The power-packed forward ‘ready and hungry’ to recharge England’s Six Nations campaign after shaking off ‘rustiness’ in front of trusted Steve Borthwick aide
Chandler Cunningham-South backed for England action.
Chandler Cunningham-South has been backed to recharge England’s ailing Six Nations campaign with badly-needed power after passing his audition in front of national team manager Richard Hill.
The Harlequins back-row has not featured for England since the autumn and following back-to-back championship defeats is said by Red Rose boss Steve Borthwick to be “very close to the selection frame”.
On Saturday he was released from camp in order to run off some rust playing for his club ahead of England selection on Tuesday to face Italy in Rome at the weekend.
Try-scoring display
The 22-year old responded by scoring a try and denying Newcastle Red Bulls one with some smart defensive work in a Prem Rugby Cup dead rubber which Quins won 35-14.
It was a match low on the sort of emotional intensity England must find if they are to put behind them chastening Six Nations losses to Scotland and Ireland and avoid a first ever defeat to the Azzurri.
But as Hill headed away to report back to Borthwick ahead of Monday’s selection meeting, Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore gave a positive verdict on his 6’5″ star.
“I think he’s ready and I think he’s hungry,” said the Australian. “Chandler probably hasn’t played for a month so there was a little bit of rustiness to start with before he found his rhythm.
“It’s hard for those [England squad] boys who are training every week but not actually getting to play. You need to play because your timing, your preparation for the intensity, the collisions, is different in a game compared to training.
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“But we’ve been really happy with Chandler. He’s been brilliant with us this week; his work behind the scenes probably the best I’ve seen it. Will he be ready? I’d always back him to be ready, particularly to play for England.”
Against Ireland last week, England were a distant second in the power game and well beaten along the touchlines. Borthwick opted to start with three flankers in the back-row and only two specialist lineout jumpers.
England have now lacked intensity two games running. They have been left in the starting gates both by Scotland and Ireland, beaten by both before even getting a point on the board.
Former captain Courtney Lawes says they look tired, a side “lacking a snap in defence and a spark in attack”. He believes it is time to change the balance of the back row, move Ollie Chessum to blindside and Alex Coles into the second-row.
Cunningham-South will come into that thinking, within the 23, given he has started at six and eight for his country. Two summers ago against New Zealand he was described as a “force of nature” and a “one-man wrecking ball” after making 14 tackles and winning a critical turnover in Dunedin.
Happy with his form
How Borthwick needs one, or more, of his forwards to have such labels pinned on them in the Italian capital where England go up against the form pack of the championship.
“We’ve been really happy with Chandler at Quins,” Gilmore added. “It’s been a difficult season but even in some of the losses we’ve had he’s been the one that’s really hit hard.
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“The last game we played against Leicester, his defence and his ball carrying was outstanding. It probably just gets overlooked a little bit when you’re not winning games.
“With England he’s gone from starting at six to probably sitting in the number 19 jersey where he’s covering lock and back-row as well.
“He’s had a little bit more to learn but if he can get his rhythm going, which I have no doubt he can, I definitely think he can deliver.”
