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Jamie George did not expect to be going up against long-time friend and teammate Nick Tompkins this weekend, but the England hooker admits his Saracens colleague will make Wales more dangerous when they meet at Twickenham on Saturday.
Tompkins shocked a number of his Saracens teammates when he announced a switch of allegiance to Wales, having played for England under-20s four years ago only to commit to Wales thanks to his Welsh grandmother.
The 25-year-old has gone about establishing himself with the Premiership side over the last two seasons that put him on the radar of Wales boss Wayne Pivac, and the absence of Jonathan Davies has opened up a berth for him in the centre during this year’s Six Nations after back-to-back starts against Ireland and France.
Tompkins will make his Twickenham international debut this Saturday, albeit in the unexpected environment of the away dressing room, and George admits that the sudden move was a surprise when he found out.
“I didn't think I'd be playing against him! I wasn't aware of his Welsh heritage,” George said. “It's always a funny one and playing against people you know is something you get used to.
“He has been in contact this week saying he's going to annoy me a little bit! I'll annoy him back – it will be a game within a game.”
George’s comments were echoed by fellow Saracen Owen Farrell, with the England captain revealing that he only found out about Tompkins’ decision minutes before he was named in Pivac’s Six Nations squad. That said, it is clear that both are pleased for their club teammate to finally be finding his feet on the biggest stage after earning rave reviews at Allianz Park.
“He is a fantastic player,” said Farrell. “He is someone who has been able to unlock a game for a while. He has got brilliant feet and is deceptively strong for the size of him.
“He has made a big step up this year in terms of doing it week in week out for the club, being a big part of what we are doing. That is why he has got the recognition he has.”
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1/31 England vs Ireland
England secured a 24-12 victory over Ireland to retain their hopes of Six Nations glory, but who were the standout players? Click through the gallery to find out.
Getty
2/31 England: Elliot Daly – 8
One of his best displays under the high ball and looked assured at the back, not to mention threatening going forwards as he took an early catch of Ford’s up-and-under. Refusal to give up on Ford’s chip bagged him the second try, and gave the side confidence whenever he got on the ball.
EPA
3/31 Jonny May – 6
Another who impressed aerially but hasn’t had the chances to score that we usually expect, which seems to stem from his move to the right wing. Should have had a penalty when Henshaw took him out chasing his own kick.
Getty Images
4/31 Manu Tuilagi – 7
The simple things like running and tackling make such an impact when it’s Tuilagi doing them, as he constantly went over the gain line and left a bone-crunching tackle on Stander.
PA
5/31 Owen Farrell – 8
Tactical kicking was excellent throughout and he boasted a 100 per cent record from the tee. Risked getting dragged into a brawl with Stander that was entirely his own doing with a touch of breakdown skulduggery, but his leadership really stood out as one of the decisive influences.
Getty Images
6/31 Jonathan Joseph – 7
Justified selection on the wing as he was defensively astute in taking high ball and even showed a nice turn of pace to beat opposite man Conway in a foot race.
Getty Images
7/31 George Ford – 8
Switched on to pre-empt Sexton’s mistake and pounce on the ball for the opening try and served up the second with a delicate chip for Daly to chase. Tactical kicking was excellent throughout.
EPA
8/31 Ben Youngs – 7
Lovely kick through caused panic for the Irish and produced the first try and also linked well with another chip for Joseph to chase and regather. His running threat does seem to have diminished though, and replaced rather early for Willi Heinz.
REUTERS
9/31 Joe Marler – 8
Make a rock solid start in the scrum by winning the first penalty and did a good job of managing Furlong, though guilty of conceding a penalty shortly after the restart. On the whole he was one of the standout forwards.
Getty Images
10/31 Jamie George – 7
Best performance of the Six Nations so far as the lineout functioned well bar one attacking five-metre throw, which was poached by O’Mahony. Showed his useful turn of pace out wide when Farrell released him in the first half. Another early departure.
Getty Images
11/31 Kyle Sinckler – 7
Had the chance to show his gifted handling abilities with a couple of offloads in the tackle, and defended astutely with a monster stop on Kilcoyne after he came on.
PA
12/31 Maro Itoje – 8
England’s pack leader by performance once again delivered a masterclass that riled Ryan and Stander to the point it put them off their game. Defensively brilliant, with his blitz on Aki leading to a turnover standing out as a particular highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 George Kruis – 7
Another good performance from the lock who is making the place his own at the moment, and given the wealth of locks at England’s disposal, that takes some doing.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 Courtney Lawes – 7
Brilliant defensive effort but managed to offer much more with the ball in hand, which helped him to the man of the match award. Decision to start him at blindside flanker paid off with England at their most physically imposing.
Action Images via Reuters
15/31 Sam Underhill – 7
Two surging tackles stood out as he rushed up on the Irish possession, though England’s dominance with ball in hand diminished his standout qualities somewhat.
AP
16/31 Tom Curry – 7
Guilty of missing the tackle on Henshaw for Ireland’s first try, but overall he coped well and moved back to blindside upon the introduction of Ewels.
