Elliot Daly’s looking to put hand up for England
Having been in head coach Stuart Lancaster‘s initial 50-man World Cup squad, Wasps‘ gifted outside-centre Daly failed to make the first cut.
He told The Rugby Paper: “I was disappointed – I felt I could have contributed. But when I was released I was pretty much straight back here and I’m looking for another good season so I can put my hand up and, hopefully, break into the squad.”
Wasps’ success last season owed much to Daly’s consistency at No.13 and with Six Nations selection up for grabs, he hopes to challenge England rivals such as Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade and Luther Burrell.
“It was really good last year,” Daly said. “Dai Young was great in giving me the outside-centre jersey and I was keen on keeping it to show what I could do.
“It was my best season to date with Wasps and staying in one position certainly helped. It focuses you on what you need to do and enables you to concentrate on being the best you can be, so I can now take another step forward.”
Daly is relishing the opportunity of playing outside experienced fly-half Jimmy Gopperth, who comes in for the departed Andy Goode.
Daly said: “All our new signings have settled well and people like Jimmy feel like part of the furniture. He’s been looking really good in training and the organisation and experience he brings is going to be major for us.
“He plays in a similar way to Andy but might offer a little more at the line in bringing people on to the ball, so I’m really looking forward to that.
“We’ve got really good competition at fly-half with Jimmy, Ruaridh Jackson and Alex Lozowski, and we’ll rotate so to have strength-in-depth is fantastic for us.”
Wasps were the Premiership‘s top try-scorers last season and Daly believes they can improve under new attack coach Lee Blackett.
“Lee’s been really good,” said Daly. “He’s settled into the Wasps way quickly and, without wanting to give too much away, some of the backs moves he’s brought in are very exciting.”
Having England men Joe Launchbury and James Haskell back will boost Wasps further, Daly adding: “They’re key players and in Joe’s case, hopefully, he can have a good run of games with us now after the neck problem that ruled him out last year.
“They bring a lot to the party and they can help us build towards that top four.”
NEALE HARVEY
