Alex Goode deserves his England debut – Rugby News Update
Alex Goode, the 24-year-old Saracens fullback, who is equally adept at playing fly-half, is set to make his first international start for England against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, this Saturday, having made his debut last weekend by coming on as a
substitute during the second test.
England is currently trailing 2 – 0 in the three-match test series, and they only have pride to play for. They will be keen to avoid a series defeat, and Goode, who will slot in at fullback, is keen to help his team achieve a test victory.
Goode rose to prominence during the 2008/09 season with the Saracens, as they made a surge into the final of the Aviva Premiership. He was pivotal for the team at fullback, and they defeated the Leicester Tigers in the final of the Premiership. His consistency
and versatility earned him a call up to the England Saxons, and he barely missed the cut for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
However, the fullback believes that a player needs to keep putting in the performances, and eventually he will get a chance.
"You've just got to keep knocking with good performances really," Goode said. "I believed if I played well, year on year, game on game, then consistency would favour me.”
"I put in some good performances with the Saxons as well and was always optimistic in that regard.”
"Luckily on this tour I kept working, even with Browny and Fodes playing really well. I kept working and my chance has come."
With Mike Brown out injured for the rest of the series, Goode gets his chance at the favoured fullback position. Stuart Lancaster, the head coach of England does believe that his versatility as fly-half will give his team something different from a drop-goal
position, and the head coach has moved Ben Foden out wide to accommodate Goode.
Goode is not losing sight of his foremost duty, and said, "First and foremost you have got to defuse the high balls and secure the backfield as a full-back."
The player will be keen to impress and now that he is getting his first start, he will want to make the most of it.
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