England Missing Top 2%

There’s a magic ingredient in sport – it’s the top 2%, something extra special, something mental, that means a player is born to perform on the highest stage.

Take a certain Mr Graeme Hick in cricket.

In his golden years, he dominated county cricket like possibly no other cricketer before or since.

But put him on a Test wicket and his extraordinary talent at the lower level did not quite translate.

In recent years, in any sport, Australia have a high percentage of players coming off the conveyor belt who have that top 2%.

Cricketers and rugby players wait on the side lines without necessarily having a Hick-like record at the lower levels and when they finally get that glimpse, that chance, they hit a maiden century or scythe through the midfield.

By contrast, in recent years, England have had a long list of players missing that something a bit special:

• Steve Borthwick – by all accounts, a magnificent club captain and top of the stats at club level, but an England captain who has an unacceptably low ratio of good games.
• Charlie Hodgson – a terrific club pro for Sale unable to deal with the pressure of international rugby.
• Tim Payne and David “Mr StayPuff” Wilson – two props who have had less of it at international level, I cannot recall.
• Louis “Who” Deacon – I don’t watch enough club rugby these days to know how some of these lesser names perform at club level, but show me Louis Deacon and you’ll be showing me someone who has never failed to fail to make an impact in an England shirt.
• Matthew “So obviously not The Man” Tait – Controversial? Why? What has this guy ever done to earn his reputation? A player habitually unable to hold down the outside centre berth at club level and yet he’s touted as the Guscott for the new generation? Spare me. He’s got 30 odd caps for England. More than enough if he were The Man.
• Jamie “Mr Entertainment” Noon – An honest pro and has done good service for England but a symbol of the predicament. The establishment’s choice for the past five years to the bemusement of fans seeking value for money and running rugby.
• Steffon Armitage – Outstanding club 7. Has only had a couple of chances but did Richie McCaw or George Smith need more than that to show their class.

Joining this list are a succession of players out of form or past it.

• Simon Shaw – I love Simon Shaw. What an England legend this man could have been! With a better run of injuries and more faith from management, this guy could have been an ever present from 1997 through to 2010 and four Lions tours. He won’t be the same force he has been at the RWC 2011, he hasn’t been the same this season (but who is in the season immediately after a Lions tour?). His presence allows England to persist with Borthwick, persist with Deacon on the bench and neglect prospects such as Kennedy and Lawes.
• Mark Cueto – solid, has been one of England’s most consistent performers recently. But somewhat uninspiring compared to when he first came on the international scene. His continued presence prevents us seeing more from Strettle – a player capable of operating in a different space dimension than anyone else in the premiershp and who definitely has that 2% along with dodgy metatarsals.
• Delon Armitage – patently born to international rugby in his debut season, needs to regain confidence in the shoulder by a good, long stint back in club colours.
• Ugo Monye – Lions tour hangover. Happens ever four years. Tell that to Wales and Ireland. Imagine what England would have been like if more had gone on the Lions tour – doesn’t bear thinking of.
• Riki Flutey – obviously got it but hampered by injury and Lions hangover.
• Jonny Wilkinson – habitual saviour of England, flattered in the glory years by the decision making of Catt, Greenwood, Dawson and Healey.
• Haskell – Will he ever live down “Brand Haskell”? After 20-odd caps, we’re still talking about potential. But there’s something about him. Reminds me of Carling. And there’s something about that arrogance which could make him a Carling-like captain, re-establishing the arrogant English reputation and able to get effortlessly under the skin of Celtic opposition. But he’s not delivering apart from a flattering performance against a Welsh side low-in-confidence. And if Croft was fit and in-form, he’d be first choice 6. On the verge of joining the missing 2% list.
• Hartley – a player I suspect of missing that top 2% but whom I’m prepared to give until the end of the season to show me something definitive. Has failed to translate his club reputation as a nasty piece of work to the top level. But no-one else waiting in the wings.

Take away the players listed above and I’m sticking with three:

• Care – stifled by the atmosphere in camp. Needs to start delivering more often or will miss his chance.
• Moody – a consistently excellent performer in the internationals, hampered only by the fact that he’s not an openside, never has been an openside and never will be an openside. Lewis – you’re a blindside, mate. It’s amazing what a difference a top class openside can make to a team’s style.
• Easter – the modern day Deano. Consistent and honest boh in his playing and his appraisals. Captain-in-waiting?

Three? No wonder being an England supported is so freaking depressing.

So, all these players missing that top 2%…

Coincidence? Nature?

Or Nuture?

Speaking of nuture.

Danny Cipriani.

Would Sir Alex Ferguson have frozen him out or would he have found a way to integrate his talent?