With the autumn internationals knocking on the front door, players from around the world will have their minds focused on getting a place in their respective national squad. The internationals are a good way for every player to showcase their full potential and it also gives a very good indication as to how countries from around the rugby world have developed over the course of a year. And with the added pressure of the next Rugby World Cup looming, focus and determination will certainly be on the players’ minds.
The first two months of the season are very crucial for anybody, players and coaching staff included. Playing for home and country is something that athletes in all sports strive to achieve. In rugby, it adds a little more nog to the egg, as it were. As players try to impress the international coaches, you notice that extra special spark that they bring to the pitch. There a few special players for England who do this automatically without prompting: Owen Farrell, Mike Brown, Joe Launchbury and Joe Simpson.
Owen Farrell is one of these players who can make decisions that can end up controlling the outcome of a game. His accuracy of his kicks can sometimes make a crucial difference, as they can gain meters that can turn the tide. He has the calm nature that hides the nerves that every player has no matter the occasion. He can also make the break in play that’s very essential for the game, oftentimes being the difference between winning and losing for club and country. All of these qualities make Owen an excellent player/kicker for England and Saracens.
Mike Brown is one of those amazing backs who can help stabilise a back line. Whether for club or country, he can certainly cope under pressure when it is presented to him. He also has the ability to play on the wing, and can be a real difference-maker, making any running movement as elegant and seemingly effortless as possible. Brown is an excellent choice for full back or wing when it comes to playing in the English shirt.
Over the years, Joe Launchbury has been a very influential player for club and country. One of his strong points is that he is very useful in lineouts. Due to his significant height difference from other players around him, he can take the ball from the lineouts and pass it to teammates quicker than most people. This is a big advantage for Wasps and England, gaining possession in big games. Sometimes it has even led to them going on to score all-important tries or penalties at key points during a match (at the start of the half, just before the second half, the start of the second half and at the end of a game). When Launchbury chooses not go for the ball in the lineout he most definitely goes for the opportunity to gain some ground. He makes split-second decisions that can change the pace of the game till end of a match. This is why Joe Launchbury is a key player for both Wasps and England.
Joe Simpson is one of those players who is able to bring his incredible ability to move around most defenders (his height is very handy for this) and dive into positions where he can make the most amazing runs. He also copes under the enormous pressure of big games by making crucial split-second decision. With the amount of pressure that a scrum half is put into, Simpson copes with it 99.9% of the time. This ability to cope under pressure is very useful and crucial when it comes to playing for country. Despite the fact that he only has one cap to his name, I believe like many others that he can be one of the main scrum halves in English rugby for the near future.
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