DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan has spoken of his surprise and disappointment at Stuart Lancaster’s failure to reward Sixways star Chris Pennell with an England call-up.
The full back has been in scintillating form for Worcester Warriors this season, which had led to calls for the 26-year-old to feature in the England head coach’s plans.
But instead, Lancaster went for what Ryan described as a “gamble” in selecting promising Bath back Anthony Watson as part of his 35-man squad for next month’s Six Nations.
The 19-year-old was also among a talented crop of uncapped youngsters to be handed a chance to impress, but the Warriors boss believes the form of the more experienced Pennell was enough to earn him a place.
“I was surprised and disappointed (by Pennell’s omission),” Ryan said. “I think we can sometimes charge ahead with youth and potentially miss players like Pennell who are producing performances in the ‘here and now’.
“If I was selecting a Saxons side I would quite like Chris at the back and I think he deserves that recognition.
“We are pretty well stocked at full back at the moment, so Stuart can afford to make a few gambles with some of the youngsters.
“Ben Foden, Alex Goode and Mike Brown are pretty secure and then you can throw in an Anthony Watson or an Elliot Daly, but I think sometimes by getting youngsters involved you can sometimes miss a Pennell.
“There is always a balance of trying to take the opportunity to progress people, which we are doing at club level and Stuart is doing at national level, but sometimes people get caught as casualties in the middle.”
However, Ryan said he hoped rising star Max Stelling will be the start of many his players to gain national recognition after landing a place in the England u20s squad.
He added: “I am really pleased for Max. He has played a few games for us and he is starting to find his feet. Sometimes he has been caught out a little bit by the pace and physicality of things, but I think it is quite nice sometimes to go into age group rugby where he can be the big person again and then come back full of confidence.”
Meanwhile, fellow academy aces Jack Cosgrove and Ben Vellacott, who has been on loan at Hartpury College, have been named in the Scotland 20s squad.