England full-back Mike Brown has taken some time to discuss his omission from the England squad and where he ranks himself amongst the current crop of English players.
Brown, who has been quiet since being left
out of Eddie Jones’ 31-man Rugby World Cup squad, was speaking at the launch
for the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season.
Despite multiple media reports claiming a
bust-up with Ben Te’o while training in Italy cost both players their places,
Brown has decided to keep his cards close to his chest for now.
“It’s important that the people close to me and who matter in my life, my family and my close friends, my team-mates, they know what happened. And for everyone else, the details will come out when the time is right… when the details come out people will know how everyone in that situation handled themselves. And I’ve got no regrets,â€? he said.
As with any player, Brown is disappointed
but is determined to keep himself in the best shape possible in case he is
called upon as back-up by Jones.
“His message to all of us players is ‘be ready because you never know what’s going to happen’… I think everyone who was in the 45 who isn’t in Japan is on standby, that’s my understanding. I was in the 45, I have no regrets about anything that happened through pre-season because I gave my all. I came into camp in the best shape of my career, felt fit, sharp, good. I put everything I could into training, I didn’t miss one second of training, even with niggles and things like that,� he added.
However, the let down of being left out of
the travelling squad doesn’t appear to have knocked Brown’s confidence as he insists,
he is still the best full-back that the country have.
“I still feel I’m the best English full-back, that’s not being arrogant. That’s just what I believe… look at the stats, look at my game, I am the best under the high ball. I’ve worked so hard on that, it’s one of my points of difference,� he continued.
Without him in the squad Brown feels as
though the team will still be in the mix to win the Webb Ellis Cup, however, he
is wary of other sides including some of the nation’s closest neighbours.
“It’s going to be a close World Cup, probably the closest ever. South Africa are looking good, New Zealand may not have played to their best but they will be different when they reach the World Cup. Then teams like Ireland and Wales, you never know because they are tough competitors who can turn it on on their day,� he finished.
Brown will be hoping to put the disappointment of being left out behind him as he prepares for the upcoming Premiership season with Harlequins. However, we will all be waiting for the day when he finally opens up about what really went on in that Treviso training camp and if that was what cost him his place on the plane.
