Easter’s getting better with age
NICK EASTER claims that he is playing the best rugby of his career, even at the age of 34, and has no intention of abandoning his ambition of being a future as well as past England No8.
Easter’s Test career came to an end along with Martin Johnson’s management after the abortive 2011 World Cup. Johnson’s successor Stuart Lancaster has no intention of picking anyone he does not think capable of getting through to the 2015 tournament at home.
But this is precisely where Easter and his Harlequins rugby director Conor O’Shea take issue with the England coach, whose updated squad to be announced next Wednesday will not include a player far and away the best week by week in his position in the Premiership.
“If I felt I was dead wood, or hanging on for a few more caps, I’d feel it’s fi nished,” said Easter. “But I feel as fresh as ever, both mentally and physically. They seem to think I won’t be around then, but I have a contract at Quins until 2015.
“You don’t do things out of sentiment in professional sport and Conor, shrewd as he is, would not have offered that contract if he didn’t think I’d still be playing at a high level then. So I still know I have a lot to add to England.
“I never felt that I underachieved with England and I have unfi nished business after the last World Cup. But I have always thought, in international rugby especially, the one who has the shirt has to play himself out rather than the other way round. And I don’t have the shirt.
“I’m as desperate as ever. I certainly haven’t given up on England, even if there’s a bit less expectation of the call, which is just being realistic. I can only control what I’m doing. You’d have to ask them why they don’t pick me.”
Easter’s trouble is that Lancaster has done everything possible to eradicate the baleful memory of the 2011 World Cup, where reputations – including Easter’s – were damaged. Ben Morgan is in possession after playing No8 in the recent trouncing of New Zealand.
“Ben is an outstanding No8 but, for consistency, Nick has been the best No8 in the country for a long time,” said O’Shea.
“You’d fi nd it hard looking across the Premiership to fi nd anyone delivering at the level he is every single time he plays.
“He is plenty young enough to get to the next World Cup. He is in unbelievable shape and there’s an element of stubbornness in him that gives him the motivation to be there. Plus he will be younger than Brad Thorn was when he won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011.”
It helps Easter’s case that in- form Harlequins lead the Premiership, their Heineken Cup pool and even their AngloWelsh pool. It would be a shock if they did not maintain their domestic lead by beating lowly London Welsh in Oxford on Sunday.
“I feel I am probably playing as well as I have ever played,” said Easter. “It is stimulating being surrounded at Harlequins by so many young players with so much ability in a team who are going so well. But I am also continuing to work as hard as I ever have.
“My conditioning scores are up, with no diminution. You don’t want to be standing still or you are caught out.
“But, as I have pointed out many times, I came into Premiership rugby quite late and have far fewer miles on the clock than other players of my age.”
His rugby director’s theory is that by the time the 2015 tournament is approaching, Lancaster will have to reconsider adding to Easter’s current tally of 47 caps.
“I can see what Stuart has done, and what he is doing now,” said O’Shea. “But I still wouldn’t rule Nick out. Just watch him.”
CYCLING
DAN HUNT, who coached Great Britain’s men to Olympic team pursuit gold at London 2012, has joined Team Sky as a sporting director.
“I haven’t ridden these races, so I have a bit of homework to do and it’s going to take time to get there,” said Hunt, who helped Team Sky riders Geraint Thomas and Peter Kennaugh to Olympic gold in August.
“But maybe I can bring different things to the table because I’m not an ex- pro.” WAKEFIELD WILDCATS have signed Leeds prop Brad Singleton on a two- month loan deal.
The 20- year- old had his fi rst training session with his new team- mates yesterday ahead of the club’s pre- season camp in Portugal next week.
Singleton has made one Super League appearance in each of the last two seasons at Headingley and played nine games for Dewsbury in 2012 to gain fi rst- team experience.
He said: “I need to be playing Super League. I feel I’m ready and it’s what I need to progress.”