Dark times lifted us says Joe
JOE MARCHANT believes the blackout spirit built by England on their disrupted Brighton training camp will serve the side well in the Six Nations.
England have moved back into their team hotel after the fire and power cut that forced them to decamp to back-up accommodation for a night.
Marchant feels the squad have returned from their adventure a tighter unit as they ramp up preparations for their opening match against Scotland at Murrayfield a week tomorrow. “It always brings the boys together when you’re trapped in a room with no lights,” said the 25-year-old Harlequins centre. “When we had the evacuation, we got sent to the pub around the corner. We’d been darting around the streets of Brighton and, as we got there, there was a power cut in there as well. We were just sat in the dark for a while. “There were no ghost stories but it was good to be together as a team. Basically we all talked about what we’re looking to do in this campaign.
“We had our first training session and the boys are looking really sharp.”
Marchant, who made his debut against Wales in a World Cup warm-up game in August 2019, is pushing for what would be only his third Test start, with uncertainty over England’s midfield and wing selections. So what is his preference?
“I think 13 – it’s where I’ve played most of my rugby and where I’ve had the most experience,” said Marchant.
“But I’m easy playing either. I love being on the pitch, whether it’s 13 or wing. Hopefully I’ll get an opportunity.”