We’re sure we can keep Blamire happy at Falcons insists Ward
NEWCASTLE are confident they can keep their England hooker Jamie Blamire happy at the club even though it is more than eight months since he started a match for the Falcons.
Blamire, who missed yesterday’s match at London Irish because of injury, has this season spent more minutes on the field in an England shirt than he has for Newcastle where George McGuigan, right, has kept him out of the starting line-up, 109 compared to 95.
Blamire’s last league start was back in March against Leicester and it was his third of the campaign in which he made 13 appearances from the bench. McGuigan made 15 starts and came on as a replacement three times.
“It is a tough one,” said Micky Ward, Newcastle’s forwards coach. “George has been playing really well and is himself disappointed not to be in the England squad. I am biased, but we have two of the best hookers in the Premiership and we have to be smart about how we manage them.
“I am sure we can keep both of them happy. We understand about looking after people and it is about making sure they both get a good crack. Different games demand different styles and one week we may need loads of energy of the bench from Jamie and then he starts the next week.
“A couple of years ago, Luke Cowan-Dickie was involved with England but Jack Yeandle was starting at hooker for Exeter. They went with what was best for their team and for years they kept two international tight-head props, Harry Williams and Tomas Francis, happy. As had Leicester before them (with Dan
Cole and Martin Castrogiovanni).
“Jamie will start a number of matches this season, but we feel he has great energy when he comes on, adding punch. I do not think we are holding him back and we are fortunate to have two great players in the position.”
Blamire scored two tries for England last month to add to the four he helped himself to against the United States and Canada in the summer but McGuigan’s brace against Worcester last weekend took his season’s league tally to four, three short of his total last season.
“A difference here now is the strength we have in the squad,” said Ward. “In years gone by, our training sessions were not as tough as matches, but that has changed and players are now challenged all the time. It is a reason why Jamie and (prop) Trevor Davison have been given an opportunity with England.”
Davison made his England debut in the summer as a replacement tighthead and his second appearance was on the opposite side of the scrum when he came on against Australia at Twickenham last month.
It is only four years since the 29-year old turned professional having spent the first five years of his senior career with Blaydon where he made more than 100 appearances.hen I was at tle.