Keep working and you’ll earn England call, Matt

Matt KvesicMatt Kvesic must bury his frustration and keep working on his game, according to forwards coach Trevor Woodman.
Kvesic, a genuine openside groundhog, has been outstanding for Gloucester this season and leads the turnover charts. But despite being a regular in England’s training squad, he has been unable to force his way past .
Woodman feels his time is coming, though, telling The Paper: “It’s a frustrating period when you’ve got ambitions to represent your country, but I was in that position myself once and it’s down to the England coaches to decide if he’s ready.
and will decide if he fits in their plans but it’s hard for Matt because he’s been playing exceptionally well for us.
“It can take players a bit longer to realise their potential at international level and Matt’s got to keep doing what he does well and add to his game at the same time. He’s got to keep studying all the top class 7s and keep knocking on that door.
“The main thing is he’s training with the England squad and they’re seeing what he can do, then he’s coming back to us and performing really well.”
Former England prop Woodman played alongside 2003 winner Neil Back, one of the foremost opensides of his generation.
He reckons Kvesic can still learn a trick or two, adding: “When you look at the likes of Neil Back and George Smith, they’re good readers of the game and they make sure they get other people in positions where they can excel at what they do.
“Neil always wanted the props to be stood next to the ruck so he could be a little bit freer to get out and make more tackles in the midfield, and when you look at George and the way he moves around the pitch, he’s very similar.
“They read the game very well and that’s what Matt can add to his game. But he was up against George Smith when we played last weekend and played exceptionally well against him and won that individual battle.”
Woodman, meanwhile, has hit back at suggestions by that back rower Ross Moriarty must join a Welsh Pro 12 side to enhance his Test ambitions.
Moriarty, like Kvesic, has been in fine form for Gloucester, and Woodman said: “They’ve got ambitions to have a lot of their players back in Wales and with a young kid like Ross who’s playing well, they’re going to say that.
“But they don’t say that about, say, Jamie Roberts, do they? So in my eyes they’re just using a young kid to make a general point.
“Ross loves Gloucester, he’s come through the academy and he’s well respected in the team. What happens in future is a decision for him, but if he’s playing week-in, week-out for Gloucester he’ll have every chance to represent Wales.”
NEALE HARVEY

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