Bath next for England's "mystery man"
San Fransisco
June 18, 2001
International new-boy Olly Barkley has a less than lofty aim for the new season - he just wants to secure a place in Bath's first-team squad. The 19-year-old fly-half completed a remarkable three-week transition from absolute unknown to Test star on Saturday when he appeared as Jamie Noon's replacement in the 48-19 victory over the United States in San Francisco. For a man who had never previously played a senior game before embarking on the England tour, it is a remarkable achievement. Barkley has won stacks of praise from manager Clive Woodward and the rest of his coaching team, who believe he has the potential to emulate the feats of fellow left-footer Jonny Wilkinson. His performances fully vindicated his decision to leave the Recreation Ground for a six-month stint in New Zealand, having decided his rugby education wouldn't be well served by a season in the Bath second team. He returns to the west country outfit this summer at the start of a two year professional contract and knows he now has a reputation to live up to. ``My aim right now is to get into the Bath squad,'' he admitted. ``Everything has happened so quickly, it is difficult to take it all in. Maybe after a couple of days it will start to sink in but I can't quite grasp that I have won my first England cap. ``I don't think it is a big thing to handle but I probably have something to prove to the guys who thought they should have been picked above me for the tour. In a way, I owe it to them to show I was worth my place.'' Barkley has already leapt above Wasps' Alex King in the stand-off queue and Woodward has already stated he would have no hesitation in pitching the Cornwall-born youngster into a full-strength side should Wilkinson suffer any unforeseen injury problems. A former soccer trialist with Arsenal, Barkley didn't play his first game of union until he was 13. But his remarkable maturity should ensure he is able to cope with the attention which is bound to be directed towards him when the new Premiership season begins. Not that he will find it easy to win at place at Bath. With the likes of Mike Catt, Matt Perry, Iain Balshaw and Mike Tindall on board, competition for places is fierce. The youngster though is well prepared for the battle. `It was enlightening to be part of the Test environment,'' he said. ``I feel I know what is required of me now, although I am still on a huge learning curve. ``Bath have already shown they are willing to give young players their chance and I am sure the staff there will give me all the help I need. I still have plenty to achieve and I must stay focussed on that. ``Obviously I want to enjoy the fact that I have played for England but my development is only just beginning.'' Barkley was one of 11 new caps on the trip, one of whom - Leicester back-row Lewis Moody - was a clear man-of-the-tour. Moody completed England's record-breaking 11th successive Test win with the final try on Saturday, following earlier braces for Leon Lloyd and Josh Lewsey, plus other efforts from Dorian West, Pat Sanderson and Joe Worsley. Woodward now heads to Australia to watch his 19 English Lions in action, with competition for places in October's Six Nations encounter with Ireland growing increasingly hot. Moody's Tiger team-mates Graham Rowntree and Ben Kay have pushed themselves into contention, while Newcastle duo Jamie Noon and Michael Stephenson will also be in the frame for the Dublin departure. ``One thing which has been stressed throughout the trip is that once you have been given an England jersey, you should fight to keep it,'' said Noon, the most consistent member of a high-performing back division. There have been a number of great performances on the tour. ``We have all really enjoyed it and learned a great deal. Hopefully that will still be in the selectors' minds when they come to select the next Six Nations squad.'' |
Communication error please reload the page.