England boss Stuart Lancaster is backing Northampton forward Calum Clark to make an impact after naming him in his elite-player squad.
Lancaster believes Clark deserves a second chance at Test level after he received a 32-week suspension for breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins in last season's LV= Cup final.
The lengthy ban ruled Clark out of England's tour to South Africa and 2012's end-of-year internationals.
Lancaster is confident the versatile Saints stalwart has put his suspension behind him and feels he has the ability to impress at flank or lock at Test level.
"I have coached him since he was 14 and I know him well enough to know that he is hugely regretful of the incident," explained Lancaster.
"When he went into the hearing he didn't do anything other than put his hands up and say, 'I made a bad mistake, I apologise'.
"He has never felt anything other than remorse. He has served his punishment, a 32-week ban.
"I was disappointed we ended up in the situation that (he) missed out on developing himself for club and country. Massively.
"But equally, as with other players in the past, I think everyone deserves a second chance - and certainly he does.
"I have watched his games closely and observed his behaviour to make sure he is on the right side of where he should be.
"He has a competitive nature but he is channelling that in the right way. I know what he can offer."
"In addition to his desire to win, his versatility in the second row is an option for us. He is incredibly athletic and very good in the contact areas.
"He's got to have the desire to play in the second row for him to be successful. I've checked that is the case and he's happy."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Spike 19, are you from Texas by any chance? ;)
Posted 11:03 14th January 2013
spike19 says...
This guy is a thug and a dirty player pure and simple I remember seeing him for the first time in the under 20 RWC he got red card for head butting. He's got a few screws loose that assault on Rob Hawkins was unforgivable. Matt Stevens was banned for 3 years for cocaine I don't see how intentionally hyper extending someone's arm to the point of snapping is less worse. He will offend again the question is how much will it cost England when he does. If he tries it on on the International stage with the likes of Burger, Alberts or Ferris he'll get smashed.
Posted 15:24 11th January 2013
comeonletsplay says...
Agreed on the mongrel side, but controlling that mongrel and utilizing it to its potential is not in Hartley's vocabulary. How many times has he been yellow carded this season - 4/5? How many stupid penalties does he give away because he does not think.......too many.
Decent player, but lets himself down regularly.
Posted 15:08 11th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ comeonletsplay - some might argue that England need a bit more "mongrel" in the team. We've certainly been lacking a little bit of gnarliness (is that a word?) and all Hookers need to be a bit feisty.
Posted 11:48 11th January 2013
comeonletsplay says...
@ APV - Ashton deserved it........purely for the swan dive he does (ha ha ha).
Everyone suffers a brain fart every now and then, but have you honestly seen anything as bad as that.......I haven't! Don't get me wrong, if he is in, its because he deserves to be, so I am looking forward to the experiment.
Lets see how long he and Hartley (the nutter) stay on the field for. Hartley is a liability, mongrel granted, but liability nonetheless.
Posted 17:15 10th January 2013
APV1 says...
I have to say, I agree with SL on this. Bear in mind his first game back was to start against the Tigers (if my - dodgy - memory serves) and that takes balls of steel.
@ rugby_rockstar - you missed the tar-and-feathering too, but not a bad idea. But perhaps the EPS could be renamed the SPS - "Stu's Psychadelic Sportsmen"..! We could even borrow the old England 7s strip, the Tequila Sunrise one, for colourful impact. But we'd certainly need to get Biggs in the squad then - he's the only one with "real" hair, man.
@ comeonletsplay - I think the mistake he's referring too was letting his emotions get out of control. He knows he had a brain explosion, but let his actions prove whether he has learned or not. Tuilagi went ballistic at Ashton (don't go there!) and we don't condemn him everytime he pulls on an England shirt.
Posted 11:58 10th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Perhaps if Nick Easter broke someone's limb and then was remorseful he'd get selected after his ban ahead of the Tank? "Break a leg" Nick.
Posted 10:27 10th January 2013
comeonletsplay says...
He served his ban granted.............but that was not a mistake, it was assault and personally, I believe he should have been banned from rugby. Its only a personal opinion, but it was the worst I have ever seen!
Posted 09:44 10th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Look out Stu, that's a bit of a reasonable point of veiw isn't it!?! You can pack rubbish that in whenever you like matey! Whatever happened to traditional anual forced marches through the street wearing horse hair coats inside out and getting pelted with rotten fruit? You know fun stuff!!!! Second chances! Tut! Bleedin' liberals. ;) Lancaster'll be growing his hair long in a minute and wearing flowery shirts!!!!
Posted 09:43 10th January 2013