The future of English Rugby: A Blossoming Rose?

After the Boks finished off a disappointing year with a comprehensive victory over a resurgent England, a cloud of doubt over the authenticity of English rugby’s recovery seems to have materialised. The power which South Africa brought to the game not only knocked England backwards; but knocked the national side back to reality. England are far from the finished article.

The feeling of promise and optimism which swept the media after triumph against Australia now seems a distant memory, overshadowed by the knowledge that England’s two defeats leave them with a fifty-fifty record following the Autumn Internationals. Having experienced the All Black juggernaut and the freight train that is South Africa, England know where the bench mark has been set.

Yet despite losses to the present number one side in the world and the current World Champions, English rugby seems to be in a much better place than it was twelve months ago. The emergence and development of a plethora of young English rugby players bodes well for the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand and with nine months and a Six Nations ahead, England have time.

Whether or not England will have progressed enough to challenge for the ultimate title come September is unclear, but what the Autumn Internationals have revealed is the possibility of a new dawn for the Red Rose.

The mantra that the young are the future has never been more pertinent than in English rugby. With the likes of Mike Tindal and Simon Shaw reaching the end of their careers it is vital to bring young players through. Not only do “Jonno and Co.” need to consider who will be capable of playing in next year’s World Cup, but who will be playing in years to come.

Once you consider the age of many England’s players it is hard not to feel optimistic. In the front three Dan Cole has burst into the limelight over the last twelve months and at 23 there is ample time for him to develop into a world class Prop. It is also worthy of note that at club level his development has been hampered by Martin Castrogiovanni, often preferred by the Leicester management. Equally Bath’s Davey Wilson (25) has found himself in fight with Cole for the number three shirt.

Dylan Hartley (24) can be seen as an ideal replacement to Steve Thompson at Hooker, who now seems to be past his spritely best. If the Northampton man can improve on his set piece play and cut out the ill discipline that has cost England unnecessary penalties, his confrontational nature may be harnessed as a force for good.

The Autumn Internationals have also revealed another future star of international rugby in the form of Courtney Lawes. The try saving tackle on Victor Matfield epitomises the Second Row’s athleticism in open play, an attribute which many of England’s current crop of locks fail to possess. The image of Simon Shaw or Steve Borthwick having the agility and pace to have made the same tackle seems somewhat improbable. Yet Lawes play in the loose is matched by that in the tight and although he was not capable of upsetting the South African lineout, for a man of 21, it is hard to be critical.

In the back three it seems unimaginable that Tom Croft is only 25 given the time he has been on the international scene. As a natural athlete, one wonders whether this is a result of taking dance until the age of 16; and where English rugby would be if all flankers were tutored by Strictly’s Bruno Tonioli. Croft’s pace and spatial awareness mean that with continuing development at both Leicester and with the national side, he can become one of the world’s best Blindside Flankers.

Yet to sing the praises of the forwards tells only half the story. The Leicester duo of Ben Youngs (21) and Toby Flood (25) has been a halfback pairing that has worked as well as any in the game. The quick feet and even quicker thinking of Youngs has provided a much needed injection of pace into the England attack; while the partnership with his Leicester teammate has continued to blossom throughout the Autumn Internationals.

Figures do the talking for Flood alone. With 25 points against Australia, a record, a further 16 notched up against Samoa, and 6 against the Boks before his substitution on 34 minutes, Flood is a natural successor to an injury prone Jonny Wilkinson.

Matt Banahan (23) proved that England have options other than Mike Tindal at Outside Centre. With a similar game to Tindal but with a frame reaching 6’7 and carrying over 18 stone Banahan is a formidable opponent, not considering his tattoos. Bath moved the Jersey man from Lock to Wing when he first joined the club; and his recent transfer to Centre may be the answer to England’s need for a new 13. Another consideration for Martin Johnson must be the fact that Banahan and Shontayne Hape play their club rugby together, and the possibility of a relationship akin to that of Chris Ashton (23) and Ben Foden (25) in the Centres.

Chris Ashton despite only converting from Rugby League three years ago has become one of the first names on the team sheet. His ability to follow a run and pick up the offload; coupled with his pure pace and power make him a daunting prospect for any opposition coach. The danger he poses was shown in the Australia game when he picked up the ball well within his twenty-two to run the length of the pitch and score between the posts. His Northampton team mate has become the best counter attacking Full Back in England, Foden’s incisiveness and line breaking ability means that his partnership with Ashton is one of England’s greatest assets.

Since 2003 English rugby has been in the doldrums. A mini renaissance at the 2007 World Cup is all the white cladded faithful have had to sing about and it seemed no nearer that the sweet chariot would swing low. The 2011 World Cup may come too soon, but this new breed of players with flair and ambition may hold the key to carrying the World Cup home.