Source: TheGuardian
Courtney Lawes hunts Lions spot in New Zealand after England power play
The Northampton forward forced his way into a stocked England back row by changing his training regime and hopes to round off a career-defining season by facing down the All BlacksAt the start of the season, Courtney Lawes’s prospects of making the British & Irish Lions tour this summer looked even more distant than New Zealand itself. Second row was the best stocked of all the positions and the 28-year-old Saint had fallen behind George Kruis, Maro Itoje and Joe Launchbury in the England lock hierarchy.Lawes has had more than his share of injuries during his career and when Itoje and Kruis were ruled out of the start of England’s autumn international campaign, the Northampton forward, who had started one match in the 2016 Six Nations and was a replacement on the summer tour to Australia, was given an opportunity. He seized it with such force that when Itoje returned for this year’s championship, the Saracen was picked at blindside flanker. Related: Courtney Lawes credits England coach Eddie Jones for his return to form Related: England’s Courtney Lawes: ‘If you play less you would be a better player’ Continue reading......read full article
