Jeremy Guscott: Why Steffon Armitage must be on the plane to New Zealand

The chat this week has been about Steffon Armitage and English players based outside the Premiership being unable to play for England. This was prompted by Stuart Lancaster going across to Toulon to talk to the Armitage brothers. The way I read it, the England head coach has just gone along and endorsed the policy, but with the important proviso that if an overseas-based player’s form makes him one of the best players in the world then an exception will be made.
Exceptions have always been made for the world’s best players, as you can see from the sabbaticals given by New Zealand to Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. Truth be told, England have not had that sort of world-class player in their ranks for the last three seasons (and before that).
They have come second in the Six Nations for the last three seasons, which, while it is not bad in the Northern Hemisphere, does not translate into them having any players likely to get into a World XV. Mike Brown would be the best candidate England have available, and this season’s stats would probably make him the best full-back.
Steffon Armitage is arguably the best openside that England could pick. It is a genuine discussion. If you take Chris Robshaw‘s captaincy out of the equation, and just selected on performance, then Armitage shades it because of the number of turnovers he wins and the way it stops other sides getting momentum.
Robshaw has played only 11 Premiership games this season, and in those he has won just eight turnovers. By comparison, Armitage has made 22 appearances for Toulon in the Top 14, and he has won 26 turnovers. In the process, Armitage has conceded 16 penalties to Robshaw’s nine. In addition, Armitage carries more, and is more dynamic in attack.
The difference is that Armitage doesn’t seem to pass very much. I am not sure how much he looks to link, and to get other people into the game. He is a carrier, not a passer. He is a bulldozing runner, but you don’t see a lot of smartness and creativity in the French league. The attacking game in the Top 14 is more a blunt instrument used to smash people into submission.
However, it is also an incredibly competitive league, and it takes no prisoners – as we can see with Biarritz being relegated. Many of the best players on the planet want to be there, and, given their quality, it can rightly claim to be the best league in the world.
For Armitage to stand out in that company for the last three seasons is very impressive. He’s had the Top 14 Player of the Season award once already, and could get another at the end of this campaign. Whether he would be as good playing in a slightly different role in an England team, rather than for Toulon, is the question.
I’m neither for or against the policy the RFU have adopted on overseas-based players. That’s because I believe that if England definitely thought they needed Armitage they would invoke the ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause and pick him.
My belief is that if selection was based on performance alone then he would have to be on the plane to New Zealand this summer. England will miss an opportunity if they do not select him and see whether he can bring a different dynamic to the pack, and the back row in particular. If they do not include him there will always be that question mark.
Lancaster has proved to be a good head coach, Graham Rowntree has got the pack together, and Andy Farrell and Mike Catt are getting the mindset right in attack. The conversation about Armitage must have come up, and so must the idea of giving him a run for the full 80 minutes to using him as an impact player off the bench.
There are no other opensides really pressing for inclusion. Matt Kvesic has been average for Gloucester over the course of the season, and with Will Fraser injured until the last few weeks it has left the door wide open.
My suggestion is that if you want to keep Robshaw as captain then select him at No.6. This makes sense, because if Harlequins do not make the play-offs – as could easily happen – whereas Northampton have already done so, it means that for the first Test against New Zealand Tom Wood would be unavailable at blindside. That presents England with the opportunity to pick Robshaw at blindside, Armitage at openside, and probably Ben Morgan at No.8.
There is your chance, and it is in making decisions like that you earn your money as coaches and selectors. Armitage brings a different dynamic. Robshaw is an inclusive player, one who takes and gives passes, and while he does not make too many yards he links well and slips good passes to those in support. In defence he is accurate and hard-working, but overall he is not explosive in the way that Billy Vunipola, Sean O’Brien and Armitage are.
Armitage is like a powerball, full of explosive power, short, compact and dynamic – and if he gets over the ball he is mighty hard to remove. There are not many players more effective at close quarters, and after winning the man of the match award for Toulon against Leinster, he gets another opportunity to make his mark in today’s semi-final against Munster in Marseille.
As England coach you have to ask what damage bringing in an outsider can do to your team culture. However, most rugby fans have a different concern. They want to see players picked on the basis of what they can do on the pitch, rather than see them ruled out by an overseas policy which would not stand up in a law court.
Make Steffon Armitage an exception and take him to New Zealand. Find out if you can trust him.