Sam Warburton, former British and Irish Lions captain, is singing praises for England’s rising star Chandler Cunningham-South, suggesting the 20-year-old could be a contender for the blindside position on next year’s tour to Australia.
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Cunningham-South’s journey is a tale of resilience. Just a short while ago, he found himself without a club after the financial collapse of London Irish. However, he’s made a remarkable comeback.
Stepping onto the field from the bench in rounds one and two of the Six Nations, he caught everyone’s attention with a superbly executed tackle that saved a try against Italy, instantly marking his arrival on the scene as one to watch.
“I saw this kid play pre-Christmas because Harlequins were playing Cardiff. There was one kid who stood out and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, how is he not in the England set-up?’
“Fast forward to the Six Nations and he came off the bench the other day for England and had 15 minutes – Chandler Cunningham-South is a serious player. He’s 6ft 5ins, explosive, big, aggressive and technically very good as well. There are not many No6s around and there is always room for an enforcer in your pack.
“You need someone who can spearhead the effort. Joe McCarthy is doing that now for Ireland and Cunningham-South can be that player at six who is really disruptive. In 18 months, he is going to be red hot and in the conversation (for the Lions).
“To play international rugby you have got to have a certain athletic ability at the top level. Look at the top back row players who are having an impact; you have got (Caelan) Doris, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Aaron Wainwright. These guys are exceptional athletes, very physical and very tough.
“I look at Cunningham-South and he has got all that – plus size. Probably the biggest and most athletic back row the home nations have at the minute.
“He’s only 20 which means he has still got another 18 months of growth physically. And he has got 18 months of just getting Test match experience, playing with England and playing with Quins.
“He has just got that athletic ability and size I haven’t seen present in any of the home nations, and the important bit is he has got the mentality, the bit between his teeth, that aggressiveness you need at level. And you can’t coach aggressiveness.
“He seems to have the full package; I just hope he gets some game time. Great athlete, good in defence, good ball carrier. He could be that massive six I think the Lions could really benefit from and be destructive.”
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Brian Moore tells Steve Borthwick to make FOUR changes to his England XV for Scotland clash
Brian Moore has called on head coach Steve Borthwick to make four changes for the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield this Saturday.
Strong scrum:
He wrote: “I would consider picking England’s strongest scrummaging front row of Joe Marler, Jamie George and Dan Cole.
“It is not that Will Stuart has underperformed at tighthead, but if England have a chance of getting on top in this important set-piece, better that they do it early and, as they now always say, paint the right picture for Andrew Brace, the referee.”
Read his full column for The Telegraph here.
Brian Moore’s England team to play Scotland
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freemand
13. Henry Slade
12. Manu Tuilagi for Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly