Former England and Bath prop David Flatman has a lot to say about the recent performances in Premiership Rugby, and none more so than the dazzling play of Afolabi Fasogbon. "My highlight was the madness of the comebacks at Leicester and Gloucester. Just totally wild with entertainment, and stress levels off the charts! Who would be a coach?" Flatman recounted. He was especially taken by "Afolabi Fasogbon’s pirouette, sidestep and dive for a try. Wonderful!" he exclaimed.
But it wasn't just individual brilliance that caught Flatman's eye; team dynamics also impressed him, notably from Bath and their captain, Ben Spencer, whose leadership and consistency Flatman championed. "My £20 says they win the Premiership Rugby again," he confidently predicted. Discussing Spencer, Flatman questioned past selection decisions, saying,
"He is a game manager at 9, and some coaches don’t feel they need one of those at 9 and 10."
Despite this, he affirmed, "I’d always have him in my England 23."
The spotlight also fell on the younger talents pushing for England caps, particularly Guy Pepper, whom Flatman described as "mega". He speculated, "He will be very close. He may even move ahead of Ben Curry, but not Tom if he’s fit." However, selecting him would mean leaving out other talents, a decision Flatman acknowledged as tough.
Looking ahead to England's Autumn test matches, Flatman's optimism was palpable. "England go into these games in a great spot," he noted, predicting victories against Australia, Fiji, and Argentina, and even considering a win against New Zealand within reach. "My prediction would be that England beat Australia, beat Fiji, and beat Argentina. The New Zealand game might well prove to be the toughest game of all. But I do think that is a winnable match."
As for standout players in other teams, Flatman highlighted Saracens' Tom Willis and Max Malins, describing Willis as a powerhouse and Malins as "just velvet, pure class from start to finish." Both players, according to Flatman, are crucial for their club's success and should be in the discussion for England's fullback position this autumn.
With his finger firmly on the pulse of English rugby, Flatman's insights not only reflect his expertise but also his passion for the game, making his predictions and observations particularly noteworthy as the season progresses.
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Former England and Bath prop David Flatman has a lot to say about the recent performances in Premiership Rugby, and none more so than the dazzling play of Afolabi Fasogbon. "My highlight was the madness of the comebacks at Leicester and Gloucester. Just totally wild with entertainment, and stress levels off the charts! Who would be a coach?" Flatman recounted. He was especially taken by "Afolabi Fasogbon’s pirouette, sidestep and dive for a try. Wonderful!" he exclaimed.
But it wasn't just individual brilliance that caught Flatman's eye; team dynamics also impressed him, notably from Bath and their captain, Ben Spencer, whose leadership and consistency Flatman championed. "My £20 says they win the Premiership Rugby again," he confidently predicted. Discussing Spencer, Flatman questioned past selection decisions, saying,
"He is a game manager at 9, and some coaches don’t feel they need one of those at 9 and 10."
Despite this, he affirmed, "I’d always have him in my England 23."The spotlight also fell on the younger talents pushing for England caps, particularly Guy Pepper, whom Flatman described as "mega". He speculated, "He will be very close. He may even move ahead of Ben Curry, but not Tom if he’s fit." However, selecting him would mean leaving out other talents, a decision Flatman acknowledged as tough.
Looking ahead to England's Autumn test matches, Flatman's optimism was palpable. "England go into these games in a great spot," he noted, predicting victories against Australia, Fiji, and Argentina, and even considering a win against New Zealand within reach. "My prediction would be that England beat Australia, beat Fiji, and beat Argentina. The New Zealand game might well prove to be the toughest game of all. But I do think that is a winnable match."
As for standout players in other teams, Flatman highlighted Saracens' Tom Willis and Max Malins, describing Willis as a powerhouse and Malins as "just velvet, pure class from start to finish." Both players, according to Flatman, are crucial for their club's success and should be in the discussion for England's fullback position this autumn.
With his finger firmly on the pulse of English rugby, Flatman's insights not only reflect his expertise but also his passion for the game, making his predictions and observations particularly noteworthy as the season progresses.