1
Phil Dowson backs George Furbank for England after signing new Northampton deal
Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson has said that captain George Furbank is playing “the best rugby of his career” after becoming the latest player to extend his stay at Franklin’s Gardens.
ADVERTISEMENT
The fullback has taken over the captaincy at Northampton this season while Lewis Ludlam has been injured, and has guided his side to the top of the Gallagher Premiership table, being named player of the match in the win over Sale Sharks on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has become the latest player to sign a new deal at Northampton, with fellow England international Alex Coles also putting pen to paper this week alongside four other players.
Furbank will surely want to add to his five England caps, and is in the form to do so currently. He has not featured yet for England under Steve Borthwick, with his last outing coming under Eddie Jones in the 2022 Six Nations against France. But Dowson believes his versatility, being able to play fly-half as well, will help him potentially break back into the England squad for the Six Nations.
“Furbs is playing the best rugby of his career at the moment,” Dowson said. “He has a special knack of being able to create space for other people, whether he’s at fullback or fly-half.
“He’s always had tonnes of ability on the ball – he’s one of those annoying sportsmen who’s brilliant at everything he tries – but this year he’s added a real physicality and edge to his game.
“George is also becoming a fantastic leader, driving accountability throughout the group, and has stood in as captain extremely well when Lewis Ludlam has been unavailable through injury this season. He’s brilliant at connecting the group, pushing everyone in the right direction, as well as challenging and communicating with the coaches too.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’s in a real purple patch of form at the moment, and I know he’s still got ambitions to play more international rugby with England. The way he’s playing, and the fact that he covers two of rugby’s integral positions, means that he’ll always be there or thereabouts when it comes to international selection.
“Last summer, he came back in for preseason really driven, full of maturity, and desperate to kick on. You can see all that now in how well he’s playing, so we’re thrilled to keep him here with us in Northampton.”
After signing the new deal, Furbank said: “I am thrilled to be extending my contract with the Club that I’ve been supporting since I was a young lad.
“From progressing through the Academy here at Saints, to playing my 100th game in Black, Green and Gold, it’s been a true honour to do what I love whilst also representing Northampton – and I am grateful that is set to continue.
ADVERTISEMENT
“My decision to stay here was an easy one, and a large part of that is because of the group of players and staff we have at the Club. Every day I find myself both working hard and having a laugh with some of my best mates, and I am lucky enough to call that my job.
“The coaching team have cultivated an environment which consistently pushes us to develop, and that has moulded me into the player I have become. I have loved becoming a leader in this squad, alongside a lot of lads who I have grown up playing with, and I feel there are exciting things to come for us.
“I witnessed Saints’ Premiership victory in 2014 as a fan, so I’m desperate to be part of a squad that can emulate that, and I really believe we are heading in the right direction. The Northampton supporter-base is unbelievable and the feeling of running out to a packed-out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens will always be special for me.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the deportation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
158 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
158 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
158 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
158 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
158 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
158 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
158 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
158 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
158 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
158 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
158 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
158 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
158 Go to commentsHo hum.
158 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
158 Go to comments