Bath head coach Johann van Graan compares ‘hungry’ Henry Arundell for pace to South Africa legend Bryan Habana after his electrifying brace against Saracens
Saracens 29-36 Bath
STONEX STADIUM – In a crowded field of contenders for the wing positions in the England team, Henry Arundell could nose himself in front if he carries on delivering the rounded performance that helped defending champions Bath to a second win in 12 visits to Saracens.
Recent evidence from England’s autumn series at Twickenham points to Arundell being just below the front rank in head coach Steve Borthwick’s thinking.
England had first-choice wings Tom Roebuck and Tommy Freeman injured for the concluding match against Argentina but they did not turn to Arundell, despite his exciting cameo two weeks previously when, as a substitute versus Fiji, he sprinted to a try, chasing a loose ball.
Instead England recalled Saracens’ Elliot Daly to go with Manny Feyi-Waboso and Freddie Steward in the back three.
The negative story attached to Arundell since his thrilling emergence at London Irish a few years ago, followed by the best part of two seasons at Racing 92 in France, is he can get himself in a spin in defence, out of position and too easily beaten.
But the 23-year-old has so much to offer going forward that if he can lose that tag of vulnerability, he and England could kick on together.
Saracens put Arundell under the cosh at the Stonex on Sunday afternoon.
Time and again, Owen Farrell launched high cross-kicks to seek out Noah Caluori on the home side’s right wing, with Arundell defending on Bath’s left.
At 6ft 4in, Caluori not only had a height advantage over the 6ft Arundell, but also a spring off the deck to die for (coaches call it a “counter-movement jump”).
Saracens had two aims: to gain easy territory and, if the ball was claimed by Caluori, playing wide through the skills of Daly, Max Malins and company.
Some Arundell won, some he lost. He was penalised for overrunning in one aerial contest with Caluori.
But, to use a cricket analogy, Saracens eventually played Arundell in, and he took a couple of catches with the kind of muscular security that should please Borthwick.
Arundell also scored two tries to move onto six in six Prem matches this season, one behind the league’s leader in Exeter’s Feyi-Waboso, and he is Bath’s top try scorer as they sit top of the table.
Arundell’s first try after 18 minutes was a great defensive read, intercepting an Ivan van Zyl pass in the Bath 22, embellished by his outstanding speed across the ground – Daly didn’t have a hope of catching him.
And it had come just two phases after Caluori made a great take of a Farrell restart.
Arundell’s second try, with five minutes to go, was the clincher for Bath.
Tied at 29-all, they counter-attacked with Max Ojomoh skilfully collecting a low pass from Finn Russell and haring away from Sarries’ Angus Hall, who may have been distracted by a decoy run from Bath’s other wing, Joe Cokanasiga.
A sharp pass from Ojomoh to Arundell set up another uncatchable run-in.
Having joined Bath in the summer, Arundell is “by far” their quickest player according to head coach Johann van Graan who afterwards praised the player’s gym work, “skills extras” and being a “good human who has fitted into our group”.
Van Graan also compared Arundell for pace to South Africa legend Bryan Habana, with whom Van Graan worked at the Bulls in the mid-noughties.
“Bryan became one of the best in the world,” Van Graan said.
“Henry has a long way to go. But that’s as good as I have seen him play. A nine out of 10 performance.
“He is hungry to play for his club and he is hungry to play for his country.”
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