By L Hammond
Former Huddersfield RUFC Academy player Luther Burrell has forced his way into the England squad for the upcoming Autumn Internationals.
Burrell, now playing for the Northampton Saints has produced several barnstorming displays this season. Most notably against his old side Sale Sharks, where his incisive running aided Northampton in demolishing Sale 33 – 14.
His strong defence, barrelling runs and soft hands have seen Burrell rise to become one of England’s top young centres. With England’s first choice centre pairing, the lions duo of Manu Tuilagi and Brad Barritt facing long injury layoffs, England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster is keen to see how Burrell fares on the international stage:
“We are pleased to call up Tom Johnson, Joel Tomkins, Henry Trinder and Luther Burrell into the Senior EPS, with Luther joining us as injury cover so it will be great for him to come in and put a marker down in what is going to be a competitive selection leading into the Australia game.”
Burrell is one of three un-capped centres selected in the EPS squad. Gloucester centre Henry Trinder and former Wigan Warrior and now Saracen Joel Tomkins complete the un-capped trio with British & Irish Lion Billy Twelvetrees with five caps, the most experienced centre in the squad.
England head into the upcoming autumn series in good form after a successful summer tour, where they secured a 2 – 0 series victory against Argentina in Argentina for the first time since 1981. But with their captain yet to be decided and the fitness of Lions Loose-head prop Alex Corbisiero yet to be established, there are still several question marks hanging above this promising England squad.
England will welcome Australia, Argentina and New Zealand to Twickenham in consecutive weeks with the squad expected to register at least two victories against the Southern hemisphere giants for this autumn campaign to be deemed a success.
Stuart Lancaster quote taken from:
URL: https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/News/TabId/90/ArtMID/526/ArticleID/2224/Seven-Saints-lead-the-way-with-England.aspx
Website: www.northamptonsaints.co.uk
Article name: Seven Saints Lead The Way With England
