Pat Lam urges England to make bold decision

Pat Lam believes that one day England boss Steve Borthwick could field an entire front-row made up of his current Bristol Bears players.

Lam made the prediction after George Kloska, 26, was called into the England training squad ahead of their Calcutta Cup defeat at the hands of Scotland at Murrayfield during the Six Nations.

He believes that it is realistic to see Kloska at tighthead, Ellis Genge at loose head and Gabriel Oghre, who has scored 13 tries in 16 games this season, in the middle of them at hooker.

Oghre, 27, came off the bench to score against the USA in the summer and with Jamie George set to retire at the end of next season, and Curtis Langdon suffering injury problems, another call-up could be on the cards.

“George Kloska, he’s a young up-and-coming prop, brings a lot around, around the field, not just set pieces. He played really well against Ireland A.

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“You know, certainly, when you think of it. In Genge, Oghre and Kloska, we’ve got three really good front-rowers, and I believe one day they’ll have the opportunity to play together. I think they’re both good enough,” said Lam.

While he might not get capped by England, Lam says that he was delighted that Max Lahiff was asked to join in the England camp between rounds three and four of the Championship.

Lam says that Lahiff, 36, who can play on either side of the front-row, needed to be convinced that his call from Borthwick wasn’t a team-mate playing a practical joke.

“Max was buzzing. You know, fair play, when Steve asked me if it was okay for Max to join. I laughed because Max was going to be involved with us against Sale in the PREM Cup.

“But I said, yes, you can’t deny him because I knew it would be just a highlight for him. When I rang him after Steve rang, and he was buzzing, but couldn’t believe it and thought it was a joke,” he said.