‘It doesn’t sit right with me’ – England great hits out at Benhard Janse van Rensburg call-up
Danny Care (pictured) has criticised the selection of Benhard Janse van Rensburg (inset)
England great Danny Care has hit out at Benhard Janse van Rensburg’s selection in Steve Borthwick’s extended 42-man training camp, detailing it “doesn’t sit right”.
Bristol Bears centre Janse van Rensburg was previously tied to the Springboks following a 20-minute appearance for the Junior Boks side back in 2016, but has since been cleared to play for England following an RFU appeal to World Rugby. As a result, he will become fully eligible to make his debut from July 8.
That decision has seen the England boss move quickly, too, with the centre one of seven uncapped players named by Borthwick yesterday (Monday, May 18) ahead of a three-day alignment camp at Pennyhill Park. He also joins Seb Atkinson, Fraser Dingwall and Henry Slade in the midfield depth chart.
‘It doesn’t sit right with me’
However, Van Rensburg’s selection in the team has also seen both Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence drop out entirely, despite both of them featuring in the wider Six Nations group, a decision Test centurion Care took issue with.
“It doesn’t sit right with me to take away the opportunity for a Max Ojomoh or an Ollie Lawrence,” the former scrum-half told BBC Sport’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“Whether they (England) don’t like them personality-wise or don’t like them for their technical side, they are two young lads who have dreamt of playing for England.
“I know van Rensburg has been over here for five years and qualifies on residency now, but I think international rugby has to be more exclusive than that.
“I see when it’s an exceptional circumstance, I can maybe understand it, but I just don’t see it.
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“This isn’t a personal attack on van Rensburg,” Care continued. “He’s a great player and he’s done some great things in the league over the years. But, do I think he could be the difference for England winning the World Cup next year? Unfortunately, I don’t.
“I am not being mean or xenophobic, but it doesn’t sit right with me.
“He played for South Africa U20s and his dream was to play for the Springboks, but because he’s been playing over here, he’s now like ‘yeah, I’ll play for England, I’ll do that’.
“I feel it would mean more to an Ojomoh or a Lawrence to wear that shirt and represent that country than it would for van Rensburg to represent a country he’s only played in for a few years.”