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Rugby Union
International Test Matches
England 2021/22
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<blockquote data-quote="Vieux Talonneur" data-source="post: 1070601" data-attributes="member: 73144"><p>I think everyone's taking it as read that Smith will be the 10 through to the RWC?</p><p></p><p>He's now on what 4 caps. Before France we have 2 x 6N, a summer tour and this year's AIs, so ignoring RWC warm ups that's a max of 17 games taking him to 21 assuming he keeps form and doesn't get injured. 10 is a key position, the international game is a step up and I'd say 20 caps is an absolute bare minimum that we'd want him to have in France. Perhaps more importantly he'll have only racked up a combined 3 caps against the big beasts of NZ and SA where the pressure ratchets up. How he goes against them in successive weeks in November will be very interesting.</p><p></p><p>Also don't forget the likes of St Johnny, Dawson, Grewcock, Rowntree and Lewsey were all on the 1998 Tour of Hell. In the long run that did them no harm. If you're made of the right stuff all experience is good and frankly you learn more when the going is tough. Many others on that tour weren't of the right calibre and were never heard of again internationally.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Vieux Talonneur, post: 1070601, member: 73144"] I think everyone’s taking it as read that Smith will be the 10 through to the RWC? He’s now on what 4 caps. Before France we have 2 x 6N, a summer tour and this year’s AIs, so ignoring RWC warm ups that’s a max of 17 games taking him to 21 assuming he keeps form and doesn’t get injured. 10 is a key position, the international game is a step up and I’d say 20 caps is an absolute bare minimum that we’d want him to have in France. Perhaps more importantly he’ll have only racked up a combined 3 caps against the big beasts of NZ and SA where the pressure ratchets up. How he goes against them in successive weeks in November will be very interesting. Also don’t forget the likes of St Johnny, Dawson, Grewcock, Rowntree and Lewsey were all on the 1998 Tour of Hell. In the long run that did them no harm. If you’re made of the right stuff all experience is good and frankly you learn more when the going is tough. Many others on that tour weren’t of the right calibre and were never heard of again internationally. [/QUOTE]
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