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A favourite emerges to usurp Ben Youngs' hold on the England No9 jersey

By Josh Raisey
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Ben Spencer has emerged as a popular choice to earn a recall to Eddie Jones’ England squad next month following his move to Bath. The scrum-half left Saracens during rugby’s mid-season hiatus and has been a catalyst for his new side’s surge up the Gallagher Premiership table.

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The 28-year-old’s kicking game has never been questioned throughout his career, and it was one of the factors as to why he was so successful at Saracens. But whether it is the stylistic change that has come with moving to Bath that has highlighted other strengths in his game, or that he is no longer competing with Richard Wigglesworth to start, Spencer has become the form No9 in England.

His performance against Sale Sharks at the weekend only increased his stock. His two tries were a consequence of being in the right place, but his overall game management is what is setting him apart. When also considering the deft touches like the kick to set up Jonathan Joseph’s try at the AJ Bell, it is growing hard for Jones to ignore him ahead of the international fixtures this autumn.

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The Rugby Pod reacts to the Owen Farrell red card tackle that will see the Saracens talisman sit out next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-final at Leinster

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The Rugby Pod reacts to the Owen Farrell red card tackle that will see the Saracens talisman sit out next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-final at Leinster

Few players have made such an impressive return to rugby and staked a better claim for a Test call up this season, and Spencer now appears to be a popular option among England fans.

The England head coach has favoured Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz over the past year, only handing Spencer and Dan Robson transient opportunities to prove their worth in white. But the latter two are undoubtedly playing the best rugby out of Jones’ options, while also being younger than the former two. Robson has also been part of a post-lockdown resurgence at Wasps, who sit in second place in the league, one point above Bath.

Spencer only has four England caps, the last of which came in the Rugby World Cup final last year where he was called up to the squad in the final week, but he may add to them over the next few months.

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Bull Shark 29 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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