wazsere says...

He's just not been good-enough to play for England on a regular basis, I'm amazed he got more than 2 caps in the first place (bet you he wouldn't have got that many playing for a Northern Club !!) and there's no way he should oust Toby Flood as the current No. 10 !!! There's a nice "media angle" here that its all Johnston's fault - can't see how he can be blamed for this lad not been good enough. Good riddance to him, Melbourne will either make or break him and I for one couldn't care less which: its time this lad knuckled down and played good rugby for a couple of years or just clear off all together !!

Posted 06:58 04th September 2010

olepete says...

Some idiot called Johnson been on the job again? This guy should never have needed to leave England, let alone Europe.

Posted 19:20 03rd September 2010

lawynd says...

I can't speak for everyone but it wasn't his celebrity girlfriend or being snapped by the paparazzi that got up my nose it was his constant whining about the pressures of being a professional player and the attitude that he had an automatic right to an England place. He has the potential to be one of the best pivots in the world but has the same attitude as Gavin Henson towards his status in the game. Sorry sonny, it doesn't work like that. I really hope he takes this chance with the Rebels and runs with it (pun not intended), hopefully it will round out the areas of the game in which he is still weak and give him a fresh perspective on life - he really does need it.

I wholeheartedly agree with the exception to the media spin though - what a complete load of tripe!

Posted 16:35 03rd September 2010

5Lock4ward says...

People love to hate this kid! He left a club with a great history as a slap in the face to Martin Johnson; who forced Cipriani's hand by not selecting him thus demonstrating England's commitment to avoid attacking rugby. So now with no team to train with the young man seeks out alternative forms of training, including while on holiday in the States, and he's trying to get out of his commitment to the Rebels?! This is madness, you don't leave a great club for an expansion team in a different hemisphere if your real goal is to change sports. He wants a fresh start, well in Melbourne it could not be more fresh. He wants to show Martin Johnson what running rugby looks like, he will have that chance. Get off this kid's back! I say go to Australia, get comfortable and hope the IRB changes the rules so that if you've only played a few tests for one nation you can switch nations. Then he could go with his Italian heritage and shove it in Johnno's face; or hold out b/c after this RWC Johnno will be replaced and hopefully the next coach will like what this kid brings to the table. God almighty, this will teach you to roll in the sheets with gorgeous celebrities young man.

Posted 16:23 03rd September 2010