Stick with Ollie for Six Nations – Greenwood
OLLIE Lawrence must get a “good long run” in the England side and show he can become the real rising international star of 2021.
Will Greenwood urges Eddie Jones to let the powerful Worcester centre off the leash again when the battle for northern hemisphere supremacy starts all over again in the New Year.
The World Cup winner, and many supporters too, felt Jones missed a trick against a young inexperienced France outfit by not even including Lawrence in his 23 for the final of the Autumn Nations Cup.
But Greenwood claims he will be amazed if Lawrence fails to make an explosive impact in what could be a massive year for the 21-year-old so many feel is the perfect replacement for long-term injury victim Manu Tuilagi.
Lawrence helped England lift the Six Nations title in October when he came off the bench to make his debut against Italy. He followed up with a start against Georgia but was then snubbed by Jones after recovering from a hip injury.
Greenwood said: “I’d have played Lawrence. Like Manu Tuilagi, he gives a side some x-factor in the middle, both in attack and defence with his strength and power.
“For me we should keep giving him a good long run in the team. He is as much like for like as you will get for Tuilagi. You need some impact in that midfield. He’s only had two caps but when you watch him play you think: ‘where’s this kid been!’ He’s unbelievable and a real scrapper.”
Greenwood adds: “You can’t have enough players who make opponents make plans to stop them.
“We have relied on Manu a lot over the years for that extra muscle in that area but he’s had so many injury problems and won’t be around for the Six Nations due to his torn achilles. Then he needs to prove his fitness so we won’t know when or if he will be back in an England jersey. We need someone to fill what is a huge void.
“Lawrence looked at home in his first couple of appearances for England, and will grow and grow in confidence each time he gets a chance to rampage around the international field. I hope Eddie lets him loose when the Six Nations comes round again.”