England’s emergency scrum-half Ben Spencer has been told he has the chance to become a World Cup final hero like Stephen Donald.
Saracens star Spencer arrived in Tokyo on Monday to replace Willi Heinz, who pulled a hamstring in England’s epic semi-final defeat of the All Blacks.
With only two scrum-halves in the squad it means the 27-year old, who has yet to start a match for England, will go straight onto the bench as back-up to Ben Youngs for Saturday’s final against South Africa.
It is an identical scenario to that of Donald, who won New Zealand the 2011 final after missing out on selection for the tournament then receiving a call whilst out fishing to come and rescue his country.
The All Blacks ‘fourth’ choice fly-half was named as a replacement for the final and was brought off the bench to kick the penalty that beat France and secured the cup.
Spencer was greeted on arrival at England’s Disneyland hotel by head coach Eddie Jones who drew a parallel between his situation and that of Donald.
“He’ll have a shirt that fits him, so that’s one significant difference (to Donald),” Jones quipped. “And he hasn’t been whitebait fishing, so that’s another difference!
“It’s a great opportunity for the kid and he’s excited about it. He has come into the squad and has got to learn a few new things. Willi and Benny will help him with that.
“The task ahead of him is no different to any other player. He has just got to learn a little bit more in the early part of the week and get himself physically and mentally ready.”
Jones revealed that Heinz, who featured in all five of England’s previous matches here, was distraught to learn that injury had robbed him of his once in a lifetime chance to play in a World Cup final.
“Willi has been a great contributor, a very well-liked member of the squad and he was in tears in the dressing room,” Jones said. “It’s tough for him but he’s now collected himself, he now knows he’s got another role to play for us and he’ll fulfil that role really well this week.”
That role is to help bring Spencer up to speed with plays and moves - a not inconsiderable task in five days given that he has not featured for England since the Six Nations in March.
“We always said to those guys outside the (squad of) 31 that they need to be ready - and Ben is ready to go,” Jones claimed.
“He has been in and around the squad consistently for the last couple of years so he knows the game, he knows the players. He is a fit guy and just fits in quite readily.”
All of England will pray this is the case for if Youngs were to go off injured in the first minute Spencer would be thrown into the deep end opposite arguably South Africa’s most influential player Faf de Klerk.
“Faf is a busy nine,” Youngs confirmed. “He likes confrontation in terms of getting in your face in defence and a huge amount goes through him in terms of his kicking game. So he'll be pretty pivotal to how South Africa play.”
This was the scenario many feared when Jones chose to select only two scrum-halves for Japan - leaving at home such experienced nines as Danny Care and Richard Wigglesworth. It is a gamble that has backfired in the most important week of all.
