The in-form Saracens hooker Jamie George has declared himself ready to make his first start for England next month if Dylan Hartley’s fitness problems hamper the national captain’s availability.
Northampton remain optimistic that Hartley will recover from back trouble to feature in their opening European fixtures this month but the 30-year-old has played just 106 minutes of club rugby this season.
George, in contrast, is the Premiership’s top try‑scorer with five in six matches and is keen to make the most of any England chances that arise this autumn. “I still have a lot to work on but if the opportunity were to come about I definitely feel I am ready,” said George, whose side will commence the defence of their European title in Toulon this Saturday. “I would take it with both hands. I have played a lot of rugby for Sarries and started a lot of games and I feel my form is pretty good.”
The powerful George, who will be 26 this month, scored two tries in the final 11 minutes of his side’s significant 30-14 win against Wasps on Sunday that re-established Saracens at the top of the domestic table. He has made eight appearances off the bench for his country and scored his first international try against Australia in Sydney in June.
At Saracens he shares the starting duties with the South African Schalk Brits but his increasing strike-rate has raised his profile, helped by the new directives that encourage the deployment of hookers at the back of mauls.
“I’m pretty happy about it because my name gets on the scoresheet but at the same time it’s almost embarrassing,” he said. “I had a block of time here at Sarries where I was behind Schalk Brits and John Smit so I had to learn the importance of patience. Now I feel I am getting the rewards. Hopefully I can keep working hard to be ready for when the time comes.”
Whenever he takes the field George will also seek to make the bristling impact Eddie Jones is consistently demanding from his tight forwards. “I definitely feel like I can. Eddie spoke about the Bodyline series and being physical and confrontational and I play in a team at Saracens that does that the whole time. If that’s what he wants me to do, then I’ll do it.
“That is generally his message – make sure you stay on top of your performances and keep being physical and you’ll be able to take your opportunities when they come.”
The England coach has also made it clear no one’s place is guaranteed, with Wasps’ Tommy Taylor and Exeter’s Luke Cowan-Dickie also looking to make the matchday 23 this autumn. “The one thing he’s constantly talked to me about is the depth of hookers we have. I can never settle and think I am the second choice. I am very aware of the competition.”
Saracens also hope Owen Farrell and Alex Goode will be fit to return in Toulon, where George is keen to play a significant part: “Aspiring [international] players want to play in the biggest games possible and it doesn’t get much bigger than Toulon away. There are certain games you want to start and Toulon is definitely one of those. I think we’re quite ready to put in a good performance.”
Meanwhile, Saracens are expected to sign the South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth on a short-term deal. Etzebeth has 53 Springbok caps. The 24-year-old is set to move to England following his international matches in November. Etzebeth is contracted to the Stormers and the South African Rugby Union, but last year had a three-month spell in Japan during the southern hemisphere off-season.
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