‘Loads of looseheads at the moment that are really good, he’s top of the pile’
Former England prop and pundit David has backed Gloucester’s 1221kg loosehead prop Val Rapava-Ruskin to earn a call-up to Steve Borthwick’s England squad this Six Nations.
Flatman and Topsy Ojo both picked three players from the forwards and backs that they want to see part of England’s Six Nations squad, and the 30-year-old Gloucester loosehead topped Flatman’s list. That is despite there being a raft of No1s at the moment, including Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola and Bevan Rodd, as Flatman highlighted.
“Big Val Rapava-Ruskin, loads of looseheads around at the moment that are really good, he’s top of the pile at the moment,” he said. “Gengey you can’t get rid of. What I’m going to do is just pick players in real areas of strength for England with no consideration whatsoever as to who might need to be dropped or left out of the squad.
“Tom Pearson, London Irish, love watching him play. He’s a fantastic player. Brilliant player, does it all. And Ben Earl, for me, has too much of an impact in too many big games. He’s too good at everything to not be part of the England squad, at least the bench- I think he’s a wonderful player. Pretty much every single time he plays he’s in the top two or three on the field. So again, who do they leave out? Don’t know, but he has to play.”
Ojo said: “I’m going to go with Alex Mitchell. He’s been playing well enough for long enough, get him in. And I’m going to go double Ollie – Lawrence and Hassell-Collins. I want Owen Farrell at No10, Lawrence and No12 and maybe Henry Slade at No13. Hassell-Collins on the wing, possibly Anthony Watson on the other wing. Back fit, playing well, I know he’s injured at the minute. Freddie Steward at No15.”
