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Asher Opoku-Fordjour tipped to be England's answer to Bok powerhouse

Asher Opoku-Fordjour of England A arrives prior to the international friendly match between England A and Australia A at The Stoop on November 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson believes prop sensation Asher Opoku-Fordjour can be England’s answer to Thomas du Toit, the Springbok powerhouse who can operate on both sides of the front-row at Test level.

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Sale’s Opoku-Fordjour, who is just 20-years-old, made his England debut at tighthead as a replacement in the win over Japan on Sunday having joined the squad as a loosehead. Sale have always maintained that Opoku-Fordjour is equally effective on the tighthead and Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, now appears to have agreed that the prop can play both sides – a priceless ability that du Toit, known as the Tank, has shown for the Springboks and Bath.

Sanderson, who is preparing Sale for their home game with Leicester on Sunday, said: “For me, tighthead is Asher’s primary position and I hope England are turning towards that opinion. I am still not going to silo him as a tighthead alone and Thomas du Toit is evidence enough that you can play both sides.

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“You can’t find tightheads of his mobility and quality so to have one at Asher’s age and ability is special. He will be tighthead for us for the most part but I know he wants to be able to play both sides and has that capability.

“I am dead made up for him and super proud. I said to him before (he made his debut) to enjoy it and his whole family got into the (England) changing room and got some pictures. We gave him a round of applause and I didn’t expect him to get to this stage at this point (of his career) – he had the potential – but went down to training camp as a loosehead. They were impressed so much they put him across to tighthead.”

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Sanderson is delighted Borthwick and the England forwards coaches have finally recognised the unique physical and technical attributes that mark the Sale youngster out as a long term solution to bolstering England’s front-row numbers.

He added: “That is the first time they (England) have considered him there in our communications because they see him at loose because of the 20st Gloucester lad (Afolabi Fasogbon). I am really happy they are looking at him in that position because it suits us as well.

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“We have spoken about taking this step in your stride, don’t become complacent and understand how players at some point have the crash, the emotional low of getting a first cap and being involved in the England set up and that is inevitable.

“It is about being aware and being in control of that crash and giving him time off. It’s about how long he can maintain his intensity and motivation and then go away and put his feet up for a week and get his Mum to cook for him. He can come back in rejuvenated.”

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Comments

2 Comments
H
Hellhound 13 days ago

Haven't seen him yet. For England I hope he is AN answer, but he is young and trying to compare him against some of the world's best is doing him no favours and puts unnecessary pressure on his shoulders. Give him time to develop his skills. Pushing him too hard too early will break him and you will never get from him what he needs to produce in future.

J
JK 13 days ago

it's the Ox you need to worry about no?

E
EM 13 days ago

'...then go away and put his feet up for a week and get his Mum to cook for him..' Haha

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JW 21 minutes ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

There are a couple of inadequacies in this articles points as well.


First

Robertson, in what he has said publicly, is building his argument for change as a means to close the gap that is increasing between the All Blacks and South Africa.

Based on recent performances, the All Blacks are better than the Springboks.


Second

Both games saw the All Blacks lead coming into the last 30 minutes, only for the momentum to shift dramatically once the two sides emptied their respective benches.

The failings of the second half were game plan related, they happened regardless of whether the bench had yet (play got worse very early in the half, even in the first half) been used or not.


And third

Robertson’s view is that because the Boks don’t lose access to their experienced players when they head offshore, it gives them an advantage

Didn't Razor have the most experienced team all year?


Also

“Sam Cane and Ardie Savea with Wallace Siti, what a balance that is.

This is part of Razor's problem. That's a terrible balance. You instead want something like Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Sititi. Or Ardie Savea, Sititi, Scott Barrett. Dalton Papaili'i, Savea, Finau. That is balance, not two old struggling to keep up players and an absolute rookie.

It has changed. Not many go north, more go to Japan, so how do we get the balance right to ensure that players who have given loyalty, longevity and who are still playing well

Experience is a priceless commodity in international rugby and New Zealand has a system where it throws away players precisely when they are at their most valuable.

You mean how do we take advantage of this new environment, because nothing has effectively changed has it. It's simply Japan now instead of Europe. What's it going to be like in the future, how is the new American league going to change things?


Mo'unga is the only real valid reason for debating change, but what's far more important is the wide discussion happening that's taking the whole game into account. The current modem throws players away because they decided to go with a 5 team model rather than a 12 or 14 team model. Players have to be asked to leave at the point were we know they aren't going to be All Blacks, when they are playing their best rugby, reached their peak. In order to reset, and see if the next guy coming through can improve on the 'peak' of the last guy. Of course it's going to take years before they even reach the departing players standards, let alone see if they can pass them.


What if there can be a change that enables New Zealand to have a model were players like Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Warner Dearns are All Blacks that make their experienced and youth developemnt the envy of the World. That is the discussion that really needs to be had, not how easy it is to allow Mo'unga to play again. That's how the All Blacks end up winning 3 World Cups in a row.

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