Daly urged to pick a number and stick
ELLIOT Daly and Anthony Watson must switch positions permanently or forget about being England’s long-term answer at full-back, according to former Red Rose incumbent Ben Foden.
While Mike Brown has the No.15 jersey nailed down, England supremo Eddie Jones recently mooted the possibility of giving Daly, a star for Wasps at outside-centre but who started for England on the wing yesterday, or Bath wide man Watson a run at full-back.
However, Foden, who once had to choose between playing scrum-half or fullback before winning the majority of his 34 caps as England’s last line of defence, believes the pair face huge decisions to forsake their regular spots in order to challenge Brown.
Northampton man Foden told The Rugby Paper: “I’ve always been a fan of Elliot Daly, who Eddie has suggested could do a job at 15, but if either he or Watson are serious about being international full-backs they need to be playing week-in, week-out there in high level competitions for their clubs.
“That’s something I learnt when England came knocking for me and I was dithering over whether I was going to play nine or 15. They said if I wanted to play international rugby I had to stick with one or the other and 15 gave me the best opportunity.
“I did that, played my rugby week-in, week-out as a 15 and developed as a player. You need that experience in the Premiership, Champions Cup and all those big club games and then take that form with you when you get an international chance.
“That’s something Mike Brown, Alex Goode and myself did and it worked for us, so if Daly or Watson are serious about taking Browny’s shirt in future, they’ll need to do it for Bath or Wasps or they won’t be ready to cope with the different demands.”
Of Watson’s chances, Foden added: “Watson started as a 15 and has played a bit there, but I love watching him on the wing and think he’s one of the best in Europe. However, Browny’s on the wrong side of 30 and it’s right for Eddie to look long-term.”
Of the other contenders to succeed Brown, Foden sees Mike Haley as a potent force. He said: “Haley’s probably the front-runner.
He’s playing in a Sale side that’s not been firing particularly well but has been one of the standout players.
“He looks good going forward and is a real attacking threat, which is what Eddie Jones likes to see. He wants a full-back who is going to beat players and always have that attacking mindset, so Haley suits that position well and deserves a chance.
“Having played against him he’s brave under the high ball and at 22 he’s got age on his side, so, hopefully, he can develop and take the next step.”
Meanwhile, Foden, 31, concedes his own England hopes have receded since a serious knee injury in January 2015 ruined his World Cup chances.
“I’ll never retire from Test rugby but it’s tough to get back from things like that, plus I’m on the wrong side of 30 now and Eddie will look to younger guys, ” he said. Foden’s Northampton contract expires in 2018 but rather than follow his great friend Chris Ashton by seeking a move to France, he will fight for a new deal.
He explained: “Ashy’s still a mate and there are players who go to France and enjoy it, but it doesn’t work for others and I’ve never been attracted to leave England.
“I love the Premiership and I’ve invested a lot of time at Northampton, so I’d love to stay here and win the Champions Cup before hanging up my boots.”
▪ BEN Foden has blasted Premiership Rugby proposals to play Six Nations matches over five consecutive weekends, claiming the intensity of Test rugby would leave the bodies of England’s top players in bits. Plans to shorten the length of the annual tournament were revealed last week, but Foden said: “I’d imagine the Rugby Players Association would have something to say about that. It would be a very tough ask.
“You get used to playing week-in, week-out in the Premiership and the best teams are able to rotate, but at international level it’s so much harder, faster and the hits are bigger, so the toll on the body is far greater.
“It’s car crash rugby so it’s a huge ask for guys to play five weeks of internationals back-to-back.
“Having played Six Nations rugby, I can understand the need for rest weekends, to pull back from training a bit and look after your best players so they have a chance to get back to full fitness.”
Foden added: “The last thing you want is to take the field in international rugby not 100 per cent fit or not confident you can perform to your best.
“I understand why clubs would want their players back from the Six Nations as quickly as possible because there are medals and silverware at stake, but at the same time you must protect your top players with extra rest.”
