Tuesday 27 January 2015 16:16, UK
Harlequins star Nick Evans is confident of retaining momentum despite the club losing several senior players to Six Nations duty.
The likes of Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Nick Easter, Danny Care, Mike Brown and Marland Yarde have all been included in England's training squad - but Evans has faith other experienced players can help youngsters seize their chance to shine.
Quins were edged out of the Champions Cup over the weekend despite recording an emphatic 47-19 win over Castres in France and Evans is hoping the squad can refocus quickly, starting with Saturday's LV= Cup clash with Bath at The Stoop.
The former New Zealand playmaker told Sky Sports News: "Obviously it was a disappointment for us not making the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. Now we turn our attention to the LV= Cup and it's a great chance for young guys or guys who haven't played a lot - like myself - to get a bit of a go.
"It's exciting. It's a good way to push the disappointment out of our minds and build on the momentum we built with that victory in Castres. That was a great effort to score seven tries against them over there in difficult conditions. If we can take that into the LV= Cup and into the Premiership, that'll be good for us.
"We don't have a big squad like Bath or Saracens and we rely a lot on the young guys coming through. We've done that in the past and they've performed and they're going to have to do it again because the guys at the Six Nations are going to be away for five or six weeks.
We don't have a big squad like Bath or Saracens and we rely a lot on the young guys coming through. We've done that in the past and they've performed and they're going to have to do it again.
"The likes of myself, Karl Dickson and Matt Hopper - guys that have been around the club for a few years, need to be at our best. We need to capitalise on the momentum we've created. It's not knockout rugby yet but it's getting close to it.
"George Lowe has also been around. He's played over 100 games for the club even after that neck injury. It's great to have him back on the pitch. He's a great guy to have around the club and has a bit of 'x factor.' When we won the Premiership and the Challenge Cup, it was myself, Jordan Turner-Hall and Lowe. We played about 70 or 80 games together. He's definitely a senior player and he can help the young guys come through.
"Personally, it's been a frustrating four or five weeks for me having picked up a few injuries, which is maybe a bit of old age catching up on me! I've had a bit of time to get them right and got 25 minutes against Wasps and then the full 80 minutes against Castres.
"I've got to make sure I get my sharpness back - especially with the Premiership run-in coming up. We've got the guys away with England and the Saxons now so I've got to make sure I'm at my best for the team.
"For me, I'm enjoying my rugby, I enjoy Quins and I've got one more year left on my contract. We'll decide next year what we're going to do. If I'm still fit and still playing the standard of rugby I expect from myself then there's no reason I can't keep going.
"In terms of the Premiership, the play-offs is still certainly our goal. That result against Leicester put us within two points of fourth place in the Premiership so there's a big bottle-neck there right the way down to eighth. It's very competitive and we know what we're up against."
Six Nations
Evans, who is currently fifth on the list of all-time Premiership point scorers, is well placed to analyse the race for the England fly-half jersey, which took another twist on Tuesday with the news that Saracens stand-off Owen Farrell is ruled out for the entirety of the Six Nations.
That leaves incumbent George Ford, Sale's Danny Cipriani and Northampton's Stephen Myler vying for inclusion in Stuart Lancaster's match-day squad when England kick their tournament off in Wales on February 6.
Evans said: "I think you can have George Ford and Danny Cipriani in the squad. I don't think Cipriani has changed the way he plays but he's definitely matured in terms of game management. That was one of the criticisms of him in the past but he's improved.
"Owen Farrell is definitely one of the best in terms of temperament and marshalling his troops on the field. It's great now - I remember a couple of years ago there was panic stations over the England fly-half position but now they've got a wealth of them. They all bring special qualities and no two are the same.
"With Farrell's injury, I think Ford will start and I guess Cipriani has earned the place on the bench. It's hard on Myler because he's not one of the flashy 10s but he does a great job behind a good pack at Northampton. He kicks his goals and does the basics very, very well.
"Lancaster will have to gamble a little bit. He's got some good home ties and he can afford to play Cipriani. England need to get off to a good start on the Friday night in Wales and I think Ford will definitely start, then maybe we'll see Cipriani against Scotland or Italy."
On the possible inclusion of his club-mate Easter, who has been brought in after almost four years in the international wilderness, Evans added: "England have a few injuries but Nick Easter deserves his chance. He's deserved it for the past couple of years. We've been saying it all along. Obviously, Stuart Lancaster had his mind made up but credit to Nick - he's pushed his way in and now he's got to prove during training that he's worthy of the start.
"He's played second row for us in big games and he's done it well. He's very mobile and you know he's good in the lineout because he's done that from No 8 as well. It'll be interesting to see which way he goes."
Principle
With England's injury woes not confined to their three-quarter line, many feel that the knee problem sustained by Tom Wood should result in head coach Lancaster reneging on his policy of not picking overseas players, opening the door for Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage.
Evans has first-hand experience of the issue, having surrendered his place in the All Blacks set-up when he left the Blues of Auckland to join Harlequins back in 2008.
The 34-year-old said of the situation: "I think Lancaster has nailed his colours to the mast and said you've got to be in England to play. I don't think there's any going back now. I think there's quite a bit of cover there too, even though Armitage is playing some fantastic rugby.
"Also, I think it's Armitage's choice. He knows the rules. I knew the rules when I left. Everyone was saying I should be picked, which was nice, but I knew the rules - I knew they weren't going to pick me. I saw them in Italy once and they said they'd love to have me but I had to go back to New Zealand.
"It's the same for Armitage. If he's got England aspirations then he has to come back. It's as simple as that. It's a decision that only he can make. I think Lancaster should stick to his policy.
"The big games for England are the away games. Wales away and Ireland away. That first game will really set the tone. I'm really looking forward to it. Ireland have been playing very well and I also wouldn't be surprised to see Scotland cause an upset at some stage. Vern Cotter's doing a fantastic job there.
"I've got a few stakes with the boys in England so I'll go for an England Six Nations win though!"
