England will have a better chance of beating Wales next month if they draft James Haskell into their starting XV, according to the former Wales and Lions prop Dai Young. Chris Robshaw, a fellow back-rower, has been confirmed as England’s captain for the opening Six Nations game in Cardiff on 6 February but Young believes Haskell’s presence is crucial to the visitors’ prospects.
“I think he’s by far the form back-rower in England,” said Young, who promoted Haskell to the Wasps captaincy this season. “Wales’s strength has always been their power and physicality but Hask is more than a match for that. I know I’m biased and I’m not going to knock any of the other players but he’d be in my team, put it that way.”
It is also Young’s view that the 29-year-old Haskell is playing better than at any stage in his career. “What he has developed over the last 12 months is a really strong carrying game. His defensive ability and work at the contact area have always been exceptional but he’s one of our best carriers now and is also a recognised lineout option. He’s not Paul O’Connell but he’s an effective target. I’d feel for him if he’s not starting.”
With Billy Vunipola set to regain the No8 jersey in Cardiff in the injury absence of Ben Morgan and Robshaw’s place guaranteed, Haskell still has to displace Northampton’s Tom Wood, another consistently strong performer this season. With Nick Easter and Calum Clark also named in the senior squad, training in Bagshot next week should be lively.
The England second-row forward Geoff Parling, meanwhile, looks set to leave Leicester and join Exeter Chiefs this summer. Parling has been an influential figure at the Tigers since moving from Newcastle Falcons in 2009.
