Barkley sticks to his guns

Olly Barkley is sticking to his controversial remarks made in the wake of his omission from England's Elite Player squad.

Barkley was angry at what he perceived to be a preference for size over guile in the England squad and made no secret of his feelings.

"I like to think I bring something different," he said.

"A large part of my development has been the way we play at Bath, with an expansive style, and I feel I have quite a big role in that. I won't change. I am probably just not as big as the next guy who plays there so that probably doesn't help me."

Asked by The Guardian if he had changed his thoughts on Sunday, Barkley was succinct in his reply to the negative.

"I do not feel I spoke out of turn," he says.

"I was asked questions about what I could offer at twelve and I answered honestly.

"I was asked about how I felt the defence went in Australia and I answered honestly. I did not stab anyone in the back. I said that if I was not picked in the Test side that was the prerogative of the coaches and I did not throw my toys out of the pram.

"I am philosophical about things. I am 28 and have had enough bumpy rides to know that you have to get on with life.

"I had no idea I was going to be left out of the two senior squads and I have to concentrate on playing for Bath: it is not about proving a point but being true to myself and making sure we get what we deserve this season.

"I am never going to kiss England goodbye: I am not that narrow-minded. But it is quite clear I do not figure in their plans at the moment."

Barkley was omitted ostensibly because he did not impress Martin Johnson on the tour to Australia in June, with Johnson not specifying publicly what he had done wrong.

"There are areas of his game he needs to work on and he is fully aware of what they are," he said.

"He is under no illusions. International rugby is different to the Premiership: if you are not performing well you will be exposed."

Riki Flutey and Shontayne Hape are now Johnno's preferred weapons of choice at twelve, with Flutey a similar type of player to Barkley but with Barkley hinting that Johnson might have told him privately to buck up on defence.

"There is a perception that I don't defend very well, but my statistics are good and I relish tackling," Barkley says.

"I do not shirk, but it seems to be something that is brought up time and again. I have to attend to it. I spoke to Martin Johnson after the squads were announced and he said I needed to improve in certain areas."

Barkley at least now has the benefit of having one of Johnson's former mentors, Ian McGeechan, in charge of things at Bath. McGeechan, who made Johnno the captain of his victorious Lions tour to South Africa in 1997, is eager to help Barkley find his way back into the reckoning.

"What I can do is talk to the national management and find out what we need to be doing for him to be considered seriously by England," said McGeechan.

Whether that involves keeping quiet remains to be seen.