.

I personally think it's about time we took another look at Hook at 10. I've been very critical of his general game at centre, were he takes too much on himself, and has little space to create. He tends to run across field, and also struggles physically in both attack and defense at centre. I've seen more from him in two 20min spells at 10 for the O's than I've seen in a long time from him at centre, he just looks more comfortouble at 10 imo. Of course there's a reason he was dropped by the O's when Biggar emerged, and there's still question marks about his gae management, but two years down the line, things might not be the same.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Has Nick MacLeod ever been involved with the Wales setup in any way shape or form?
Reckon he'd be too old (and probably not good enough) to make a debut at 28ish anyhow

 

[dullonien]

I think he might have been at some stage when we were despirate. He was rubbish before his move to Sale, struggled to make the Blues team and generally looked crap when he did. Not international class by a long way imo, although I do realise he's improved since his move.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

MacLeod was called into the Wales squad for the tour of Argentina in 2006. He has represented Wales at U19 and U21 levels and played for Wales Sevens.

 

[gingergenius]

what dallaglio says makes complete sense, for england, because of the club vs. country thing. It's much easier for everyone if the club vs. country saga in England involves clubs all reading from the same hymn sheet, rather than some with England players that are subject to different rules (those in France etc.)

However, I think everything needs to happen after the world cup. 3 reasons, firstly it's unfair on Johnson to have to get rid of players suddenly, secondly it's unfair on the players who didn't know that a move to France definitely meant forfeiting England, and thirdly because at the moment, England only have 1 fly half of sufficient international quality playing in England. Wilkinson is the only other, and we can't afford to throw him away just yet.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Balls to that!
Hodgson has shown in the past year he's upto it at international level.
Reckon Myler could/should be tested and be a hit too.

Wilkinson knew that the RFU don't want to use over seas players (there was enough song and dance about it when they mentioned it before), and he chose to stay in France (and fair play to him, he's on good form there, and is enjoying it) - the players that signed before (Haskell and Palmer) should be told that they're okay, but will forfeit their chances if they resign

 

[gingergenius]

hodgson has shown in the past year and any other year that he's not up to it at all. he did absolutely nothing against south africa.

Myler hasn't even looked like being up to it based on the prem.