PA
17/31 Ireland: Jordan Larmour – 5
Made the mistake of not calling a mark in the build-up to the first try and picked up an injury early in the second half that looked to hinder him, before departing soon after for Keith Earls.
Action Images via Reuters
18/31 Andrew Conway – 6
Strong aerially as he gave Joseph and Daly something to think about but given little possession to work with, and found himself outgassed by Joseph in a foot race.
Action Images via Reuters
19/31 Robbie Henshaw – 7
A strong showing all things considered as he made the most incisive run of Ireland’s afternoon to score their first try. Has enjoyed his return to the international arena after injury.
Getty Images
20/31 Bundee Aki – 7
Made two powerful runs that got Ireland rare go-forward ball and secured a turnover on Lawes when the lock was isolated, though he also experienced similar when Itoje caught him deep in back-field.
PA
21/31 Jacob Stockdale – 5
Anonymous with ball in hand and guilty of once again dallying on his try line to concede points. Failed to learn the lessons from Dublin 2019.
PA
22/31 Johnny Sexton – 4
Made a very poor start to the match and it appeared to knock his confidence considerably. Dropped Youngs’ kick on the line that gifted a try to Ford, then spurned three very kickable points from the tee. Failed to get himself on top of the game and Ireland suffered as a result.
Getty Images
23/31 Conor Murray – 5
His kicking was impressive from hand to start with, but his long-range touch-finders didn’t give makeshift wing Joseph anything to think about as the ball kept sailing over him and into touch.
AP
24/31 Cian Healy – 5
Departed in the first half with a nasty-looking injury that left him in considerable pain, which he picked up deep in the breakdown. Replacement Dave Kilcoyne found himself on the end of a number of powerful tackles as he struggled with the physicality.
REUTERS
25/31 Rob Herring – 6
Felt the pressure at the lineout but that was largely to do with the number of jumping options England had, and all things considered he coped as well as he could hope.
Getty Images
26/31 Tadhg Furlong – 5
Struggled up against Marler as the more experienced prop won out in the scrum battle, and he provided very little go forward with the ball as Ireland struggled for possession.
AFP via Getty Images
27/31 Devin Toner – 5
Wasn’t able to leave his mark on the contest either in the loose or, more importantly, in the lineout.
AFP via Getty Images
28/31 James Ryan – 6
Tried his upmost to get Ireland’s defence firing and engaged in a fascinating head-to-head with Itoje that boiled over on more than one occasion, but came off as an obvious second best. Still, he was Ireland’s best forward.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 Peter O’Mahony – 5
Stole one English lineout when the pressure was on but otherwise did little of note, and guilty of throwing a horror pass to Stockdale that resulted in a knock-on.
Getty Images
30/31 Josh van der Flier – 5
Fairly anonymous at the breakdown as he struggled to live with the pace that England played at. Replaced by Caelan Doris on the hour.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 CJ Stander – 6
The sight of him topless and jumping onto Itoje as the two brawled was one of the more surprising incidents witnessed. Did well to get up from Tuilagi’s enormous tackle, and tried his best to take on the burden of Ireland’s carrying with little result.
REUTERS
1/31 England vs Ireland
England secured a 24-12 victory over Ireland to retain their hopes of Six Nations glory, but who were the standout players? Click through the gallery to find out.
Getty
2/31 England: Elliot Daly – 8
One of his best displays under the high ball and looked assured at the back, not to mention threatening going forwards as he took an early catch of Ford’s up-and-under. Refusal to give up on Ford’s chip bagged him the second try, and gave the side confidence whenever he got on the ball.
EPA
3/31 Jonny May – 6
Another who impressed aerially but hasn’t had the chances to score that we usually expect, which seems to stem from his move to the right wing. Should have had a penalty when Henshaw took him out chasing his own kick.
Getty Images
4/31 Manu Tuilagi – 7
The simple things like running and tackling make such an impact when it’s Tuilagi doing them, as he constantly went over the gain line and left a bone-crunching tackle on Stander.
PA
5/31 Owen Farrell – 8
Tactical kicking was excellent throughout and he boasted a 100 per cent record from the tee. Risked getting dragged into a brawl with Stander that was entirely his own doing with a touch of breakdown skulduggery, but his leadership really stood out as one of the decisive influences.
Getty Images
6/31 Jonathan Joseph – 7
Justified selection on the wing as he was defensively astute in taking high ball and even showed a nice turn of pace to beat opposite man Conway in a foot race.
Getty Images
7/31 George Ford – 8
Switched on to pre-empt Sexton’s mistake and pounce on the ball for the opening try and served up the second with a delicate chip for Daly to chase. Tactical kicking was excellent throughout.
EPA
8/31 Ben Youngs – 7
Lovely kick through caused panic for the Irish and produced the first try and also linked well with another chip for Joseph to chase and regather. His running threat does seem to have diminished though, and replaced rather early for Willi Heinz.
REUTERS
9/31 Joe Marler – 8
Make a rock solid start in the scrum by winning the first penalty and did a good job of managing Furlong, though guilty of conceding a penalty shortly after the restart. On the whole he was one of the standout forwards.
