Whether he likes it or not Jason Leonard should switch from the loose to the tight head to accommodate Rowntree
Whether he likes it or not, Jason Leonard should switch from the loose to the tight head to accommodate Rowntree. The promising lock Simon Shaw's grievous misfortune with injury when playing for Bristol against Transvaal last week is a mighty blow to England who, despite physical size, lack presence. It takes more than height and weight to break down modern defences.Last Saturday, England failed to reach the same levels of controlled frenzy and continuous aggression in the loose achieved by southern hemisphere sides. Rowell would have every reason to change both his half-backs.
Dawson, another underrated talent, is playing superbly, albeit in League Two for Northampton. Almost by default, until his recent injury, David Pears appeared certain to replace Catt at fly-half. Pears's history of injury is now too bad for it not to be a consideration, but he would bring a controlling calm to England's play in this crucial position, which Catt, for all his many gifts, seems incapable of doing.If there is to be a place for Hull, it could be on the left wing, where Rory Underwood appeared to be in a state of transcendental meditation for most of the match. How much more pleasant the afternoon would have been had we been able to join him..
THE Western Samoans continued their schizophrenic progress on this tour, one day irresistibly brilliant, the next mean and melancholy. It was the latter face they presented at Grange Road yesterday and although they belatedly and all too briefly displayed their creative skills it was Cambridge who earned the unstinting admiration of the crowd. This was as much for their relentless pursuit of the foe as for the quality of their play, although they produced some dazzling passages behind the scrum and up front they displayed maturity. In their captain, Steve Cottrell, and Tom Whitford they possess a most potent midfield combination. On the basis of this performance against the tourists Cambridge must be the clearest of favourites to win next month's Varsity match. Oxford, who were given a sound hiding by the same opposition in midweek, were never in their match while Cambridge were never out of yesterday's contest. Indeed, after Rob Ashforth had equalised with a penalty after 19 minutes Cambridge were never again behind.Their small but perfectly formed and wonderfully mobile pack hounded the tourists to distraction.
They possess genuine class in the back row and Steve Surridge at No 8 gave a masterful display of far-ranging defence and alert close-quarters support. So successful were they in the middle and tail of the line-out that the Samoans were forced to target Brendan Reidy, their loose-head prop, at the front for any decent possession. This, though, greatly restricted their options in the backs, and even when they did break cover it was never quick enough to outstrip the Cambridge defence.This defeat cannot have done much for the Samoans' morale as they prepare to face England at Twickenham next month, especially as yesterday they played eight of the side who had drawn against Scotland last week. The longer the game progressed, the more ragged they became, and the more confidently did Cambridge build their attacks.One of them was most beautifully worked, leading to a stunning try by Nick Walne. From a poorly directed Samoan drop-out the students' threequarters ran from a shallow alignment and with as fine a demonstration of co-ordination and dexterity as we have seen all season, Whitford sliced through before delivering the scoring pass to Walne, who was injured in the process and had to leave the field.That try embellished a victory which had already been secured by Cottrell's score.
