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Aging England star Elliot Daly has 'totally honest' message for wing rivals
By PA
Elliot Daly is backing himself to thrive in the face of unprecedented competition for England’s wing positions as he closes in on his comeback from injury.
Daly starts Sunday’s climax to the autumn at Allianz Stadium in the number 11 jersey after recovering from the fractured forearm sustained when on British and Irish Lions duty against Queensland Reds on July 2.
Feeling fitter than ever and knowing he is viewed by head coach Steve Borthwick as a key figure leading into the 2027 World Cup, the 33-year-old insists he can hold his own amid the rise of young stars Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Henry Arundell and Tom Roebuck.
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“You need to back yourself and get your confidence up, whether that’s in training or whatever, but just have the confidence to back yourself,” Daly said.
“I don’t ever think about other wingers or other players, to be totally honest. You can only do what you can do.
“It’s not like ‘oh, he’s doing that, I need to do that’ because every back three member adds something different to the team.
“We want difference, we want you to bring your ‘X factor’, whatever that is, to the team because otherwise it’s just uniform, one in for the next guy and it might not be the way you want to play.
“I’ll be looking to come off my wing this weekend and try and get involved that way, so everyone’s a little bit different.”
Daly was a star of the Lions tour and destined to be involved in the Test series until injury struck, forcing him home and into a race against time to be involved in England’s autumn matches.
Apart from his running skills, link play, ability under the high ball and big left boot, the fact he can also cover full-back and outside centre make Daly a valuable player in a World Cup squad.
“I feel brilliant at the moment. There’s a lot spoken about age, but if you’re still performing…” he said.
“We get tracked on GPS data so you know when you’re behind. When that point comes I might look at myself, but I feel brilliant at the moment.
“I would love to be here come the next World Cup and help as much as possible. And beyond that.”
