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'I haven't seen a player ever this good... get him in the England squad': Warburton
By Josh Raisey
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has urged England head coach Steve Borthwick to select Saracens’ 19-year-old wing Noah Caluori in his national squad, saying “I’ve never seen anyone like him.”
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Warburton was effusive in his praise of the England U20 wing when speaking on TNT Sports at half time of Saracens’ contest with Sale Sharks at the StoneX Stadium in the Gallagher PREM.
The 6ft 4in Caluori had dominated the aerial battle in the first half, earning his side a penalty try after being impeded while trying to retrieve a cross-field kick. His freakish leap, where Sale jumper Tom O’Flaherty’s head was almost at the level of his knees, was just one of many sensational takes he had made.
Such was his aerial supremacy in his first-ever PREM start that the Welshman said he hasn’t “seen a player ever this good in the air, ever.”
To top it off, the wing also added a try to his name, breaking a tackle and stepping Arron Reed on his way to the tryline. Just nine minutes into the second half, the teenager had recorded his hat-trick, before adding a further two tries in the final ten minutes.
“I haven’t seen a player ever this good in the air, ever, and he’s a teenager,” he said.
“I cannot believe the height he can get off the ground and the dexterity that he has with his arms above his head to catch it. He’s becoming almost undefendable. Just winning penalties, he’s won two penalties alone just because he’s fearing him. I just think you need an X-factor when you’re playing in the back three and he’s got it in abundance. I’ve never seen anyone like him.
“I don’t know what you can do as a defender when you can get that high. Get him in the England squad. He’s got it. This kid is going to be amazing. I’m not saying you’d start him, but get him in the environment. Have a look and see if he’s got that next step, which is only going to be upstairs. He’s got the physical ability, see if he has the mental resolve for international level. Put him in the training squad with the guys and have a look at him over the autumn, release him back if you want, but just get him in that environment. I’m telling you now, he’s going to be a special player.”
Speaking after the match, Warburton added: “I think England rugby have unearthed an absolute diamond. I know some people might think it’s a bit brash when I said at half time that you’ve got to get him in the England squad, but in other countries, they’re not afraid when they get a real talent. I haven’t said that before when you see teenagers come through like this, but this guy has got something I have hardly seen in many 19-year-olds. Maybe George North, Israel Folau, Joseph Sua’ali’i type figure, but this guy’s got it. You don’t see it very often, but he’s absolutely got it.”
Steve Borthwick names his initial England squad on Sunday.
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