Forget Steffon Armitage, Red Rose needs Matt Kvesic

Matt Kvesic is overdue an England call-up, according to Gloucester legend Andy Hazell, who believes the in-form openside has the potential to displace captain Chris Robshaw if boss Stuart Lancaster allows him a chance to shine.
Kvesic, 23 this Tuesday, was last capped on England’s summer tour of Argentina in 2013 and has been on the periphery of the Red Rose set-up ever since, but Hazell feels impressive form for Gloucester warrants a chance.
Former England openside Hazell told The Rugby Paper: “Matt will probably tell you that his first year at Gloucester was pretty quiet, but he was a young lad and he probably needed time to settle after moving from Worcester.
“But this year he’s been absolutely outstanding and he’s improved in every area.
“He’s always been good over the ball but now he’s picking his targets better and being more effective. He’s getting there quicker, getting a lot more turnovers and he’s full of confidence which just breeds itself as a seven.
“He’s putting his hand up for England, 100 per cent, and they’ve got to be looking at him. For me, I think you need someone like Matt in the team and it’s not like he’s had one or two good games, he’s consistently been excellent.
“England’s back-row is a competitive area with James Haskell playing well and Tom Wood picking up again, but I would involve Matt somewhere, whether it’s on the bench or with Chris Robshaw playing six and him at seven.”
Hazell believes Kvesic, right, is just as good as Toulon‘s Steffon Armitage and that Gloucester’s travails should not count against him.
He added: “People talk about Armitage but Matt’s playing just as well and if you put him in that Toulon team, he’d look even better.
“I don’t think Matt’s suffered for being in a Gloucester team that’s struggled, if anything you see more of a seven when you’re up against it.
“If you’re scoring 30-40 points it’s easy to get headlines, but Matt’s been consistent whether Gloucester have been dominant or not.
“He’ll probably be Gloucester’s player-of-the-year and England should take note!”
NEALE HARVEY