Curtis Langdon on England A pathway
Northampton Saints hooker Langdon has emphasised the importance of the England XV pathway in preparing less experienced players for the demands of the international game.
The 27-year-old was selected as part of a 33-man squad to attend two alignment camps at Pennyhill Park ahead of an England XV fixture against France XV at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
With many England regulars involved in domestic play-offs or British and Irish Lions selection, Langdon says such camps give those further down the pecking order a chance to put their name forward for future selection.
Speaking on the latest episode of O2 Inside Line: This Rose, he said: “Coming back into the England A setup over the last couple of years has been great – it’s an opportunity to wear the rose again after the age group stuff.
“For a lot of lads on the fringes of the England team, getting that opportunity to play for England A and show the senior coaches that they can make that step up has been really good.”
Twice-capped Langdon featured in the A’s victory over Australia last November, and cites a number of teammates from the same game who have progressed on to test rugby as proof of the system’s effectiveness.
“There’s already evidence there that the A’s setup is effective – my first game for them against Australia, Cadan Murley played in and then got his first senior cap in the Six Nations. Henry Pollock played in it too and is now on the Lions tour, same with Asher [Opoku-Fordjour].
“I think it prepares lads really well for when they make that step up into the senior squad.”
The front row is an area that has seen particular benefit from the pathway, with Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes and Asher Opoku-Fordjour having recently progressed to senior international duty.
Scrum coach Tom Harrison says that the pressure provided by young players rising through the pathway is in turn vital for the development of the senior team.
He said: “When change occurs, opportunity arises, and players being away with the Lions or Premiership semi-finals and finals has provided us with the opportunity to look at the depth of the group of English players.
“It’s good to have people come in, experience the level that we’re training at and put their case forward for selection.
“As a coach, that’s what you want from a program. You want selection headaches - players coming in to push for positions, and players coming back in and having to work hard to get back into the team.”
