Alex Goode: Well played Mike Brown, but I still want your place

In Test rugby, the cooler heads often prevail, just look at how the All Blacks unpicked Ireland, slowly but surely, in the Aviva Stadium last month.
It was in that same stadium in Dublin earlier this year that Alex Goode fully announced himself on the international scene, the full-back a picture of calm amid the maelstrom of an Ireland v England Six Nations clash.
Perfect under the high ball, more than capable of stepping in at first receiver when required, Goode made a mockery of miserable conditions that day, providing the ideal playmaking complement to his clubmate Owen Farrell.
England’s full-back jersey appeared to be his to lose, but lose it he did as a combination of an untimely shoulder injury and Mike Brown‘s outstanding form resulted in Goode being leapfrogged by his Quins rival.
The contrast between the two out on the pitch could not be more evident, while Goode never looks ruffled, Brown is all belligerence and brio, spinning out of tackles and crawling over the gainline.
And while Goode admits Brown’s current form makes him deservedly England’s No.15, that does not mean the Sarries man is letting up in his pursuit.
“Whenever you are out and you see someone else in the shirt you are a bit worried because they can always put their best foot forwards,” said Goode, who was restricted to two appearances off the bench for England this autumn.
“The competition at full-back is so intense but Mike was given that chance in the autumn and he took it so you have to say fair play to him. He deserves to be there.
“I have just got to keep playing well. I have started to put together a long run of games after my injury and if I can keep playing well and improve in the next six or seven weeks until the Six Nations then hopefully I can come back into the equation, I just have to see where it takes me.
“Mike is in charge at the moment and doing well so it’s up to me to improve and keep close behind him.
“I don’t think England’s style of play needs to change, it’s just a case of when you are there you have got to make the most of your opportunities.
“Mike did what he does week-in week-out for Quins really well. He’s good under the high ball, a good tackler and counter attacked really well, beating the first man. That’s what Stuart went for and Mike did really well.
“I’m obviously more of a playmaker, someone who can be a second receiver, an organiser of the forwards and backline that can hopefully help the attack in that sense as well as individual running and beating the first man.”
Originally a fly-half in his school days, Goode has worn No.10 for Saracens on more than one occasion already this season, most recently against Exeter in the Premiership after Charlie Hodgson was injured inside two minutes.
But while his ability as first receiver is not in question, there are those that believe that the arrival on the international scene of Billy Twelvetrees to lighten Farrell’s load has made Goode’s skillset redundant.
Not that the former Oakham pupil agrees. Indeed the 13-cap man insists there is a growing trend on the international scene to include playmakers all over the park.
“It’s just horses for courses for players,” he added.
“If you look at New Zealand and Australia, potentially the two best backlines in world rugby, they have  a lot of playmakers in there.
“People who are all comfortable on the ball, all comfortable at stepping in at first receiver and doing well.
“It’s a natural thing for me because I played ten for most of my career so it’s something   I feel comfortable doing.
“From my point of view, I don’t think there is such a thing as too many playmakers in a backline so it is up to me to prove I can make it work.”
CHARLIE TALBOT-SMITH