Getty Images
10/31 Jamie George – 7
Best performance of the Six Nations so far as the lineout functioned well bar one attacking five-metre throw, which was poached by O’Mahony. Showed his useful turn of pace out wide when Farrell released him in the first half. Another early departure.
Getty Images
11/31 Kyle Sinckler – 7
Had the chance to show his gifted handling abilities with a couple of offloads in the tackle, and defended astutely with a monster stop on Kilcoyne after he came on.
PA
12/31 Maro Itoje – 8
England’s pack leader by performance once again delivered a masterclass that riled Ryan and Stander to the point it put them off their game. Defensively brilliant, with his blitz on Aki leading to a turnover standing out as a particular highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 George Kruis – 7
Another good performance from the lock who is making the place his own at the moment, and given the wealth of locks at England’s disposal, that takes some doing.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 Courtney Lawes – 7
Brilliant defensive effort but managed to offer much more with the ball in hand, which helped him to the man of the match award. Decision to start him at blindside flanker paid off with England at their most physically imposing.
Action Images via Reuters
15/31 Sam Underhill – 7
Two surging tackles stood out as he rushed up on the Irish possession, though England’s dominance with ball in hand diminished his standout qualities somewhat.
AP
16/31 Tom Curry – 7
Guilty of missing the tackle on Henshaw for Ireland’s first try, but overall he coped well and moved back to blindside upon the introduction of Ewels.
PA
17/31 Ireland: Jordan Larmour – 5
Made the mistake of not calling a mark in the build-up to the first try and picked up an injury early in the second half that looked to hinder him, before departing soon after for Keith Earls.
Action Images via Reuters
18/31 Andrew Conway – 6
Strong aerially as he gave Joseph and Daly something to think about but given little possession to work with, and found himself outgassed by Joseph in a foot race.
Action Images via Reuters
19/31 Robbie Henshaw – 7
A strong showing all things considered as he made the most incisive run of Ireland’s afternoon to score their first try. Has enjoyed his return to the international arena after injury.
Getty Images
20/31 Bundee Aki – 7
Made two powerful runs that got Ireland rare go-forward ball and secured a turnover on Lawes when the lock was isolated, though he also experienced similar when Itoje caught him deep in back-field.
PA
21/31 Jacob Stockdale – 5
Anonymous with ball in hand and guilty of once again dallying on his try line to concede points. Failed to learn the lessons from Dublin 2019.
PA
22/31 Johnny Sexton – 4
Made a very poor start to the match and it appeared to knock his confidence considerably. Dropped Youngs’ kick on the line that gifted a try to Ford, then spurned three very kickable points from the tee. Failed to get himself on top of the game and Ireland suffered as a result.
Getty Images
23/31 Conor Murray – 5
His kicking was impressive from hand to start with, but his long-range touch-finders didn’t give makeshift wing Joseph anything to think about as the ball kept sailing over him and into touch.
AP
24/31 Cian Healy – 5
Departed in the first half with a nasty-looking injury that left him in considerable pain, which he picked up deep in the breakdown. Replacement Dave Kilcoyne found himself on the end of a number of powerful tackles as he struggled with the physicality.
REUTERS
25/31 Rob Herring – 6
Felt the pressure at the lineout but that was largely to do with the number of jumping options England had, and all things considered he coped as well as he could hope.
Getty Images
26/31 Tadhg Furlong – 5
Struggled up against Marler as the more experienced prop won out in the scrum battle, and he provided very little go forward with the ball as Ireland struggled for possession.
AFP via Getty Images
27/31 Devin Toner – 5
Wasn’t able to leave his mark on the contest either in the loose or, more importantly, in the lineout.
AFP via Getty Images
28/31 James Ryan – 6
Tried his upmost to get Ireland’s defence firing and engaged in a fascinating head-to-head with Itoje that boiled over on more than one occasion, but came off as an obvious second best. Still, he was Ireland’s best forward.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 Peter O’Mahony – 5
Stole one English lineout when the pressure was on but otherwise did little of note, and guilty of throwing a horror pass to Stockdale that resulted in a knock-on.
Getty Images
30/31 Josh van der Flier – 5
Fairly anonymous at the breakdown as he struggled to live with the pace that England played at. Replaced by Caelan Doris on the hour.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 CJ Stander – 6
The sight of him topless and jumping onto Itoje as the two brawled was one of the more surprising incidents witnessed. Did well to get up from Tuilagi’s enormous tackle, and tried his best to take on the burden of Ireland’s carrying with little result.
REUTERS
George believes that the threat of Tompkins in the middle of the park gives England something extra to think about this weekend, with his attacking style proving more prominent so far this tournament than the defensively-resolute Davies. Tompkins stood out in the narrow 27-23 defeat against France two weeks ago, though he was guilty of throwing the intercepted pass that allowed fly-half Romain Ntamack to score the match-winning try, and the England forward believes a wounded Welsh side will play much better than their current record of results suggests.
“It's difficult because everyone just looks at the end result but actually some of the stuff they've played has been pretty impressive,” George said.
“I thought they were unlucky against France. Some of the new guys who have come in have added a lot. Nick Tompkins has done a good job and has added a lot to the Wales team.
“Their front row and back row in particular add so much to that team. They're a good place regardless of the results they've added.”