WORLD CUP winner Will Greenwood feels we haven’t seen the last of Ben Foden occupying a wing role.
England boss Stuart Lancaster moved Saints full-back Foden to the left wing for the 22-17 first Test defeat to the Springboks in Durban, with Mike Brown filling the 15 jersey.
Harlequins man Brown is now back in England after fracturing his thumb in the loss, with Foden reclaiming the full-back slot he has occupied for most of the last two seasons for tomorrow’s second Test against South Africa.
But Greenwood believes the combination of Foden and Brown is something that Lancaster should be looking at in the long-term with few standout candidates on the wing for the Red Rose.
“Ben Foden scored his try when he was back at full-back, but I think it was the right selection last week to have Foden and Brown,” said Greenwood, who is a J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series ambassador.
“Brown is a very good player and did well under the high ball but I’d have liked to have seen more of his left foot, especially when we were kicking badly.
“You could say Foden got caught slightly narrow for the De Villiers try but you’re really being picky there. It’s a shame Brown is injured because I would have liked to see them go again.
“If Brown keeps playing that well, and we know Foden’s quality, then it’s very much an option going forward. The onus is on the wingers to step up and break into the team.
“Northampton will not pick him on the wing though so of course it wouldn’t be an ideal world, you want your players to play club rugby in the same place they play international rugby. But I don’t think it’s an insurmountable obstacle.”
England will need to bounce back and win the second Test in Johannesburg this Saturday to keep the series alive.
And Greenwood insists Foden and Co are capable of getting back on level terms tomorrow.
“With this England team the game plan is to go out and to play, to handle and to counterattack, to challenge the gainline and pass on the gainline.
“England have another great opportunity on Saturday to worry the South Africans and I really think they can.”
The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series kicks off on 13 July at Harlequins, with rounds at Sale Sharks and Gloucester Rugby, and the final at Bath Rugby. Visit: www.jpmorgan7s.com to find out more.