England were right to snub Steffon Armitage - picking him would risk a talent ...

There will be a clamour of siren voices luring England’s finest to foreign

pastures. Make an exception for Steffon Armitage, and the chink will become

a chasm. Of course Lancaster’s prime focus is the 2015 Rugby World Cup. But

who will thank him if plans for the 2019 tournament in Japan lie in tatters?

Remember the aftermath of the triumphant 2003 RWC? From glory to

ghastliness, delirium to debacle, as the English empire crumbled. The RFU

was berated then for a lack of succession planning. And now? Planning for

the future, that is what. It would be hypocrisy on a grand scale to condemn

them for that.

There is more. Boudjellal called the RFU strategy “stupid” and using

“misplaced protectionism”. He spoke also of an exiled player becoming even

more attached to their country – “feeling it more in his heart when he does

not see it every day”. Aaah! How touching. How heartfelt. Funny that he did

not go on to say that he would release Armitage whenever Lancaster wanted

him, sending him off to England training camps with a cheery wave. “Of

course, Mr Lancaster, you want Steffon during August just when we are

gearing up for the Top 14 season, and again before the Six Nations when we

are battling away in the league? Pas de problème.”

Armitage would be playing catch-up every time he got together with England,

familiarising himself with the playbook, honing his timing with his brothers

in arms in the back row. A team made up only of talented individuals is

invariably a team who lose. England have made much of their togetherness,

the harmony of the group, the tight-knit notion of solidarity. You do not

get that overnight. Of course, genius can make a mark all on its own. If

Jonah Lomu were English and plying his trade in Toulon, the dilemma would be

acute.

Mind you, New Zealand brook no compromise. Harlequins’ Kiwi fly-half Nick

Evans was the understudy to Carter in New Zealand. Once Evans came to

England, that was it as far as the All Blacks were concerned, even when

their fly-half pool was drained during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with Carter

injured and several others behind him. The call to Evans never came.

But, there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, as a caveat. It is a minimal

get-out clause in an emergency situation, Lancaster can call on Armitage if

he suddenly lost two or three players to long-term injury and was

contemplating a denuded back row for a World Cup in which England line up in

the toughest pool ever put together with Wales and Australia standing in the

way of the hosts. It is unlikely that will happen, for there is a clear

four-month build-up towards the World Cup with no club commitments.

Lancaster can nurse his men towards the tournament.

Armitage knows all this. He knew it when he signed a contract extension in

November 2013. He had the option to consider his position only six months

ago. He made his call. And he must reap what he has sown. Lancaster will

stand firm. And he should be applauded for that.

Article source: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2014-03/21/eden-park-england-rugby-team-photoshoot

England were right to snub Steffon Armitage - picking him would risk a talent ...