LATE CALL BEN TOLD IT’S BEEN DON BEFORE
BEN SPENCER has been told he has the chance to become a World Cup hero.
The Saracens star (right) arrived in Tokyo yesterday to replace injured scrum-half Willi Heinz, who strained his
from ALEX SPINK in Tokyo hamstring in England’s semifinal win over the All Blacks.
With only two scrum-halves in the squad, it means the 27-year old, who has never started a match for England, will go straight onto the bench as back-up to Ben Youngs for Saturday’s final.
The same thing happened to Stephen Donald, who won the 2011 final for New Zealand after receiving a late call-up while out fishing.
He came off the bench to kick the penalty that beat France 8-7 in Auckland
Head coach Eddie Jones joked: “Ben will have a shirt that fits him, so that’s one significant difference (to Donald). And he hasn’t been whitebait fishing, so that’s another.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kid and he’s excited about it. He has come into the squad and has got to learn a few new things. Willi and Benny will help him with that.
“The task is no different to any other player. He has just got to learn a bit more in the early part of the week and get himself physically and mentally ready.”
Jones revealed that Heinz, who has featured in all five of England’s World Cup matches, was distraught at being unable to play in the final. “Willi has been a great contributor, a very well-liked member of the squad and he was in tears in the dressing room,” he said.
“It’s tough for him but he’s now collected himself, he now knows he’s got another role to play for us and he’ll fulfil that role well this week.”
If Youngs were to go off injured, Spencer would be thrown into the deep end opposite arguably South Africa’s most influential player in Faf de Klerk.
This was the scenario many feared when Jones selected only two scrum-halves – a gamble that has backfired.