Nick Easter has been told he could still make England’s World Cup squad at the age of 37.
The last man to lift the Six Nations trophy for England plays Wembley today in front of an 80,000-plus crowd.
Easter skippers a Harlequins side against Saracens minus current Red Rose stars Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown and Danny Care.
He remains the heart and soul of the club, a player boss Conor O’Shea insists he would not do without.
England have chosen to do so since Stuart Lancaster took charge following Easter’s 47th cap at the last World Cup.
But ahead of a game which aims to beat the 83,671 attendance which watched Sarries in 2012, the number eight has been assured hope is not lost.
O’Shea said: “Stuart hasn’t ruled him out. He has said that if Nick is playing like this in a year’s time and he’s the right person to have in the squad leading into the World Cup, he’d have no problem bringing him back.
“His fear is that by then he won’t be able to reproduce the form he is showing now. But I’ve no doubt that he can.
“I speak unbelievably highly of Nick. His attitude is the biggest thing of all. I just see a warrior hellbent on winning. He’s incredibly ambitious, a great driver for our group.”
Some believe Easter effectively ended his own Test career by allegedly saying of England’s 2011 World Cup quarter-final exit: “That’s £35,000 down the toilet.”
O’Shea said: “He doesn’t even know if he said it though he says he probably did on the basis that it’s the type of gallows humour he has. He’d be having a beer two hours after the game, it would be like a morgue and he’d just say something to break the ice.
“But look, his individual performances for us have been nothing short of exceptional. Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola have been incredible for England this season.
“But has there been a better No8 than Nick in the Premiership? I wouldn’t want anyone else in my group.
“We have some unbelievably competitive players at this club but none more so than him.”
Saracens restore Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola to their starting line-up a week after they helped England stick a half century of points on Italy in Rome.
Article source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/police-release-cctv-after-rugby-6768192
Nick Easter can still make England"s World Cup squad says Harlequins boss ...
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