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Harlequins 'victims of their own success' as England set to strip champs of key players

Marcus Smith is set to be England's first choice 10 /Getty

Nick Evans, the Harlequins attack coach, admits the club are going to be “victims of their own success” with Luke Northmore tipped to become the latest player to be called up by England when Eddie Jones, the head coach, names his Six Nations squad tomorrow.

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Northmore’s form alongside outside half Marcus Smith means the reigning Premiership champions could be stripped of more than a third of their team by Jones with Joe Marler, Will Collier, Alex Dombrandt, Louis Lynagh, and Joe Marchant also in the England selection mix.

Evans is confident Northmore is ready to follow fellow former Cardiff Met student Dombrandt into test rugby and believes the mercurial Smith can be the first choice No10 for Jones even with George Ford excelling for Leicester this season.

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Evans, who is preparing the team to face Castres in the Heineken Champions Cup on Friday night, said: “We could be a victim of our own success. It is why you coach and you want to see these guys live their dream and play international rugby and see the joy they get. Winning the Premiership and a doing well in the Champions Cup puts us in the shop window. I will be delighted for the guys who get the opportunity and it just means we have to work extra hard with the squad we have.

“Marcus has managed a tough period for the team which has tested the way we play. Marcus has, along with Danny Care been a big part of navigating that and from a coach’s point of view, the way he has got us out of positions and into positions has been impressive and I am sure Eddie (Jones) has seen that. A lot of talk is about what he creates but he has added a lot more to his game in the last couple of years.

“Both Marcus and George (Ford) are playing really well. George has led a team that has been top of the table for most the season and is performing exceptionally well and he is also an attacking threat as well although we don’t see that as much with Leicester. He has that ability to run a game and is world class along with his kicking and decision-making. I have not doubt he will be in the England reckoning and Marcus is improving all the time and offers something different; something more intuitive.

“People probably don’t see his game management and it’s something he has worked and is self aware. I am sure England have a pretty stringent kicking plan and he will have to follow that but if the defence switches off he has the ability to punish teams and that is the beauty of Marcus – that ability to play what he sees and he can open teams up.

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“Luke has a really good pedigree like Alex in Wales and has a good feel for the game and is a massive impact player for us. What he offers is a real physicality in defence, is a constant threat with ball in hand and is deceptively quick for a centre. His communication is good and is not afraid to boss people about and has a real competitive edge. It would be an amazing opportunity if he does get into the squad.”

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RedWarrior 4 hours ago
The reason given by Steve Borthwick for latest England setback

So England are allowed to have a tsunami whinge fest about the ref but if an Irish fan points out that some decisions hurt Ireland also they are being petulant.

Honestly some English supporters are all politeness until they lose then the claws and fangs come out.

Ok here we go, not complaints just pointing out where England got away with roul play:

1: M Smiths headbutt on James Lowe that started the fracas with Stewart. If the ref spots that in time then thats a second yellow if not a straight red for Smith. Probably worth another 14 points with England gassed so a 41-10 final scoreline?

2: Itoje's several stamps on Hansens instep in a clear attempt to damage metatarsals. Straight red or if he is lucky, 10 in the bin.

3. Currys block on Baird to create a gap that Smith used to break the line. Penalty and possession for Ireland deep in England 22 with score at 0:0.

4: The correct decision for the Cunningham South dangerous tackle was a yellow. Lowe blew it by confronting him. The ref didn't give South or Lowe a yellow. The ref couldn't give Lowe a yellow anyway as the TMO would have informed him that m Smith alone started the previosu fracas and its not unreasonable for a player to react to being headbutted.


One last thing missing from English analysis

How is coming over to Dublin acting like you own the place, committing filthy cowardly off the ball cheap shots working out for you? I mean you clearly dont care that we think your team are a crowd of a$$holes but...... rugby wise, how is riling the Irish team to focus and get the best out of themselves against such unpleasant opposition working for you on the scoreboard?


Food for thought old boy!!!!

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