Friday 7 November 2014 06:50, UK
Stuart Lancaster believes Semesa Rokoduguni is ready to play for England in Saturday's Test with New Zealand after handing the Bath wing his first senior call-up.
The England coach insists he has no qualms about bringing in Rokodugun after the Fijian-born player impressed while playing for Saxons.
Lancaster said: “I spoke to the coaching team, this time last year actually, and they said have a look at this guy, and we obviously picked him in the Saxons in January, he played in the Barbarians game in May, so he’s been on our radar for a while.
“Obviously he’s had a fantastic pre-season now and he’s hit the season running. There’s a lot of stats that say he’s topping every category.
“He’s 27 years old. We’ve got some guys in the team who are 20 years old, and I think that experience that he’s had, both inside and outside of rugby, means he’s pretty calm.
He’s hit the season running. There’s a lot of stats that say he’s topping every category.
“He’s diligent, he’s done his preparation, he’s done the detail, he understands his role and responsibility, he’s been excellent.”
Lancaster is delighted to have Dave Attwood back is the team as well after the Bath lock became a father on Wednesday.
“He’s got even more reason to play this weekend. Often you have players who have gone through what Dave’s just gone through, their motivation and something else to play for is doubled really,” Lancaster said.
“I think the worry would have been if the baby hadn’t arrived, with his head being in the right place, but he’ll be fine.”
Lancaster has been happy with the team’s preparations for the game, and he reckons England can achieve victory.
“From a coaching perspective, you want to look at the things you’ve done in training are translated into the game, and under the white-hot intensity that the game will bring. It’s making sure that the players can apply what they’ve done in training and deliver it on the field and is the secondary objective, but the first one is to win."
