Spencer to end long wait for first England start against New Zealand / Photo: Sanka Vidanagama - AFP
Spencer to end long wait for first England start against New Zealand
England scrum-half Ben Spencer is set to finally make his first Test start, against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday after winning six 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 missed out on the English title last term.
But the 32-year-old's career has coincided with that of former England regulars Danny Care and Ben Youngs.
And it seemed his time at Test level had come and gone with the emergence of two younger scrum-halves in Jack van Poortvliet and Alex Mitchell.
Care and Youngs are no longer involved, however, and with Mitchell sidelined by a neck injury, Spencer has a chance to impress from the kick-off 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 made his Test debut away to South Africa in 2018, playing just the last five minutes, with brief appearances off the bench a feature of his next two England caps as well.
The preference of then England coach Eddie Jones to have just two specialist scrum-halves in his squad counted against Spencer.
But the Australian's approach came unstuck during the 2019 World Cup when injuries meant he had to summon Spencer to Japan just days before the final.
Spencer played the last five minutes as South Africa overpowered England 32-12.
He then had to wait five years for his next cap, in this year's Six Nations defeat by Scotland, with his sixth Test appearance, also off the bench, coming in a 16-15 loss to New Zealand in July.
His Test career currently amounts to just over 80 minutes, with Spencer still to appear in a winning England team.
But Spencer's attacking game has blossomed alongside Scotland fly-half Finn Russell 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 attack-minded fly-half 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."
D.Findlay--EWJ
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