Geraghty eyes full England honours
London Irish tyro Shane Geraghty will use Friday night’s Churchill Cup opener against USA as an opportunity to prove himself worthy of a ticket to the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.
While England’s senior Test squad prepare for battle with South Africa in Bloemfontein and Pretoria, England Saxons will face a USA side consisting largely of amateur college players in the humble surroundings of Stockport’s Edgeley Park.
But for the rising stars in Jim Mallinder’s squad, there is the chance to stake a claim for inclusion in Brian Ashton’s World Cup party.
Geraghty certainly falls into that category after a stunning senior debut in the rousing 28-16 Six Nations win against France at Twickenham in March.
The 20-year-old confirmed his rich potential with a sublime run and over-arm off-load which sent Mike Tindall over the line for a try that will live long in the memory.
That said everything about Geraghty’s potential but Ashton decided against taking him to South Africa so as to allow him to regain his fitness after a hamstring injury.
And Geraghty, who will make his first appearance for two months on Friday night, is determined to ensure his absence from the senior squad is short-lived.
He said: “Brian spoke to me before the squad for South Africa was announced and told me that I wasn’t going to be considered.
“He said that playing in the Churchill Cup was a good opportunity to get my fitness back and play a few games.
“I wanted to go to South Africa but when you take a step back, you realise it’s probably best that it will be more beneficial to get more game-time under my belt, rather than go to South Africa and not play much.
“But hopefully I can use playing for the Saxons as opportunity to prove what I can do, and it would be fantastic to then go to the World Cup.
“Coming on for Floody [Toby Flood] against France was almost surreal and definitely the highlight of my career so far.
“I learned a lot from that game, but perhaps even more so from the Wales defeat in the following match.”
Besides Geraghty, attention on Friday night will also be focused on how Ryan Lamb, the Gloucester outside-half, recovers from the disappointment of his team’s heavy defeat to Leicester in last weekend’s Guinness Premiership final.
“If the Saxons can impress in this tournament then there’s no reason why a few of the boys cannot be named in the World Cup squad,” added Geraghty.
Geraghty was 20,000 miles away from the action as England toiled to victory at Rugby World Cup 2003, and he would dearly love to be closer this time round.
“My sister was out there in Australia but she came home after the semi-final, but my brother stayed out there and got a ticket for the final,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll be there in France come September as playing in a World Cup is what you grow up dreaming about.”
