Vickery Wants Place Back
Former England captain, Phil Vickery, has thrown down a massive sign of intent that he will do what it takes to get his England place back ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Vickery has just been omitted from the England performance squad for this coming season and it seems to have been the sign that he needed to really raise his game. He is still one of the best prop players in the country, but the emphasis is now on him to prove it every week.
Martin Johnson has made a few surprising selections for the performance squad but he has said he will never close the door on any player's international career. Therefore, Vickery knows that if he can show he is the best prop in England then he will get his white shirt back.
He has a lot going for him, which will give him the edge over other props in the country but it's important that he keeps consistency at the forefront of his mind. There are dangers that Johnson could be trying to move the team on, and Vickery has fallen out of favour.
Qualities
Vickery has a number of qualities, which would mean he still has an important role to play in the England side. There is no substitute for experience and he has this in abundance. He can use this to get back into the side and then his determination will help him to stay there.
He is a former captain and this means he has very good leadership qualities. He will carry a presence on the field during club games, which will allow him to bully other sides until he gets the international recognition that he clearly feels he deserves.
As a player he's also got a lot going for him. He is very strong and physically imposing, which makes him ideal to play as prop. He will be used in defence to throw in tackles but he adds extra weight to the pack and the scrums as the side try to move forward.
Moving On
Vickery's absence from the current squad could be a clear sign that Martin Johnson is looking to move the England team on. There are a few other talented props around the country who will be chomping at the bit to try and get into the team and stay there when they do.
Vickery is not getting any younger and although this is a rather obvious disadvantage, younger players will physically have an edge over him. He will not be able to move as sharply as he once could and this could be fatal if he is the player trying to make a last tackle to prevent a try.
Mentally he will have scars from his time playing rugby. Again the younger players will not have these and because of this they will not have any fear. This will not stop them trying to create a storm when England play against bigger teams.
Vickery is bound to have a good season for his club side. However, be a little wary of backing him to get back into the England unit because there are other good players that could do this job.
Your best bet is to back him through the season with the view that he's not going to get back in the England team. This will stop you from wasting money but also put you in a very good position if he starts to play well and displays international form.
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