Alex Alex is like me only he has pace!
On transfer matters I’ve tried to advise Alex as best I can, but you can only do that until they are 17 or 18. My suggestion to him was to stay where he was. The last year has been incredible for him, and when you get an opportunity like playing for Saracens you have to take it. On Saracens rugby director Mark McCall He told Alex he wanted him as number two flyhalf, and he stuck to his word. He said he was talented, and gave him his chance even though he could have put Alex Goode at fly-half. On comparisons Alex has the defence and passing that I had, but, unlike me, he also has that all-important pace. Maybe it comes from Steve Moriarty, who is his mum’s brother, and played on the wing for Harlequins. On adaptability He picks things up quickly, and works on what he is not good at rather than what he is good at. If 12 becomes his position for club and country he will have to put on a few pounds, and get stronger. On perfectionism He’s never been satisfied. He was swinging a golf club at four or five and when he was nine he had a hole-in-one. He’s always wanted to be better On Saracens approach Humility is stressed, and if something goes wrong the attitude is to get on with the next job. On the Wasps attitude I was astonished. There were some strange decisions. Alex’s real rugby only started at 16, so if there was one guy who needed game time it was him. On Jimmy Lowes Jimmy Lowes was brilliant with him, especially in putting in the defensive foundations. He sent Dom Barrow running at him, and the message was that if you didn’t make the tackles you were out – sink or swim.