England
Joe Simpson still hopes to make World Cup squad
ESPN Staff
July 9, 2015
Joe Simpson
Joe Simpson© Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Wasps scrum half Joe Simpson has not given up on his chances of making England's 31-man World Cup squad, despite only recently having been cleared to return to training following a debilitating knee injury.

The injury, suffered at the end of May, has seen the 27-year-old slip well down the pecking order behind the likes of Leicester's Ben Youngs, Saracens' Richard Wigglesworth, Harlequins' Danny Care and Northampton's Lee Dickson.

With only three places likely available at the position the setback probably means that Simpson will be unfortunate when the final squad for the tournament is announced later this month.

Perhaps the most explosive of the half backs available to head coach Stuart Lancaster, Simpson believes that he will exceed the physio's expectations and remains upbeat that he could potentially force his way in to the team.

"The physios are telling me to calm down, to slow down, but I am desperate to push on. They have got their timescale, and they will make sure that I am firing on all cylinders when they give me the all-clear," he said.

"Negative makes you old, boring and grumpy, so I want to stay youthful and enjoy myself, so I am keeping hope and giving myself a shot. That is all I can do in my position."

Assistant head coach Andy Farrell contacted Simpson prior to the announcement of the training squad, sparking optimism that the Wasps man to make a late charge as he looks to add to his solitary cap.

"If I had been part of the squad from the start, then who knows?" Simpson added.

"I have my work cut out now. I know I am a long shot, but I have the possibility of being called up into an England training camp, and that for me is special and gives me great drive.

"Ben Youngs had a fantastic year for England, so he will be number one. Richard Wigglesworth will probably be number two, and then the third spot is to scrap for."

England opens their World Cup campaign on September 18 against Fiji at Twickenham. They will play three warm up games in August, two against France and one against Ireland.

© ESPN Staff

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