England scrumhalf relishes first start against All Blacks
SPOTLIGHT: England scrumhalf Ben Spencer is set to finally make his first Test start against the All Blacks against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday after winning six Test caps off the bench in six years.
Spencer enjoyed club success with Saracens before leading Bath to the top of the Premiership table this season after they just fell short on the Title last season.
The 32-year-old’s career has coincided with that of fellow England scrumhalve regulars Danny Care and Ben Youngs.
It appeared at the time that his Test career had come and gone with the emergence of two younger No.9’s in Jack van Poortvliet and Alex Mitchell.
Care and Youngs are no longer involved, and with Mitchell sidelined with a neck injury, Spencer has an opportunity to impress from the outset of an international.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he told reporters.
“I guess you never really know until it does come but I’d like to think I’ve put myself in a position over the last few years to make it happen and I’m just delighted that it is going to and hopefully I can make the most of it.”
Spencer debut came in 2018 came against the now World Champion Springboks, playing the last five minutes, with brief cameos off the bench being a feature of his next two England caps as well.
The preference of then England coach Eddie Jones to opt for two specialists scrumhalves in his squad counted against Spencer.
The Australian’s approach backfired during the 2019 World Cup when injuries forced his hand meaning Spencer had to be called up to the squad mere days before the Final.
Spencer played the final five minutes as South Africa thumped England by 32-12.
It took five long years for him to earn his next Test cap in the 2024 Six Nations in a defeat to Scotland, with his sixth Test appearance, also off the bench in a 15-16 loss to New Zealand in July.
His Test career currently amounts to just over 80 minutes, with Spencer still having to taste victory in an England jersey.
Spencer’s attacking game has blossomed alongside Scotland flyhalf Finn Russel at Bath.
“On the pitch, especially at Bath with me being the captain, it has definitely brought the best out of me,” he said.
“I think Finn oozes class and oozes confidence and that spreads throughout the team.”
Spencer is now looking forward to forging a similar alliance at Test level with another attacking flyhalf in Marcus Smith.
“They’re both ultimate showmen and like to get the team going forward…Marcus is really excited to get the combination going and Saturday should be good.”
