Six Nations: I hope Twelvetrees leaves me with tough decision says Lancaster
'OBVIOUS selection' Billy Twelvetrees can prove he has the perfect blend of playmaking, pace and power on his England debut, believes Stuart Lancaster.
England boss Lancaster had no hesitation pitching Gloucester centre Twelvetrees straight into Six Nations action, only a month after his full elevation to the England Elite Player Squad.
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Billy Twelvetrees in action for Gloucester
Backing Twelvetrees to shine against Scotland tomorrow (kick-off 4pm), Lancaster said the 24-year-old was the right man to come into the side in the absence of the injured Manu Tuilagi.
Lancaster explained: "With Manu being injured we had a decision to make, and when I came round to looking at all the permutations and combinations, this was the obvious selection for me.
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"It creates an opportunity for him to show his capabilities, this is his chance.
"Hopefully he'll take it and leave me with a difficult decision to make next week.
"This is a great opportunity to look at him.
"I've always wanted to have ball-players in the backline, as well as people with pace and power.
"And Billy's got an opportunity to demonstrate he's got all three.
"His self-confidence has improved through regular rugby, and his game understanding and decision-making under pressure.
"He's got an excellent passing game and a good kicking game too, and he's a great option for us."
Lancaster believes soaring confidence has helped Twelvetrees start to realise his rich potential this season, after his summer switch from Leicester to the Cherry and Whites.
The former Leeds coach said: "I first coached Billy in the Saxons and you could see the potential in him.
"His opportunity to play regularly at Gloucester has helped him develop.
"He more than deserved his place in the initial squad, and that's given him the confidence to kick on.
"He came in as injury cover during the autumn, but the big difference was being named in the EPS and that gave him the confidence to allow him to be himself here.
"He's demonstrated that confidence, and the ability to control people around the field."
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by Gambonie
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:30AM
“The board at Gloucester Rugby are not a bunch of dimwits; quite the opposite, in fact, and they paid a lot of money to get Nigel Davies to join Gloucester. They would never have sanctioned that if he did not know his rugby. The fact that Davies continually selects Harden as his first choice says all you need to know. Harden is the best and most talented tight head at Gloucester Rugby. Akadau/Glawsteruk1 with all his other troll names needs to learn that fact.”
by Roon77
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:25AM
“Our brilliant first choice tight head, Rupert Harden, has been having a rather fantastic season, so obviously the troll akadau/glawsteruk1/etc. with his many user names doesn't like that.... TOUGH!”
by SidGlawsder
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:21AM
“Watching a re-run of the Tigers' game this morning proved to me once again just how important a player Rupert Harden is to Gloucester Rugby and why Nigel Davies knows that he is his first choice at tight-head.”
by starturn
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:19AM
“Rupert Harden when fit.... The first name on the team sheet.”
by walker1105
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:18AM
“I am looking forward to Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby's first choice tight-head) returning to the fray. It will be good to have our scrum restored to full power with Rupert in his natural place, starting for Gloucester Rugby.”
by RoryGlaws
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:14AM
“Rupert Harden is a fabulous player and deserves all the credit for his 9 out of 13 Premiership starts this season, making him ND's first choice player in the tight head position.”
by Hinchcliffe33
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:12AM
“Saints is going to be a tough game, that is why Harden is needed to start. I don't want to see another Saracens game where we lose the last scrum because the front row is stood up.”
by Don_Deakin
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:11AM
“The reason that Harden is the number one tight head at Gloucester Rugby is because Nigel Davies, who selects the team, knows that Harden is his best man for the tight head position.”
by werew
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:10AM
“Nigel Davies is no mug. He knows who his best men are in each position. When it comes to tight head he consistently selects Harden to start in the key games. That says it all really.”
by GlawsSurfer
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:06AM
“I'm looking forward to our best tighthead, Rupert Harden, dominating in the scrum as usual this weekend. You just know that the multi-troll akadau won't be there because he doesn't even know where Kingsholm is.”