When George Martin was ruled out of the Six Nations after another injury setback, England were left to lament the loss of his ultra-aggressive nature, at a time when like-for-like replacements are scarce.
The withdrawal of the Leicester lock highlights the urgent need to find another forward enforcer. That may be a term associated with a by-gone age of lawlessness and violence, but there can be legitimate, modern-day incarnations of the role.
When fit and firing, Martin is the most imposing physical presence in the England pack; a big beast who hits and drives hard – very hard – to provide the national team with vital clout and edge. No wonder he picks up knocks along the way, because his remit involves selflessly inflicting and enduring harm in the line of duty. Glamorous, it is not. Important, it most certainly is.
The absolute essence of the 23-year-old’s value to the national team was evident in the semi-final of the last World Cup, when he produced a sledgehammer tackle on Franco Mostert of South Africa.
This was no David-and-Goliath mis-match; this was a collision between two powerhouses and the mighty Springbok was left in a crumpled heap. It was one of the marquee moments of the whole tournament. It was a showcase of English force and defiance.
It was also the sort of incident which makes opponents wary of straying into the path of such a weapon – and there is still a place for that sort of forbidding, menacing figure in the game.
England must replace George Martin for the rest of the Six Nations after his injury blow
They will miss him for clashes against England and Wales and could win the tournament if they play their cards right
Junior Kpoku would tick all the boxes as a replacement if England bend the rules to get him in
Two years ago, the notorious Bok enforcer, Bakkies Botha, lamented what he considered to be the extinction of such Test match animals, saying: ‘People called me an enforcer and I loved that. The evolution of the laws has rid the sport of enforcers in my mould – you cannot get away with scrapping in rucks like I did any more.’
He was right, to an extent. It is no longer the Wild West out there, with punches, stamping, head-butts and off-the-ball cheap shots and dirty tricks. The abundance of cameras and bans has cleaned up the sport and it has been a fundamental change for the better. Yet, overt aggression remains an asset, so a refined version of the enforcer concept is still relevant.
The beasts are at large, even now. Look at South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth, who is the king of enforcers in the modern mould. He sets the tone for the world champions up front, in the way he seeks to dominate and intimidate his rivals. Look at New Zealand, with Scott Barrett doing the ugly, spiky stuff; playing on the edge to give them a platform.
Look at the giants available to Australia and France – Will Skelton and Emmanuel Meafou, who can wreak havoc with their sheer size. Look at how Ireland have been enhanced by the emergence of Joe McCarthy, who has an aggressive and down-right nasty dimension to his game.
During his time as England manager, Martin Johnson – who knows a thing or two about enforcing – spoke about wanting someone in his pack whose very presence made the opposition think twice at any ruck. But the demands on second rows have kept shifting, as exemplified by how Dave Atwood spent years being given endlessly conflicting orders.
First it would be: ‘Lose weight and run more,’ then it would become: ‘Gain weight and be more imposing.’ The position has gone through trends. Locks are supposed to soar in lineouts but also pack a punch in the contact areas. They are asked to add ballast in the scrum but also defend with relentless energy and dynamism, plus also carry and off-load and all the rest of it.
The question is, who can tick all the boxes? The answer is; Junior Kpoku. The trouble is that he is currently employed by Racing 92 in Paris. The teenage mainstay of England Under 20s’ junior World Cup triumph last year has plans to come home soon, but his Gallic employers are desperate for him to stay, while the likes of Saracens and Harlequins lead a queue of Premiership suitors.
Right now, there is a farcical situation whereby Kpoku is once again playing for England Under 20s, but Junior is not eligible for a senior call-up. It is madness and not in the national interest.
The England Under-20s star already has the conviction and fearless intent of a pack talisman
He is a long-term prospect who will be back at some point in the future with the squad
What the 19-year-old already has is the conviction and fearless intent of a seasoned pack talisman. He is not afraid to target vaunted opponents, as he revealed in an interview with Mail Sport last December.
Kpoku has gone toe-to-toe with Skelton, Meafou and other fearsome men, and made his mark. He has ruffled feathers around the Top 14 league. He has that enforcer edge; that innate desire to dominate and intimidate. There aren’t many like him around, at Borthwick’s disposal.
England’s plan for their last fixture, against Scotland, was to have flanker Ted Hill on the bench as nominal second-row cover. They got away with it because captain Maro Itoje played the whole game as usual and Ollie Chessum very nearly lasted the full 80. But the ploy is risky.
All the best England packs have had power and primal intensity in the engine room and the game still demands that, with plenty of mauling and defence and ruck-clearing work to do, even if there are not the fights and bedlam of old. The current dearth of specialist options and enforcer prospects is a cause for concern.
So, this is an exceptional circumstance which requires a solution from abroad, in defiance of the RFU selection policy. Pick Kpoku – as a long-term prospect who will be back at some point soon, rather than turning to Dave Ribbans, despite his impact at Toulon.
