England prop outcast would walk into All Blacks front row with this act of class
Steve Borthwick has a devilish job on his hands over the coming weeks trying to whittle down his options at loosehead prop.
Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Bevan Rodd and Val Rapava-Ruskin were all named in the 41-man squad recently, with Mako Vunipola rehabilitating an injury. Those six with probably be reduced to three to go to the World Cup, and with Ellis Genge a certain, it basically means five players are vying for two places.
The experienced duo is clearly Marler and Vunipola, but Rodd has youth on his side, which could be useful in a long tournament. Then again, he was overlooked by Borthwick in the Six Nations and has not been a feature of the England pack for a while.
Rodd was part of a Sale Sharks side that reached the Gallagher Premiership final this year, and not only that but he managed to score in the final against Saracens. And what a try it was. Any loosehead that is producing a left handed miss pass to beat the opposing winger should be recognised, but one who then follows up by picking the ball at the next ruck to power his way over the line from five metres out deserves a knighthood. The fact that this try by Rodd is not constantly being talked about is very strange indeed.
This is not the fist time that Rodd has shown off his silky hands, and he must be gutted that he is not from New Zealand, as the All Blacks would snap up a prop with skill like that.
Take a look at his try:
https://youtu.be/l1aN_9YwwCc?t=4245
England Forwards (23)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)
Theo Dan (Saracens, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
Tom Willis (Bordeaux Bègles, uncapped)
Rehabilitation (5)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 79 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
