England fullback George Furbank has been told his Six Nations baptism of fire will be the making of him.
The Northampton star was thrown into the deep end when handed his first cap starting against resurgent France in their packed Paris stadium on the championship’s opening weekend.
Owen Farrell’s shellshocked team found themselves 24-0 down inside an hour and although they rescued a losing bonus point Furbank admitted the occasion got to him.
The 23-year-old showed his true value last weekend when helping get England back on track with victory over Scotland.
And yesterday he revealed a conversation with England team mate Jonny May had given him the confidence to bounce back.
Furbank said: “Paris was different to anything I’d known. The nerves were well and truly going beforehand and in the game the crowd was so loud we could not hear each other.
“Wherever I made my debut it was going to be challenging because of all of the outside factors, and potentially I let it get to me a little bit.
“But Jonny said to me the week after, ‘Look, France away is one of the toughest challenges you could get first up. You will be a way better player for it’.”
May’s words, together with Eddie Jones’ continued faith, paid dividends at Murrayfield where Furbank coped well in horrendous conditions.
Jones sent him out with the message that becoming a world class international fullback was all about doing the basics really well.
He told him that if he focused on “nailing” those then every so often something would open up for him and he would look really good.
Armed with that advice Furbank felt “more myself, more composed, more clear-headed, more vocal and sharp on the pitch. It allowed me to play my game.”
Only four years earlier the Huntingdon-born ace had been playing National Two level rugby for Cambridge, enjoying “cheese and wine socials” on the coach trip back from away games.
The crowds he played in front of rarely reached four figures and the thought of playing for England never crossed his mind.
This is the quantum leap Furbank has made, one so big that when he goes to Twickenham for next Sunday’s clash with Ireland it will be the first time he has ever played there.
Described by former England star Paul Grayson as having the “debonair looks of a spitfire pilot from a bygone age”, Furbank won’t relax now his Red Rose career is off the ground.
Elliot Daly says that when they roomed together last month “George wanted to know everything to make sure he was on the same page as everyone”.
Nor is he overawed by the environment, giving Joe Marler the shock of his life before he had even introduced himself to him.
“Joe was having a wee in the toilet and I was the only other one in the changing room,” Furbank recalled.
“It’s a bit awkward to go and stand by him silently, so I thought I’d wait til he’s done and make him jump (by yelling BOO). And he did jump!”
Next in his sights are Ireland, a team likely to be primed for any ambush following their 50-point hammering at Twickenham last summer.
