History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

JACKSON FOR ENGLAND – JONES

Martin Johnson should name Glen Jackson, the Saracens fly-half, in his England squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday. That’s the view of Jackson’s head coach, Eddie Jones, who witnessed his New Zealand-born No10 kick 15 points in his side’s 37-13 Guinness Premiership bonus-point triumph over bottom-club Bristol.

Australian Jones believes that the 33-year-old, who became the first man this season to reach 150 points yesterday (SUN), would act as the perfect mentor for tyros Danny Cipriani and Toby Flood.

“England should really consider having him in the squad,” the former Wallabies coach said. “His goalkicking was good, and his out-of-hand kicking is just wonderful.

“If they are going to have (Danny) Cipriani and (Toby) Flood as their major stand-offs maybe they should have someone like Jackson, who understands the game exceedingly well, in the squad to teach these younger guys how to play because I think they need a mentor.”

Italian prop Matias Aguero and centre Brad Barritt scored for Saracens to take the score to 23-7 at the interval. Ben Skirving and England captain Steve Borthwich ensured the result with second-half scores.

Jones praised lock and club captain Borthwick, who signed from Bath in the summer, adding: “He's been good for us from the first day he walked in the door and we're a much better side when he's playing.

“He gives us the lineout leadership, he's tough around the ruck and he scored the try. He doesn't even score tries in training so he's pretty chuffed about that one.”

The victory meant that Saracens leap-frogged Harlequins in to sixth, though their London rivals’ game with Worcester Warriors at the Stoop was postponed due to the frozen pitch. Similarly, Wasps’ match at Bath’s Memorial Ground was called off.

Labels: Bristol Rugby, Eddie Jones, England, Glen Jackson, London Wasps, Martin Johnson, Saracens, Six Nations, Steve Borthwick

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:06 am | Permalink | Comments

VYVYAN RELISHING SECOND-ROW CHALLENGE

Hugh Vyvyan is relishing the competition with All Black Chris Black and England captain Steve Borthwick for the two spaces in London Saracens' second-row. But with that calibre of players in the team the 32-year-old believes the club should be higher than seventh in the Guinness Premiership at the halfway stage of the season.

Whether he is selected to start on Sunday against Bristol or not, the former Newcastle Falcons captain knows that his team need to beat the bottom-placed club if they have any hope of making the play-offs - though he thinks Richard Hill's team position belies their ability.

"I have watched videos of Bristol's last few games and I can't believe they are at the bottom of the table," said 6'6" Vyvyan. "They have got some good players and they play a good, aggressive style of rugby. They have a very good lineout and their scrummaging is handy.

"We know Bristol will be very, very difficult to beat and we are expecting a tough physical battle. But we need to focus on ourselves and make sure we are playing well - if we do that then the result should take care of itself."

Guilford-born Vyvyan, who won his one and only England cap against Canada in 2004, started in last Saturday's 22-16 defeat to Gloucester as Borthwick was rested as part of the agreement with England's Elite Performance Squad. And Vyvyan said of his 28-year-old club skipper: "Steve has been great for the club - he works so hard on and off the field. He is a good leader and a great player.

"The second-row is in really good shape as we have Chris as well - he is probably the best lock I have played win. And though those two have been packing down recently, the competition is good for me and pushes me along too. I'm enjoying the rugby at the moment and it is good to have two world-class players in my position - it means I can't ever rest on my laurels. Hopefully over the course of the long season I will have my fair share of games.

"Our squad are all enjoying the rugby and we have grown in confidence and we are understanding how we want to play, and improving more every week. Each week we get a little better in every aspect of our game."

The ginger giant said of the Gloucester loss: "It was a game that was there for the taking and the type of game that, if we want to do well in a competition, we must win. We were leading at half-time and there was very little between the teams but Gloucester ended up winning, which is not ideal for us as we want to be in the top four at the end of the season.

"I don't think there is anything between the top seven sides, and you can include Wasps in that list too, now. It was a good win to beat London Irish in what was another close game (16-13) - but that showed that there is nothing between us and the top side.

