England's National team has seen its fair share of great players from Martin Johnson to Joe Launchbury and from Jonny Wilkinson to Owen Farrell.
However, even with all of those talented players there have been the loads of disappointments. All the players that were expected to be great and never were, or even those that were thought to at least be worthy stand-ins but never got a chance.
Beyond that there is still the question as to why some of them were ever called up in the national team at all.
Whatever the cause, all the following players have either been a major disappointment for one reason or another, and a load of them and have made it into this list.
1. Christian Wade
The 2013 British & Irish Lion is poised to sensationally quit Wasps in order to pursue a lucrative career in the NFL, having grown disillusioned with rugby union. The 27-year-old is one of the most recognised names in the domestic game, but his continued absence from the international set-up – having won just one England cap on the 2013 tour of Argentina – has left him frustrated and fed up of continuously being overlooked. What a waste.
2. David Flatman
The now pundit for ITV, BT Sport and Channel 5 speaks a very good game but his opportunities at international level were not forthcoming. He won his first full caps as a replacement in the Tests against South Africa on the summer tour in 2000 but never really established himself as the first choice, finding himself behind Graham Rowntree in the pecking order. Winning just eight caps between 2000 and 2002, he'd probably walk into Eddie Jones latest squad.
3. Hugh Vyvyan
The Newcastle and Saracens legend, who made 245 Premiership appearances, won a deserved first England cap against Canada in the Investec Challenge match in 2004 and scored a try as captain. However, shockingly, this would be the only full test cap he’d ever win.
4. Dave Walder
The Geordie magician steered the Falcons to cup final glory in 2001 and 2004, the Durham University graduate playing four tests for England between 2001 and 2003. The fly-half made 87 Premiership appearances during his seven seasons at Kingston Park before going on to domestic and European glory with London Wasps. A great player, so it's disappointing we didn't see more of him at Test level.
5. Tom Varndell
An England international with four caps to his name, the wing became the Premiership’s all-time leading try-scorer during the 2016/17 campaign when he scored against Harlequins at Ashton Gate. Like Wade, it’s hard to believe he didn’t get more of a chance, scoring three tries in his four test caps.
6. Olly Barkley
Barkley won 23 caps for England between 2001 and 2008, and such was his early reputation that he featured for England before his club debut with Bath. A graceful left-footer able to play at fly-half or inside-centre, Barkley should have been a mainstay in the England midfield after the retirement of Will Greenwood and due to Jonny Wilkinson’s injury curse.
The strange thing about Barkley is that it is hard to say where it went wrong. He is not blessed with great pace, but kicked well from the tee and out of hand, is a fine distributor and hardly a defensive weakness. He remains one of the biggest mysteries of English rugby from the 2000s.
7. Paul Doran Jones
Despite the good early promise in his career, he spent most of his time in England colours being turned upside down in the set-piece and being battered backwards in contact. He only won six caps.
8. Ed Slater
The 29-year-old lock, who can also play at blindside flanker or number eight, took an unconventional route to the top and developed his craft in Australia before spending seven years at Leicester. He was desperately unlucky not to win a full cap for England during a successful period at Welford Road, where he was called up five times, that saw him become a big favourite. He’s now still rucking away down at Gloucester but was once again snubbed by Eddie Jones in favour of younger players.
9. Ben Foden
Foden was highlighted early on as a talented player earmarked for England. The problem that set him back initially was what position he was going to play. Sale, his first club, regarded Foden as an international class full-back, but the man himself had a burning desire to play at scrum-half. He did win 34 caps but it could have been so much more.
10. Andy Goode
Andy Goode was for many years the metronomic core of Leicester Tigers’ backline, a reliable goal-kicker and an excellent tactician. However, his international career did not take off as he would have wanted with the fly-half, winning just 17 caps, and struggling to nail down a place consistently, coming in and out of the squad on a regular basis.
11. Nick Abendanon
He was a fan’s player, born 20 years too late to justify his mercurial talent in professional rugby. Abendanon rarely featured on the England radar. Concerns about his defence, kicking and ability under the high ball all outweighed his ability to glide through defences in a broken field.
The full-back, despite being the best player in Europe, missed out on selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup due to playing overseas, but even if he had been eligible, it is still hard to see the England management dispensing with the tenacious and reliable Mike Brown. Abendanon, then, is a player who England never trusted to reach his potential.
12. Lesley Vanikolo
The Volcano’ stormed onto the scene for Gloucester, doing something ridiculous like scoring five tries on his debut against Leeds, before qualifying for England on residency grounds.
International honours followed, with Vainikolo making his England debut against Wales in 2008. However, he failed to bring his try-scoring form to the international scene and was quickly dropped from Martin Johnston’s squad after winning five caps.
13. Stephen Myler
Myler switched codes in September 2006 after his rugby league career took in St Helens, Widnes and Salford. However, despite his consistency for Northampton Saints and the Saxons, the fly-half has only won one full Test cap.
Stephen Myler of Northampton kicks off - Photo mandatory by-line: Phil Mingo/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 768 6958 48 - 310514 - SPORT - RUGBY UNION - AVIVA PREMIERSHIP FINAL - Saracens v Northampton Saints - Twickenham, London, England
14. James Simpson-Daniel
James Simpson-Daniel was always a fan favourite and narrowly missed out on selection for the 2003 World Cup, despite being involved in the all-conquering England team of the 2002 Autumn Internationals. Although heralded as a potential world-class wing, injury constantly blighted his career and numerous England head coaches looked to other options ahead of him. He ended his career with a pitiful 10 caps.
15. Olly Morgan
Morgan made his debut for England in the 2007 Six Nations against Scotland and started again against Ireland three weeks later. However, numerous injuries blighted his career and these were the only two occasions he ever played for the national team.
16. Darren Crompton
The Bristol prop was a solid bloke who anchored the Bristol scrum during that season where they finished 3rd in the Premiership, in 2006-07, and was rewarded with a call-up to the England squad for their tour to South Africa.
However, Crompton was never the most mobile and since he was 34 when he made his bow in international colours, he was practically stationary by the time he put on the England shirt. It's Disappointing he didn't get a chance earlier in his career.
17. Martyn Wood
England had very strong depth at scrum half during the best years of Clive Woodward’s reign, with Matt Dawson, Kyran Bracken and Andy Gomarsall being the three scrum halves named in the World Cup squad. However, Wood was called up as an injury replacement but never actually made the official squad. In his entire career he only ever played twice for England.
18. David Ward
Versatile forward Ward joined Harlequins in 2012 from Cornish Pirates, a side he made more than 100 appearances for. It was during the 2013/14 season that Ward rose to fame with his electric form. Claiming five Man of the Match awards and becoming the pioneer of countless turnovers, he was the 2013/14 Players’ Player of the season. His efforts were rewarded by being named in Stuart Lancaster’s England squad for the 2014 tour of New Zealand, but he only played in the mid week win over the Crusaders.
19. Stuart Barnes
The diminutive fly-half only made ten appearances for England over nine years, which was more due to the selectors’ preference for Rob Andrew. He retired after touring South Africa in 1994, partially because of a groin injury, although frustration probably played a part in his decision.
20. Danny Cipriani
The most talented player of a generation somehow only won 16 caps. It's just sad.
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Patrick Khachfe/JMP/REX/Shutterstock (4962910ai)
Danny Cipriani of England looks on after the match
England v France, United Kingdom - 15 Aug 2015
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Patrick Khachfe/JMP/REX/Shutterstock (4962910ai)
Danny Cipriani of England looks on after the match
England v France, United Kingdom - 15 Aug 2015
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