Blood & Mud

Why isn't Jon Clarke nailed on for an England place in the Autumn Internationals?

As we all know, England have an injury crisis.  This is particularly apparent in the midfield with Flutey and Turner-Hall out of action as the Autumn Internationals approach.  Many names and combinations are being thrown into the mix, but one name is conspicuous in its absence from the many high-profile discussions about the 10-12-13 axis; Jon Clarke.

It always astounds me how some rugby commentators and fans seem to go to the least obvious and most complicated solution first.  For example, instead of going for Clarke, a bloke who plays 13 every week and has scored four tries in six games, the argument is made for moving Banahan off the wing, or playing the nomadic and generally uninspiring Mathew Tait in yet another position.  As an aside, what has Tait actually done in the last two years to warrant his automatic squad place, and if he hadn't had his profile raised with that selection at 18-years-old, would he be so far up the pecking order now?

MIke Tindall will no doubt get the nod, but other than in terms of experience Clarke has the beating of him.  The Saints man has better pace, scores more tries and is a more destructive carrier than Tindall.  You could argue that Clarke closely resembles the Gloucester man six years ago.

After my championing of Stephen Myler last season, many of you out there would think I am a Northampton fan, but I am not, I simply feel that the senior England set-up too easily overlooks less fashionable players.

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Why isn't Jon Clarke nailed on for an England place in the Autumn Internationals?

As we all know, England have an injury crisis.  This is particularly apparent in the midfield with Flutey and Turner-Hall out of action as the Autumn Internationals approach.  Many names and combinations are being thrown into the mix, but one name is conspicuous in its absence from the many high-profile discussions about the 10-12-13 axis; Jon Clarke.

It always astounds me how some rugby commentators and fans seem to go to the least obvious and most complicated solution first.  For example, instead of going for Clarke, a bloke who plays 13 every week and has scored four tries in six games, the argument is made for moving Banahan off the wing, or playing the nomadic and generally uninspiring Mathew Tait in yet another position.  As an aside, what has Tait actually done in the last two years to warrant his automatic squad place, and if he hadn't had his profile raised with that selection at 18-years-old, would he be so far up the pecking order now?

MIke Tindall will no doubt get the nod, but other than in terms of experience Clarke has the beating of him.  The Saints man has better pace, scores more tries and is a more destructive carrier than Tindall.  You could argue that Clarke closely resembles the Gloucester man six years ago.

After my championing of Stephen Myler last season, many of you out there would think I am a Northampton fan, but I am not, I simply feel that the senior England set-up too easily overlooks less fashionable players.