The Gloucester No.8 returned to the Premiership this season after a successful couple of years in the Top 14 playing for Montpellier with the sole intent of adding to the two caps he won in 2018.
The 26-year old was immediately recalled by England and named in early squads to prepare for the World Cup, but he failed to make the cut for France when only one specialist No.8 was picked.
He started the campaign for Gloucester who opened with victories over Harlequins and Newcastle but then suffered an ankle against Saracens on the third weekend and missed the next six matches.
So desperate was he to get back that he bought an oxygen chamber to speed up his recovery and returned before Christmas, but when he failed to make the Six Nations squad he used a radio interview to reveal his exasperation.
He was then left out of the A squad for today’s match against Portugal in Leicester but responded by doing his talking on the pitch against Exeter in last weekend’s Premiership semi-final at Kingsholm when he was virtually unplayable in the opening half.
He had a hand in his side’s three tries and, in standing out, showed why he had been left out by England. Instead of charging at defenders, he used his footwork to get round them, more Zinzan Brooke than Billy Vunipola.
Esta historia es de la edición February 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.
Powell powers over to take Quins home
PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.
We need to see a complete shake-up
A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.
Century of highs for La Rochelle
AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.
