Ian Ritchie right to say it’s ‘unacceptable’ – Billy Twelvetrees

Billy Twelvetrees admits RFU boss Ian Ritchie was right to brand England‘s continuing failure to nail down a Six Nations title as “not acceptable”.
Ritchie created a media firestorm with his blunt post-tournament assessment of Stuart Lancaster‘s side, prompting the likes of Sir Clive Woodward and Dean Ryan to hammer the chief executive for making his views on the matter public.
But Red Rose centre Twelvetrees told The Rugby Paper: “I think what he (Ritchie) said is right and the players are just as critical as anyone else.
“We set a high standard and wanted to be Six Nations champions and Grand Slam winners – that’s what we said in the first week when met up in January – so we were all very disappointed to end up six points short of winning it. We’re aware of what happened in Ireland and where we came up short, but that’s rugby and it’s still a great team to be involved with.
“The way we composed ourselves in Cardiff to beat Wales showed the spirit in the team and we’re definitely going places. The French game was fantastic, too, so we’ll be better for those experiences and can build on that for the World Cup.”
Twelvetrees played second fiddle to Luther Burrell during the Six Nations and faces a battle to secure a World Cup squad berth, with Brad Barritt, Kyle Eastmond and the injured Manu Tuilagi all set to challenge for the No.12 slot.
“It’s like every shirt in the England team, hotly contested, but that’s what’s good about the Premiership at the moment,” Twelvetrees said.
“There are quality players in each position playing well and it makes it very difficult for the selectors because everyone wants to be starting.
“But you want to test yourself against the best and it’s a great battle to be involved in. It would be amazing to make that World Cup squad.”
Twelvetrees, meanwhile, is unfazed by the ongoing debate over rugby safety, heightened by last week’s knock-out blow inflicted upon Northampton’s George North.
But rugby’s increasing physicality does not worry the Gloucester skipper, who explained: “Physicality is the reason why a lot of boys play rugby. It’s what makes it different. Big hits and head injuries have always been around, it’s only because the media have picked up on it that injuries are getting highlighted more.
“It’s great that boys are getting looked after better but I haven’t got any fears at all. It’s our choice over whether we play the game or not.
“We love sticking our heads in rucks and tackles, that’s what we do, and it’s a side of rugby we’ll always enjoy. As long as the right protocols are in place to ensure you recover, I don’t think there’s a particular problem in the game.”
Gloucester’s league campaign has been disappointing and, following last week’s capitulation at Sale, Twelvetrees has questioned his side’s mentality.
He said: “The Premiership is relentless and last Sunday was a prime example of us not being ready to go, which was very frustrating.
“If you’re not mentally switched on each week you can’t expect to just turn up and play well – and we need to understand that as a group.”
NEALE HARVEY