Allow some leeway with two players based overseas in any 23, which is such a modest amendment that it won’t lead to a further cross-Channel exodus of talent.
Joe Marchant is the other one based in France who is desperately needed, at this stage. That is harsh on the outstanding Jack Willis, but English back-row depth is staggering and that is far from the case in midfield, especially at 13.
Clubs would protest about a policy change, but they have secured a new deal with the RFU which is very favourable in its terms for them, with enhanced financial support. Now is the time to tweak the rules, so that Junior can be a senior asset for England, as soon as possible.
Joe Marchant is the other one based in France who is desperately needed by Steve Borthwick
England’s playmaker plot
It was a throw-away line, but Kevin Sinfield has created fresh intrigue about England’s plans for their playmakers; the Smiths and George Ford.
When the assistant coach was talking about Marcus Smith operating at full-back, he said: ‘A second ball-player is really important with the make-up of the back line. He could end up being a third ball-player at some stage.’
It didn’t take long for various theories to emerge about what that could have meant. Perhaps it was a hint that the poster-boy could find himself on the bench soon – but it came across more as if there would be three creative backs in the same line-up.
The thought occurred that, such has been Fin Smith’s impact in defence, maybe a case could be made for shifting him to inside centre and restoring magic Marcus at 10 – or keeping him at full-back and recalling George Ford at fly-half.
Henry Slade has been struggling to justify his place, so midfield is high up the selection agenda again. Yet, the most likely scenario is that Elliot Daly, who has versatility and a kicking game which could justify being billed as a playmaker, is on track for a return to the starting XV. Whatever the outcome, more tinkering appears to be in prospect.
There are various theories about England’s plan for their playmakers – could Fin Smith shift to inside centre with Marcus Smith going to No 10?
Big send-off for Ireland’s grandees
There was an out-pouring of acclaim and gratitude in Ireland last week when it was announced that three grandees of the sport there would be retiring at the end of this Six Nations – Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy.
The latter, still going strong in the front row at the age of 37, became his country’s most-capped player during the autumn, as testament to his remarkable longevity at loosehead prop.
Murray has had the biggest career impact beyond his shores as a mainstay of the Lions during tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021 but, of the trio, O’Mahony stands out as a tone-setting leader.
The flanker has always epitomised Munster’s home-grown, heart-and-soul passion in the finest traditions; a combative, abrasive figure and a lineout and breakdown master.
It was fitting that the Netflix series ‘Full Contact’ – about the Six Nations – portrayed him as a serious character with no interest in glitz and glamour, who loves gardening as his release valve.
There may not be many more like him; a fierce, proud, loyal, hard-grafting warrior, who has been a fine figurehead for his province and his country, over so many years.
Conor Murray, Cian Healy, and Peter O’Mahony (L-R) will retire after this Six Nations – all three have had careers of distinction
Wales revitalised
It’s amazing how quickly the mood can change.
Just three weeks after Warren Gatland left his post as head coach of the national team, the remarkable transformation in the whole atmosphere within Welsh rugby continues in heartening fashion.
First, the Under 20s staged a monumental rear-guard action to beat their Irish counterparts in Newport, then the senior team were revitalised as they so nearly sprung an upset on Ireland’s title-holders in Cardiff.
Next, Dewi Lake was cleared for a return to action after injury – a huge boost for the Wales squad – and now the Ospreys added to the sense of a renewed feel-good factor by claiming the scalp of URC champions Glasgow away from home.
Their epic 32-31 win at Scotstoun on Saturday night, sealed by full-back Jack Walsh’s penalty shot at the death, represented a momentous result and a stunning act of defiance by Mark Jones’ squad. It might also serve as a promising omen, ahead of Scotland v Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Welsh rugby has enjoyed an upsurge in spirits since Warren Gatland left the national team
Last Word
Never mind a training camp, the north should be allocated a Test match, involving the senior England men’s team – in addition to visits from the women’s and age-group sides.
Last week, Steve Borthwick’s squad spent a couple of days in York and held one open session for the public to attend. It was a well-intentioned gesture, but more should be done.
To declare an interest, this correspondent travels from the north of the country to attend England fixtures, as do thousands of others. On the day of the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, trains were full of people wearing red roses, who show their commitment by paying more to support the team, in the form of rail fares or fuel and parking costs, plus hiked hotel rates.
Everyone understands that there is a primary base in the capital, which makes sense. But there should be a once-a-year concession, involving the senior men’s team playing far from their usual confines. If they are going to hold a pre-tour fixture – often against the Barbarians – do that in Newcastle, Leeds or Manchester.
Or maybe host one autumn Test there, in years when there are four. The trouble with rugby finances is that international games are relied upon to make ends meet, but the England team belong to the whole country, not just London and the Home Counties.
