Outsiders’ last chance saloon
FOR Matt Kvesic, Dave Attwood, Alex Goode and the other in-form outsiders, Thursday is looming as a day when Eddie Jones will issue a last call for the World Cup.
Realistically, the squad named on Thursday for the autumn Tests at Twickenham represents the final opportunity for the Premiership’s international wannabes to break in. The majority of the chosen men have already been identified.
The head coach is unlikely to be in experimental mode by the time of the Six Nations, as Jones will want to channel selection clarity into recovering from last season’s fifth-placed finish.
Of course, next summer Jones will name an enlarged training squad and there are four warmup fixtures which will allow him to make some late tweaks. But
SLOWLY but surely, Manu Tuilagi’s fearsome clout and reputation are reviving. In Belfast on Saturday, the Leicester centre made two strong carries and left two Ulster casualties needing treatment. Later, when the Tigers were down and out, Tuilagi scored another trademark try blending power and explosive acceleration. The 27-yearold has more cause for hope than for a long, long time.
by then there may only be room left for one or two bolters. So the players who have illuminated the new season know their time has come. Danny Cipriani is the cause
celebre, but there are others. Kvesic was outstanding for Exeter against Munster on Saturday, despite operating out of his comfort zone at No 8. He again carried, supported and jackalled as if his life depended on it. The 26-year-old has had to fight for a regular place in the Chiefs line-up and is delivering pedigree performances.
The same can be said for Attwood — the giant Bath lock who has maintained high standards while his club have blown hot and cold. In the absence of the injured Joe Launchbury, there should be space for a heavyweight second row.
Further back, Goode’s form for Saracens would earn him a place in most Test sides, but he has not yet done enough to change Jones’s mind.
The calls for Don Armand to have another shot will also continue. Thursday will provide further evidence about whether Jones considers the club game to be a gauge of international potential or a red herring.