September 9, 2007

Blackheath captain Tom Bason will lead the England RU Counties XV tomorrow (Monday, September 10) on what will be one of the biggest challenges they have faced when they meet Spain in their second match of the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in Morlaas, South West France (17.00).

The Counties XV may have faced sterner tests since their foundation in 2002 in terms of the calibre of the opposition and been beaten by the likes of Rumania and a strong Argentina XV, but this time the challenge is as much from within as from the opposition.

In their opening game the England team, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Premiership, destroyed Russia with a breathtaking exhibition of fluent, adventurous Rugby. They scored 12 tries in the process and produced the most exhilarating display ever seen from a Counties XV.

Now lock forward Bason and his team have a new benchmark to work towards and a hard act to follow.

"It’s a massive opportunity for me," he says: "It’s the result of a lot of hard work, not just from myself, but also from the people who have supported me since a very young age, so I’m just delighted to be captaining an England team. It’s very special.

"In terms of pressure, you have that in whatever game you play in, but a benchmark has been set. Spain will be a different kettle of fish, but we want to go out and play some good rugby and enjoy ourselves.

"All the players have definitely bought into the style of rugby we are being asked to play. It was a bit nervy when we set out, but now everyone is gelling together and everyone knows how we want to play. But while we will be aiming to keep the ball in hand as much as possible, this is international rugby and when the time comes to play a bit of territory and play a tight game, we’ll do that as well.

"It’s not about just playing Barbarians rugby, it’s about playing what’s in front of us. We’re all good players and we know what’s required."

And while the opening result imposes some pressure, it also delivers a major bonus in terms of proving that the style decreed by manager Jim Robinson and coaches Harvey Biljon and Dave Baldwin really can be successful.

"Sitting on the sidelines and watching what the lads could do was pretty exciting and we now want to get out and do the same sort of stuff," says Bason, who has captained his club side for a couple of seasons.

Until the eve of the second game, the Counties XV had avoided serious injury worries, but that happy state of affairs was wrecked today when fly-half Alastair Simmie had to be withdrawn from the Spain game because of injury.

The Durham University player damaged is thigh while practicing his place-kicking after this morning’s session and his place is taken by Tristan Roberts, who performed so well in the opening match.

Apart from Simmie’s withdrawal, the player rotation system applies for the Spain game, with everyone who did not start in the 76-10 win over Russia being in the starting line-up. With Roberts promoted from the bench, Frankie Neale of Blackheath takes over among the replacements.

This brings Counties XV debuts for full-back Jack Smales, prop Peter Joyce, Bason and No 8 David Archer.

England Counties XV (v Spain, Monday, September 10, 2007, 18,00 in Morlaas): Jack Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland); Nick Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Tom Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire); Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Dean Bick (Blackheath & North Midlands), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), James Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), David Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire).

Replacements: Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), James Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent), Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), James Jenner (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire), ), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)