Patience Is A Virtue - Spotlight on Alex Goode

Goode's last start - Cardiff 2012

‘It’s a dream’ those were the words of Alex Goode as he started to describe how it feels to be back in England’s starting XV and they are far from an exaggeration for Alex has waited patiently, behind the majestic Mike Brown for two long years in the quest to wear to England’s Number 15 jersey again. On Sunday, the Aviva Stadium is his stage and prior to leaving for Dublin he shared how he was feeling ahead of this Championship defining RBS 6 Nations fixture. 

Throughout, what must have felt like the longest two years of his rugby career as he has waited patiently for his opportunity, Alex has been the model professional, he has been the first to congratulate Mike Brown on his tremendous form and has never shown any sign of resentment or dejection. Privately I’m sure that he has felt both of those feelings and had his dark moments; for when you are faced with one of England’s most impactful players ahead of you, you wouldn't be human if that didn’t hit home and hurt just a little. Alex articulated how he focused during the time that he has spent waiting; 

‘It is always tough when you are very close and you are right there, but all I could concentrate on was my form and what I could affect. I looked at it in the way that I can’t affect how Mike plays or how the team is performing all I can do is impact how I play. I’m very lucky that Saracens is a very positive environment and that allowed me to focus week in week out and keep putting in good performances. From there you simply hope that you keep knocking on the door...’

So now the door is open, due to the clock running out for Mike to safely return to play following his concussion. When Stuart Lancaster confirmed his final XV he described Alex as a 'more than capable replacement’ for the man that has been instrumental for England for so long. It is true that Alex's attacking threat is slightly less overt or in your face than Brown's however he still should make Ireland think twice for his threat is that of a different kind. Alex is tremendously difficult to tackle and has worked extremely hardly personally on his physical fitness and attributes to boost this all around game. In short eyes up rugby comes naturally to Alex and Andy Farrell had nothing but praise for the Saracen earlier in the week;

‘Alex is a senior figure too and knows how to get the best out of people around him. His all-round game is good, and with his fly-half background he is another decision-maker for us, another voice. He has a good feel for a game, takes the right options and is composed under pressure.”

One third of the
back three - Anthony Watson 

That composure will be vital this weekend for England’s opponents house a tremendous kicking game and will be bombarding Goode and his fellow backs with a huge amount of work for the full eighty minutes. As a trio Goode, Nowell and Watson have no formal test match experience together so you can understand why Ireland have overtly said that they’ll target them, however that isn’t something that worries the Full Back;

‘They pride themselves on their high balls and their aerial battles but you know that already when you play Irish teams so there is nothing new there. Also I’m very aware also that I’ve got two guys in the back three, that have played Full Back and it is a part of the game that is one of our strengths too and hopefully we can go and enforce that. For me, it is all about communication in the back three, I’m quite loud naturally and it is going to be a loud environment but as long as we can see each other and communicate, that’s vital.’

Alex thoroughly deserves his opportunity, he is exactly the sort of man that Stuart wants in his squad, the ultimate team player, a steely competitor and a man with the temperament to step up onto the largest of stages and deliver.