06 December 2023 , 23:05
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Stuart Lancaster believes he will transform try machine Henry Arundell into a player England cannot do without.
The 21-year old started only two matches at the World Cup, despite equalling the all-time England record with five tries on his tournament debut.
He stayed in France after the tournament to join Racing 92 on a one-year deal and marked his debut with a hat-trick.
The mega-rich Paris outfit are coached by former England head coach Lancaster, who has been hired to end their Champions Cup drought.
As they prepare for Sunday’s opening skirmish against Harlequins, Lancaster made it clear he sees Arundell as a key weapon who is only going to become more lethal working with him.
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“With the likes of Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, the guys I coached in Ireland and England, I would be confident in my ability to develop young players,” said the ex-Leinster senior coach.
(AFP via Getty Images)“Henry has probably been here six weeks, and he’s been great in training, very professional attitude and very mature for a 21-year-old, in terms of his outlook in life and what he wants to achieve.
“I’m not going to hold him back. I won’t be managing him because of his age. He’s definitely ready to play consistently. The more minutes and the more training sessions he does, the better he’s going to get.”
Current England boss Steve Borthwick has already crossed the Channel to meet with the former London Irish star, who is eligible for the upcoming Six Nations campaign due to the one-year dispensation given by the RFU in the wake of the Exiles going bust at the end of last season.
Lancaster, with 2018 trophy, reached four Champions Cup finals with Leinster (Getty Images Europe)Lancaster admits Arundell will face a tough choice at the end of that period and pledged not to stand between the youngster and a return to the English Premiership if it means an England recall.
“It’s early days for him and there’s a decision to be made," he said. "Whichever way he goes, I’ll support him, and try and help him develop, for sure."
Borthwick was sparing in his use of Arundell, which might have cost him and the country given England’s failure to breach the try line in their semi-final loss to South Africa.
(World Rugby via Getty Images)But Lancaster, despite the wealth of playing options at his disposal in his star-studded squad, insists the wing flyer is “old enough to be thrown in the deep end”.
He said: “The confidence and maturity to come and live in France on his own in a flat, not many 21 year olds if you said to them ‘do you want to do that?’ would choose to.
“They’d probably find it a bit uncomfortable being in a foreign country, not being able to speak the language, living on your own in a flat. But Henry is happy to do that because he sees this as an opportunity to grow and develop.
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“France is completely different to England and Ireland. Not in a bad way, but the language and everything else is different. To have the courage and maturity to do that, at a young age, is impressive, really.”