"We have played 11 games now, exactly halfway through the season, so it is important to really make sure we win the games we should. We have lost four games narrowly - we also lost to Gloucester at home 25-21 and we should have won; Sale Sharks beat us 18-15 thanks to a drop goal in the last second; and Quins defeated us 21-24 in our first game of the season.

"If in second half of the season we are in the same situations we have to win those games. We know there are going to be many more close games between now and the end of the season - we just have to hope we get the bounce of the ball. If we win 80 per cent of those close games then we are going to be at the top end of that table when it matters."

Labels: Chris Jack, Guinness Premiership, Hugh Vyvyan, Newcastle Falcons, Saracens, Steve Borthwick

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:56 pm | Permalink | Comments

BORTHWICK: FORGET WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Steve Borthwick won his first game as England captain last weekend against the Pacific Islanders, but he knows that Saturday's Test against Australia will be a tougher challenge for Martin Johnson’s new-look team.

Five new caps were handed out in the 39-13 win but the Saracens lock warned supporters not to compare Robbie Deans’s Australia team to the one defeated 12-10 by England in the World Cup quarter-final in southern France.

“What happened in Marseille is irrelevant and history,” said the 28-year-old, who was part of the pack who scrummaged the gold and greens off the park last October. “Australia have improved immeasurably. In winning away against South Africa and beating New Zealand they have shown that they will be a very tough pack for us to play against.

“They have had a good amount of time to develop which is something at this point that we haven’t had. It will be a big challenge and it is one that everyone is looking forward to. Australia are one of the best teams in the world and we are going have to play at our best if we are going to win.

“Last week was a very good start for us but we want to progress. We are going to go out there and give it absolutely everything we have got.”

Labels: Australia, England, Martin Johnson, Rugby Football Union, Steve Borthwick

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

BORTHWICK EXCITEMENT AT NEW ENGLAND ERA BEGINS

Steve Borthwick is “excited” at leading England for the first time at Twickenham, though the 29-year-old believes that there are plenty of team-mates ready to shoulder the burden of responsibility against the Pacific Islanders on Saturday. The Saracens lock suggested that half-backs Danny Care and Danny Cipriani, who have five caps between them, are born leaders.

And Borthwick, who was named permanent captain by new team manager, Martin Johnson, believes that their opponents – the cream of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji – will prove tougher opponents than many critics believe. This will be the first time that England have faced them, though Borthwick is looking for a winning start to a new epoch in the national team’s history.

On marching his side out at the home of rugby, Borthwick said: “It’s hard to put into words. It is a great privilege to play for England, and then the opportunity to lead out England at Twickenham, our home ground, is almost beyond belief. It is absolutely fantastic and I am excited about the opportunity.

“I will lead the team out but what is important is that we have great players and leaders. We have that in this team; we have those guys who have the leadership skills required. Some players might be young but they are leading their teams. Danny Care, Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter – that axis of eight, nine and ten is hugely important.

“It’s not a concern at all that the half-backs have limited experience at international level. They are the best players in their position now. The way they have trained, the way they have helped organised the England game, and the way they have played when they have had the opportunity to play, they have done exceptionally well. We have to have people willing to step up for the team and they can – we have outstanding leaders.”

The second row, who moved from Bath to his London employers in the summer, continued: “This is a huge challenge for us and it will be an exciting game – they are a formidable side. We are back here at Twickenham, where we have not played for the last few months.

“The main aspect for me is that this is a new England team. There are new faces and we have a new team manager in place and a new attack coach (Brian Smith, the former London Irish coach). It is a very exciting time for us in English rugby.”

Borthwick was named temporary captain for the two-Test series against the All Blacks in the summer, but he insists that England, who were whitewashed in New Zealand, are a new proposition now.

He added: “I believe we have improved as a side and new players have come in. What happened in New Zealand feels like a long time ago. That was the past and what I am concentrating on is the now. We feel as though we have moved on.

“But the onus is always on the players to perform. We all absolutely love playing for our country. I want to make sure that the guys who are playing in their very first game a great day and we start this season in a really positive manner.”

Labels: England, Pacific Islanders, Rugby Football Union, Steve Borthwick

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:53 pm | Permalink | Comments