5. JAMIE GEORGE IS A PHENOMENAL MENTOR TO THEO DAN
After making a series of cameo appearances in the closing moments so far for England, Theo Dan was awarded a 27-minute run-out to help turn the tide against Ireland. The Saracen replaced his club and country mentor Jamie George, and helped orchestrate the attack in the matches latter stages. Stepping up to the mark with inch-perfect line-out throws, Dan has steadily emerged as the future of the England two jersey.
Yet he must bide his time, as his captain Jamie George steers the ship from the front row. Dan explained how he had “run out of superlatives” to describe his teammate, as George is clearly a solid mentor to the 23-year-old.
“He’s an incredible person. An incredible mentor to me. I have run out of superlatives for him because he’s been that good to me. It’s pretty easy if you are an older player and you see someone young coming through to be a bit stand-offish, but he could not be more of the opposite. He has taken me under his wing. He’s been an incredible mentor to me overall the past few years.”
“The past few weeks I haven’t had that much game time but it has been gradually increasing. I’m getting a lot more confidence on the pitch and to be trusted with 30 minutes in a game that was so tight, it was in the balance when I came on, it means so much to me going forward. It means Steve and the coaches have got full confidence in me and I’m just grateful to repay in any way I can. “