Harlequins boss hopes Alex Dombrandt won't pay the price for failed season

Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore is backing the claims of skipper Alex Dombrandt for a recall to Steve Borthwick’s England squad for the Nations Championship this summer.

No.8 Dombrandt, 29, has shone for the struggling Quins this season, scoring eight tries in 18 appearances. He won the last of his 23 caps in the 40-5 win over the USA at Audi Field, Washington, DC, last July, but has missed out this season.

Ben Earl started four of England’s five Six Nations games, while Northampton Saints’ bad boy, Henry Pollock, started the other against Ireland when the Saracens man was moved to the openside.

Gilmore believes that Surrey-born Dombrandt, who was plucked from Cardiff Met, is playing well enough to earn a place in the squad for the games against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.

“He is the captain of the club, and I think he feels a real sense of responsibility. You know, it’s easier to lead when you’re winning games, but when you’re on the back foot a little bit, that’s when your leadership really shines,” said Gilmore.

“And I think him and Caden (Murley) have done a magnificent job in how they’re leading our boys and how they’ve kept them tied.

“What I would say about Alex is, you know, he’s a baller, he’s known for being able to do Alex Dombrant, things that other guys can’t.

“But what I really respect in Alex is the tough areas of the game in the last six weeks he’s been leading. Against Bristol, he led our carry count. He led our tackle count. He led turnovers at the breakdown.

“He’s playing the best I’ve seen him play,” added Gilmore. “England’s back row is pretty stacked, but do they know something different in terms of ball carrying size as well? But I think Alex is playing outstandingly.

“I just hope his efforts don’t get washed away because of the performances that we’ve had this year. He’s playing with a lot of new guys, guys that are changing in and out each week.

“But he’s just leading from the front. So I’d like to think that he would be selected for that England tour.”