Cadan Murley seeking England chance after Robinson chat with New Zealand to come

15 March 2024 , 08:30

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Cadan Murley has been involved in several England camps but is yet to land his first cap

Cadan Murley grew up watching England great Jason Robinson waltz through defensive lines - but knows he must have more than a powerful running game if he wants to land the first cap he so craves.

The Harlequins star knows exactly what his "super strength" is but the England hopeful continues to plug away at the gaps in his game as he eyes a debut against New Zealand this summer. A two-time Player of the Year winner at his club and the Premiership's top try scorer last year, yet Murley hasn't been able to translate a squad call-up into a first cap - but hasn't let that disappointment linger.

Murley is one of the Premiership's hottest finishers in perhaps the most electric attack on these shores. Once upon a time that alone would've been enough to earn international recognition, but as the game moves on and the aerial battle becomes all conquering, back three players need to have as many strings to their bow as possible.

Robinson, who scored in the 2003 World Cup final, as Murley admits, is perhaps the greatest runner the game has seen and stuck to what he knew. Now, with so many elite athletes operating in the current game, the Harlequins winger is determined to ensure he's bringing an all-round game to the party.

He told Mirror Sport : "I've been in contact with the England coaches and I know the things I need to work on. My aerial game has always been a big thing, I converted to the wing quite late, probably my second year of professional rugby. So I haven't had huge exposure to those aerial skills, but then I want to bring my super strength which is carrying and being physical."

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Murley added: "There's got to be a healthy balance (in your game), you want to show your strength as much as you can. I actually had an interesting conversation with Jason Robinson about this because he just stuck to his super strength, he's probably the greatest runner rugby union has ever seen. He knew he could run it further than he could kick it so why would he kick it. It is tough in this day and age because there's so many players with a similar x-factor to you so you can't have any weaknesses and you have to continue building your level."

If head coach Steve Borthwick needed a reminder of what Murley can bring, even on a quiet day, the winger issued a timely reminder with a hat-trick in the recent England 'A' rout of Portugal. Those on the periphery of the squad took part in a friendly last month and the Harlequins winger came up with 15 of England's 91 points at Welford Road.

The winger recently scored a hat-trick for England A in a friendly

Murley has scored 30 tries across the past two Premiership seasons - more than any other player in the league. The start of the current campaign saw the 24-year-old hampered by injuries and, as a result, minutes have been at a premium. It has meant he's been unable to put himself in the shop window and prove that he can go from the player whose so effective at the Stoop to one who can make an impact on the international stage.

"I'm desperate to play for England," he said. "Maybe the timing of things and game plans haven't gone my way with the way England want to play. I know there's aspects I need to work on to get those starting positions. Without injury at the start of the year I like to think I'd have been in and around it but I just focus on what I can control. I went to the World Cup camp and gave my all and if the coaches don't think I'm there then I'm not there."

This Six Nations England have gone with the likes of Tommy Freeman, Elliot Daly and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wings. That has encouraged Murley, who named Freeman as the Premiership's "form outside back" with his Northampton performances helping him become a regular as of late.

Cadan Murley has been prolific in recent years for Harlequins

Heading into the business end of the season Murley is fit and raring to go. Harlequins sit second in the Premiership and have a last 16 clash in Europe against Glasgow Warriors to come. A free-scoring end to the season for Murley and he will be a hard man to ignore come the summer.

Borthwick's England side, who showed their capabilities with a stunning win over Ireland last week, take on the most ferocious challenge in rugby as they head to New Zealand for two tests in July with a game to come against Japan before that.

During his 20-game tenure the England coach has named 10 different wingers in his starting XV. Murley is, in the eyes of many, the most glaring absence from that list given his exploits in recent years. The Quins man concedes the international arena is always in his thinking, but knows what he has to do to get there.

"It does play on your mind and come the end of the season that is the end goal," said Murley. "You want to be pulling on that shirt and going over to Japan and New Zealand, which would be brilliant. I just need to get back and hit some good form and hopefully that gets me in there."

Samuel Meade