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'Steve's seen something': England A verdict on Charlie Atkinson
George Skivington expects good things from Charlie Atkinson when his Gloucester newcomer leads the England A team at out-half in Sunday’s fixture versus Portugal in Leicester.
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The 22-year-old was a Christmas Eve arrival at Kingsholm from Leicester and despite only playing one match so far with his latest club, the ex-Wasps academy graduate has been named at No10 for his country.
Atkinson was a Steve Borthwick signing at the Tigers during the 2022/23 season after the collapse of Wasps. He went on to make 17 appearances at the club that soon appointed Richard Wigglesworth as interim boss after Borthwick became the England head coach.
However, with Wiglesworth having now also moved on to join England, Atkinson slipped down the pecking order at Leicester under Dan McKellar, playing just four times this season before his festive period switch to Gloucester.
He made a late January debut versus Sale in the Gallagher Premiership and four weeks after that maiden outing, he is now primed to play for England A with his club boss Skivington as the head coach for the Mattioli Woods Welford Road game.
"We have a duty…"
– RFU director Conor O'Shea on why England must proactively help tier two countries like Portugal, who are coming to Leicester next weekend. #EnglandRugby #ENGvPOR pic.twitter.com/NuwRM2xRLE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 18, 2024
“At Gloucester, we are really lucky to have got Charlie over from Leicester,” reckoned Skivington when asked how he rated seeing Atkinson in a different environment this week to Kingsholm.
“He is still fairly fresh in the building. He has done a lot of training now but only played one game for us so far, which he was good in. But I think he has grown into that role.
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“There is a good opportunity at Gloucester for him at half-back, we want to try and make that position a bit more competitive and there is a good opportunity for him to take it and run with it.
“But I think he has come into this week and it’s a good opportunity for him. Steve was obviously the one who signed him at Leicester before he went to England, so Steve has seen something in him that he likes and he has done well.
“He has come in here, different group, has called the plays well; he has led without being overboard with that and it’s a good opportunity for him.
“He has just jumped from one environment, ours at Gloucester, to here – he’s getting used to that and it’s a big opportunity for him because he is held in high regard.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder.
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments