Joe Simpson hopes he and Wasps colleagues can impress Eddie Jones
Monday 23 November 2015 22:59, UK
Joe Simpson hopes Eddie Jones' appointment as England coach will give him the chance to get back into the international picture.
Simpson missed the cut for Stuart Lancaster's World Cup squad, but he has made a fine start to the domestic season with Wasps and hopes he, as well as a couple of overlooked team-mates, can catch Jones' eye.
Centre Elliott Daly and speedy winger Christian Wade also narrowly missed places in Lancaster's party, and Simpson believes they could boost Jones' resources for next year's Six Nations and beyond.
"We all believe that we've got the ability to represent England and each of us individually believes we can bring something different to what is already there," said Simpson, who only has one England cap.
"I guess a new coach does give you a bit of positivity. It all depends on what Eddie wants of course.
"I'm enjoying my rugby more than I ever have. I realise that I've been extremely lucky to be given the opportunity by Wasps to represent them for so long, but I feel I'd like to finish my career having had a proper international career.
"It's not really unfinished business, but that's something I would like to strive for and really push myself and challenge myself to get up to that standard."
Simpson impressed in Wasps' superb 32-6 Champions Cup win over Toulon on Sunday, earning gushing praise from coach Dai Young, and he hopes a more expansive style of rugby will be adopted by Jones, giving him and his Wasps team-mates another boost as they look to step up.
"I believe there's been a shift in the brand of rugby all teams are going to have to start to play now," Simpson added.
"New Zealand have always thrown the ball around and really played with flair, but they've always had the players to do that. When you've got players that aren't quite up to it, you have to adapt your style.
"With England, with the players they've got, they most certainly have the talent to throw the ball around.
"With people like Elliot and Wadey not even making the final squads, they're two of the most flair players in the league.
"Eddie has those players at his disposal and hopefully for me, because it would suit my game, the brand of rugby that will be played will be a speedy game.
"That's the brand of rugby I want to play, I enjoy playing and I'm best at, really upping the tempo of matches and making it uncomfortable for opposition defences."
