Batty’s backing convert Dunn for England

BATH veteran Ross Batty reckons hooking sensation Tom Dunn has every chance of fulfilling his promise by earning an England call-up.

Dunn, a converted prop from Bath’s academy, is on England’s radar for the tour of Argentina, with boss Eddie Jones having namechecked the 24-year-old as well as casting doubt on Dylan Hartley’s long-term future as captain. Batty told The Rugby

Paper: “Dunny’s got into a position where he really has a chance to kick-on now and fair play to the lad; he gives you 150 per cent, works his backside off and is getting on top of the finer points of the hooking role.

“Hooker isn’t a position you learn in a year, or even two years, and you have to dip in and out and work towards playing every week. But Dunny’s refined his skills and you’re seeing the fruits of that labour in terms of his consistency.

“It’s about repeating scrum and lineout skills thousands of times, but he’s done that and if he carries on the way he’s going he’s putting his hands up and showing England what he can do. It’s been good to see the lad doing so well.”

Batty, 30, now has two young Bath contenders to deal with after seeing former England U20s captain Jack Walker return from injury. But having signed a new two-year contract, Batty vows the pair will not have things easy.

The Geordie said: “I’ve also got England ambitions and with those guys pushing me, it’s only going to make me play better. I’m delighted to get another two years and with age comes responsibility so I aim to a big part of Bath’s future.

“It’s my seventh season and Bath massively feels like home.”

A festive blip saw Bath fall off the Premiership pace by losing successive matches to Wasps, Exeter and Newcastle. Batty admits: “It’s been difficult and we haven’t been clinical, but there’s a big period in the league coming up.

“We play Northampton, Harlequins and Wasps at home during the Six Nations and believe we have the squad to make the top four.”