Harlequins have started the season ominously, with four straight wins and 19 points from a possible 20, and the rest of the Aviva Premiership is already playing catch up with the aristocrats from West London. The likes of Leicester and Saracens do not even have the early season excuse of losing players through Rugby World Cup selection. Their success should be great news for England, as the majority of the Quins team are English born and bred. Five of the squad are currently in the England Elite squad – but shouldn’t a few more be?
England are still very much a work in progress side but in just over nine months their coach, ex school teacher Stuart Lancaster, has worked wonders, when you consider the situation English rugby found itself in during and after the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He has installed a new backroom division and he has not been afraid to get the proverbial cane out - temporarily banishing players from the squad should they step out of line, just ask Harlequins’ very own Danny Care. And importantly, the players appear to enjoy being part of the new set up. But for all the positive vibes, the squad does not look completely settled and it is surprising that a few more Quins players are not involved.
One of the reasons that Twitter interests many of its users more than other social media sites is because it offers the immediate and instinctive insights of certain individuals that previously would have remained private. Sir Clive Woodward gave us one such impulse reaction, shortly after Leicester’s home loss against Harlequins on Saturday, when he Tweeted “(Nick) Easter v impressive, if England are going to pick on merit he needs to come back in”. Twenty four hours later in another Tweet, SCW also asked Mo Farah to give him a call. But back to the rugby, everyone is hoping that Lancaster targets immediate success and is not too obsessed with the next Rugby World Cup. As we learned in South Africa, Ben Morgan, a terrific prospect, is still learning his trade in international rugby. Maybe it’s time to let Easter earn back some of that £35k he lost down the toilet after England were knocked out early during last year’s miserable Rugby World Cup campaign?
From a possible recall to the uncapped contingent and second row, George Robson is a player that continues to impress with each performance. He is everywhere; making offloads, smashing tackles, hitting breakdown after breakdown and even scoring tries. His line out work and scrummaging are sufficient, although recently England coaches have picked locks predominantly on their set piece proficiency. Geoff Parling and Mouritz Botha both performed admirably in the Six Nations and on the summer tour to South Africa. But having already captained his club and country (albeit in a midweek tour match in SA) in the absence of Chris Robshaw and being part of a such a confident and winning environment, the time is right to finally give Robson an opportunity at the highest level, possibly to form a new second row partnership with Courtney Lawes.
Joe Gray is another Quins forward that is close to moving from the Saxons to the Elite squad, although his role should be more of a support position to Dylan Hartley, who on current form is favourite to wear the number two jersey for the Lions next summer. Either Gray or Tom Youngs, of Leicester, are likely to replace Rob Webber, desperately unlucky with a persistent shoulder injury, and Gray’s contribution to Quins’ win over Youngs’ Tigers puts him in pole position for the vacant slot.
And what about out wide? Danny Care and Mike Brown are already part of the full England squad and both should line up at scrum half (unless Ben Youngs returns from injury and quickly finds his 2010 form) and full back respectively for England in their first Autumn international against Fiji. With Ben Foden injured, club mate Ross Chisholm could even provide cover for Brown, and on the wing, although Jonny May of Gloucester is also in the mix (and this one cannot be settled by a try off). Quins’ only current Lion Ugo Monye is getting ever closer to a recall, although probably not a starting place. Centre has been a problem position for England in recent years and while Manu Tuilagi is a certain starter, Matt Hopper (remember his Pirate pass?) and George Lowe are not too far away from favourites Jonathan Joseph and Brad Barritt for the other starting berth.
The rigid rules of the England Elite squad make it unlikely that Lancaster will make many changes to his squad before November. But do not be surprised if more Quins players join captain Robshaw, Marler, Care, Turner-Hall and Brown and make the revised Six Nations squad in January. If Quins continue their early season form and start the Heineken Cup in similar fashion, a real possibility as they have a favourable draw in Pool 3, Chris Robshaw will soon be leading an England squad that contains many more familiar faces.
(For the record I am not a Quins fan! Interested to hear your thoughts so please comment or follow me on Twitter @AMP_Rugby)
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