Beard: To get the call was a dream come true

OSCAR Beard missed the call he dared not expect. The Harlequins centre had shut himself in his room at home at the time England’s head coach Steve Borthwick was calling players to tell them they were in his squad for the Six Nations.

- PAUL REES

 

“His first call ended as I went to pick the phone up,” said Beard, who three years ago was in the England U20 squad along with Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck and Tommy Freeman, who are also in the 36. “I had locked myself in my room telling my mother not come come in and was absolutely bricking it.

“When he called again and told me, I could not believe it. I had had a few chats with Steve and thought if I performed in my next two games I would see what happened. He told me what he liked about my game and gave me pointers which I have tried to add to my game.

“The call telling me I was in probably only lasted a couple of minutes but I must have said thank you a million times. He told me to be myself, bring my super strengths and enjoy it.

“It is a dream come true. To be involved with England in any capacity is thrilling. I went through all the emotions from excited to nervous. It was a shock but now is time to turn it on, show myself in the best light and be confident.”

If Borthwick was still pondering whether to include the 22-year old Beard last weekend, the centre’s display against Cardiff at the Arms Park in the Champions Cup would have settled it. Up against the experienced Rey Lee-Lo, Beard’s hard and elusive running shredded the home defence and he scored one of his side’s eight tries.