The Springbok inspiring Henry Arundell to become a more complete player

England’s hat-trick hero Henry Arundell has looked to South Africa star Cheslin Kolbe for inspiration in his drive to become a more complete player.

Arundell marked his first start since the 2023 World Cup by scoring three tries in the opening 35 minutes as Wales were swept away 48-7 in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at Allianz Stadium.

While only the third would make his action-packed highlights reel – the first two were simple run-ins – they underlined his finishing expertise with his strike rate now standing at 11 touchdowns in 12 caps.

The 23-year-old’s X-factor speed and nose for the line have never been in doubt, but since joining Bath from Racing 92 last summer he has worked at his defence and aerial game, while also going hunting for the ball more often.

To help with his development, he has been studying veteran Springbok Kolbe’s own progression from livewire with dazzling speed and footwork to world-class wing, including his threat in the air despite being one of the elite game’s smallest players.

“I’ve always focused a lot on my attack,” Arundell said. “It’s a strength, so you want to make it a super-strength, but now it’s about how good a player I can be. It’s the all-round game.

“Someone I would look up to would be Cheslin Kolbe. I think he’s probably the best winger in the world in terms of his all-round game.

“I back my attacking game all the time so then it’s about developing the other sides as well to help the team.

“All wingers want the ball – it would be a bit strange if you didn’t as a winger – and there is always a bit of ego with wanting to score tries.

“But I’ve definitely learned more in the sense of learning and improving different parts of my game, the kick chase and the kick battle and how that can influence the team.

“It’s the smarts and the variations of the kicking game that make the best teams in the world and that’s what we’re trying to be.”

Arundell faces a far sterner test of his ability to be a front-line Test wing for England than woeful Wales when they take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Edinburgh will provide familiar surroundings after Arundell went to primary school in the city when his father Ralph, an army officer in The Rifles, was stationed there.

And while the Bath flyer may be on a high after running riot against Wales, he will be staying level-headed for his return north of the border.

“Something I’ve grown on and learned is you don’t really want to be a confidence player. There’s a risk you can fluctuate too much emotionally,” he said.

“It’s something (director of rugby) Johann van Graan is very good at speaking about at Bath – never too high, never too low. It may sound a bit cliche, but you need that in professional sport.”