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What the England captaincy has done for Ludlow back at Gloucester
Gloucester have described Lewis Ludlow as being more confident at the club since his return from the England summer series where he skippered Eddie Jones’ side to victories over the USA and Canada. Uncapped heading the Test matches, the 27-year-old became only the fifth player to ever captain England on debut, the back-rower following in the footsteps of Fred Stokes (1871), Fred Alderson (1892), Joe Mycock (1947) and Nigel Melville (1984).
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His emergence had a kicker, though, Ludlow cited for a collision in the Canada match and receiving a three-match ban. However, he was back in harness at Gloucester when their new Premiership campaign opened last weekend at Northampton and he will again be calling the shots on Friday night when Leicester visit Kingsholm.
But what has the England captaincy in the absence of the Lions-touring Owen Farrell done for Ludlow? It was a question put to Gloucester boss George Skivington at his media briefing ahead of his team’s clash with the Tigers and he explained the hard work the club put into the player to make him captaincy material in the first place.
“I wouldn’t say he has been any different,” Skivington began. “He was on a really good path anyway. He would put his hand up and say he was quite raw at the beginning of last season when he was given the (club) captaincy but he was given that for what he does on the field and the way he conducts himself.
“Slowly over the year, he grasped different bits and pieces of being a leader and we put lots of work into that and he now knows who his generals are around him who can help him and support him. He adapted really quickly and he has the full respect of everyone here so that helps and Eddie Jones identified that.
Injuries are always a popular talking point for fans but Gloucester have made it a policy to no longer give weekly updates… ??#Gloucester #GLOvLEI #PremRugbyhttps://t.co/1OLa9RuGZA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2021
“From my conversations with the England camp, Lewis was brilliant while he was there and they thought his leadership was outstanding. He has come back even more confident and probably more in a place where he can fully back the fact that it is not just Gloucester who see him as a leader, it’s England and I have no doubt he got the full respect of everyone who was in that England camp as well.”
Along with the long-serving Jonny May and the uncapped Mark Atkinson, Ludlow was one of three Gloucester players included in the 45-man England squad that will attend a mini-training camp from Sunday. May’s inclusion was no surprise but Skivington still felt it deserving of kudos given his man is bouncing back from Lions omission and greater competition in the wider channels.
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“I haven’t talked to Jonny about it, just a ‘well done’. Jonny tends to take things in his stride, he is a confident bloke, he knows what his strengths and weaknesses are. I think it’s a feather in his cap because there has been a lot of talk about these young guys coming through and all the rest of it.”
Skivington added that Lions picks Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit are now back in training at the club following their post-tour break. “They are back training and we have just got to work out how we look after them the best and also look after the team best.”
“To be honest I messaged him to say, ‘Well done, mate, well deserved and good luck on the tour’ and I haven’t spoken to him yet." @J0nnyMay on Leicester, Gloucester, Lions, competing for his England place and being challenged by LRZ, writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/aMh2omsROj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 19, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments