Northampton Saints: Jim backs Dickson to start at Twickenham
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JIM MALLINDER says Lee Dickson deserves to start for England against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
After an impressive 30-minute shift off the bench in England’s win against Italy in Rome, Dickson is closing in on Ben Youngs’ starting spot.
And Saints director of rugby Mallinder feels Dickson is ready to step up to a starting role after winning his first two caps as a replacement in the first two games of the Six Nations, which sees England level on points at the top of the table with Wales.
Mallinder said: “I definitely think Lee Dickson deserves his chance for what he has done for us this season, and from what he has done in his short time on the field with England in the Six Nations.
“He upped the tempo against Italy last week, or helped towards that, and I would like to see him having a chance to start.”
It would complete a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Dickson, who for so long has been ignored not just by England, but by the Saxons as well.
He was not part of the ill-fated World Cup squad at the start of the season, but Danny Care’s ban for drink-driving and Richard Wigglesworth’s injury saw him called up by new interim head coach Stuart Lancaster for the Six Nations.
He immediately jumped ahead of Wasps’ Joe Simpson, who was at the World Cup in New Zealand, to win a place on the bench and now he could take over from Leicester’s Youngs, who has been England’s number one scrum-half for the best part of 18 months.
Mallinder is not surprised by how well Dickson has taken to the international arena, with the 26-year-old a vocal member of the Saints side.
“He is a cheeky chappy, but he is quite mature,” said Mallinder.
“Lee has a sensible head on his shoulders. He is one of our leaders and senior players.
“He plays like that every week for us, he has a real good understanding of the game and has worked hard on some parts of his game.
“His kicking has improved and his ability to get the ball away is outstanding.
“I just think a nine like Dickson would help the England cause.
“He is a livewire in attack and defence, he communicates so well with the team. They respect that and that all helps.”
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