S Armitage

[Sajerj]

Story in the Mail reporting that Armitage will be called up in May for the 40 man world cup squad under the exceptional circumstance rule.

Without wanting to believe everything in the papers, it does appear to be written as a matter of fact and one would assume its been leaked by the camp to soften any controversy.

[RagingBull]

What would be the exceptional circumstance?

[InGuinnessVeritas]

And there was me thinking this was something about South Africa! Why can't people use full terms and then abbreviate them afterwards? We're not all mind readers.

[mol2]

What would be the exceptional circumstance?

The need for a quality 7!
Good player that Robshaw is he's more of a 6 than a 7 and their are few English qualified ones playing in the Premiership any where near international standard.

Kvesic seems to be returning to form but he's not yet pushing Robshaw.

[RagingBull]

I personally disagree with it completely.

[Frankers]

If it gives England a better chance of winning then why not? Thankfully though we don't need his Gobby brother

[Sajerj]

Assuming the article is correct, its just really odd why you would leave it until there are no more competitive games to play in a four year cycle leading up to the world cup.

[Rizzo]

And there was me thinking this was something about South Africa! Why can't people use full terms and then abbreviate them afterwards? We're not all mind readers.

Topic title edited for clarity

[drc_007]

The article suggests he is being selected to play No8

Similar article in Times and planet rugby all probably from same source.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 75,00.html

[fortysix]

Great news-a proper No 7 , and Haskell/ Morgan at 8 with Croft or anyone apart from Stanshaw at 6, and we will be quids in..
Need some technically proficient quality players ----- not bits and pieces players in half the positions. Such as Farrell and Stanshaw...........

[RagingBull]

If it gives England a better chance of winning then why not? Thankfully though we don't need his Gobby brother

Because it sets a bad example to the rest of the playing squad imo.

[G.K]

This smacks of an advance media leak/manipulation from S Lancaster in the same manner that preceded Manu being picked at wing. That was a disaster and this will be likewise, England don't need another 8 and it will set a bad precedent.

[4071]

What would be the exceptional circumstance?

Robshaw, Kvesic, Wood, Haskell, Fraser and Seymour are all injured I assume.

To be fair, I'd take Steff over Will Welch and Carl Kirwan...

[Sajerj]

Exceptional circumstances has never been defined as far as i am aware. So i assume it can be as simple as the RFU deciding that having an overseas based player made available specifically for the World Cup period is exceptional.

ie. the exceptional circumstance is the importance of the competition.

[TigerLad]

If it gives England a better chance of winning then why not? Thankfully though we don't need his Gobby brother

For example, next time Manu comes to the end of his contract. He's more important to England than Armitage and a better player so why shouldn't he be able to earn exponentially more playing for a Toulon or Racing Metro and still play for England like Armitage will do? It's an awful decision if true and undermines everything that's been built up in terms of not selecting players from abroad to strengthen the English clubs.