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'What I don't think people will ever focus on is that he is getting really, really good': The Ellis Genge improvement a blind eye is being turned to

(Photo by PA)

An England World Cup winner had suggested that the colourful persona of Leicester prop Ellis Genge and the attention it attracts from both his followers and detractors has resulted in the most important thing about the front-rower often getting overlooked – the general improvement of his game around the pitch in recent times.

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The 26-year-old was in the headlines again earlier this month after he was snubbed by Lions coach Warren Gatland for the 2021 tour to South Africa. Mako Vunipola, England’s more regular loosehead, was instead chosen to travel, a decision that lent itself to the impression that Genge has struggled to take his game on newer levels.

Ben Kay, though, doesn’t agree with that assessment, believing instead that Genge has recently become the best version of himself yet and is doing plenty of things during matches that he isn’t getting enough recognition for.

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Much like Kyle Sinckler and the impressive way the Bristol tighthead has bounced back from his Lions omission, Genge has got stuck in unshackled with Leicester and was a compelling two-try force in last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership win over Harlequins ahead of this Friday night’s Challenge Cup final versus Montpellier at Twickenham.  

Twice a Heineken Cup winner for the Tigers as a second row, Kay will hope to be commentating on a Leicester victory when he takes the mic for BT Sport in London and he is expecting Genge to be a player who can make his presence felt against a power-packed Montpellier who did a semi-final number three weeks ago on Bath at The Rec. 

“Ellis Genge has got a unique skill set and a unique personality and that is great for the club,” enthused Kay to RugbyPass. “What I don’t think people will ever focus on is that he is getting really, really good at some of the core skills in his position as well. So as a scrummager, I know speaking to scrum coaches that he has hugely progressed that area of his game now and that is a big part. 

“When you talk about Leicester’s ability to win penalties in the middle of the field with their scrum you’d probably think it’s Dan Cole but it’s not just Dan Cole now, Ellis Genge is really to the forefront there. He is great value for the club and hopefully winning this (cup final) and seeing a big future is ahead at Leicester will mean that he wants to stay.” 

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Genge’s off-field comments are often criticised but Kay has no problem with the front-rower being the outspoken individual that he is as the sport would be all the poorer if the prop went with the general flow and instead opted to say nothing about anything like quite a lot of rugby players.  

“Even if you don’t agree with him he doesn’t have to be right. He is not sort of telling everyone else that they should think how he thinks. He is just being honest about what he thinks. You want a bit of fun on the pitch, you don’t want sort of staid and boring. Working in the media the last thing you want is someone you have got nothing to write about because they will talk for half an hour without actually saying anything.”

  • BT Sport 1 will show Leicester Tigers vs Montpellier in the final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup live from Twickenham on Friday, May 21, from 7pm

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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