Matt Kvesic desperate for trip to Denver to show he is the breakdown king

Matt Kvesic accepts he faces a huge battle to break into England’s World Cup squad ahead of experienced campaigners like Chris Robshaw and James Haskell.
But all Gloucester‘s fast-improving openside needs is a chance and he has pleaded with boss Stuart Lancaster to allow him the opportunity to prove he can translate his club form to the international stage and become a viable option for this autumn‘s global gathering.
Lancaster is set to cull five members of his 50-man training squad for next weekend’s trip to Denver and Kvesic told The Rugby Paper: “I’d be pretty disappointed if I went before Denver because we haven’t done any rugby yet and I want to show what I can do.
“I want to get a couple of good weeks under my belt at altitude and I’d love to have a game at some point in the warm-up matches, because if I was to get that chance I’m sure I’d be able to exert pressure on some of the more established guys around the squad.
“This first phase has been tough because it’s all about fitness, so that’s pretty generic. But, hopefully, when the rugby comes along I can show my point of difference at the breakdown. It’s down to the coaches, but I believe I can show enough to push for a squad place.”
Kvesic was capped twice against Argentina two years ago but has not appeared since as Lancaster has stood resolutely behind his skipper Robshaw in the No.7 shirt.
“It’s been quite hard since Argentina,” Kvesic admits. “Having those two games and then not really playing again until the Crusaders game last summer and the Saxons this year, you don’t get that true test you need at full international level.
“Even if it was just 10 or 15 minutes off the bench, it would enable you to get that little bit of experience, so it’s been disappointing really.
“But I can’t dwell on what’s been, I’ve got to knuckle down and push my way into a highly contested back-row. They’ll only take five to the World Cup and there isn’t much room, but if I do get a chance in a warm-up game I’m determined to take it.”
As the only out-and-out groundhog in England’s initial 50, Kvesic’s presence could prove invaluable in the event of any mishap that may befall Robshaw.
And having spent years studying the best, Kvesic hopes major strides made last season, when he was named Gloucester’s player of the year, will stand him in good stead.
Kvesic, who joined from Worcester in 2013, explained: “It was slow going in my first year at Gloucester, everyone saw that, but with David Humphreys, Laurie Fisher and new coaches coming in, I’ve been able to make good progress.
“My decision-making at the breakdown has improved. I’ve always been good in that area but if a couple of decisions didn’t go my way I used to get frustrated and started chasing the game by diving in out of desperation, which was counter-productive.
“This year, with the way we’ve played, my decision-making and aggression at the breakdown is much better. That doesn’t mean turning the ball over all the time, but slowing opposition ball or not going in because there are too many bodies.
“I’m doing all those things a bit better and I’ve not been as frustrated as the year before. I’m only 23 so there’s much more to come, but the world’s best like Richie McCaw were older before they reached their prime, so that’s quite exciting for me.
“I like to think I’ve taken bits from all the best opensides like McCaw and David Pocock and introduced them into my game; so if I could fight my way into the squad I’d be very confident of giving a good account of myself at the World Cup.”
Robshaw will doubtless have something to say about that, but Kvesic smiles, before adding: “We get on really well and we’re pushing each other hard in camp.
“There’s no funny looks around the dinner table, we are all working hard together with a common goal.”
NEALE HARVEY