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Leicester centre Andrew Forsyth scored within minutes of his debut
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Under-20 pair Forsyth and Watson relish debuts
13 March 2010, 12:01 pm
England Under-20 duo Andrew Forsyth and Marcus Watson maintain they are not ready to let go off their first-team places after the pair each grabbed a try on their debut.
Coach Mark Mapletoft has chopped and changed his backline throughout the tournament with his hand been forced injuries and club call-ups.
Tigers centre Forsyth and London Irish winger Watson stepped into the breach against Scotland and immediately made an impression with both crossing inside the first 20 minutes in the 27-6 victory.
And Forsyth, who started for the Tigers against South Africa during last year’s tour match, was delighted at getting his chance to show what they can do on the big stage.
He said: “I've been waiting for this chance for a little while so it was really important for me to take it.
“There's a lot of competition for places on the wings. Christian Wade is away with England Sevens, Will Hurrell has been playing well, Sam Smith's been involved with the first team at Harlequins, and the fact that I've been injured meant I had to put in a good performance.
“There are still lots of improvements to make. In attack I should have come in off the wing a lot more but for a first cap I think I did alright.
“I'd have liked to have seen more of the ball but some of that's down to me and the defence went well. Luckily for me we play the blitz system at Irish.”
Meanwhile Watson, who has been attracting rave reviews in the Exiles academy, has had to be patient to get his opportunity in the Under-20 set-up.
And after not being included in the Mapletoft’s initial squad, Watson admits he had to seize his chance with both hands with the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina just around the corner.
He said: “Mark Mapletoft ahd he said 'you have to show that you're capable of playing and if you keep playing well then you'll get the call-up'. Luckily there have been a few injuries and I've got a chance.
“I've played with quite a lot of the boys so it wasn't too difficult coming in. Sometimes you have to get to know the way each other plays, but I went away to Argentina a couple of years ago with most of them.
“Now I'll try to just keep doing what I'm doing, play every game as well as I can, prove myself to Tofty and hopefully get on the plane to Argentina.”
Tigers centre Forsyth and London Irish winger Watson stepped into the breach against Scotland and immediately made an impression with both crossing inside the first 20 minutes in the 27-6 victory.
And Forsyth, who started for the Tigers against South Africa during last year’s tour match, was delighted at getting his chance to show what they can do on the big stage.
He said: “I've been waiting for this chance for a little while so it was really important for me to take it.
“There's a lot of competition for places on the wings. Christian Wade is away with England Sevens, Will Hurrell has been playing well, Sam Smith's been involved with the first team at Harlequins, and the fact that I've been injured meant I had to put in a good performance.
“There are still lots of improvements to make. In attack I should have come in off the wing a lot more but for a first cap I think I did alright.
“I'd have liked to have seen more of the ball but some of that's down to me and the defence went well. Luckily for me we play the blitz system at Irish.”
Meanwhile Watson, who has been attracting rave reviews in the Exiles academy, has had to be patient to get his opportunity in the Under-20 set-up.
And after not being included in the Mapletoft’s initial squad, Watson admits he had to seize his chance with both hands with the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina just around the corner.
He said: “Mark Mapletoft ahd he said 'you have to show that you're capable of playing and if you keep playing well then you'll get the call-up'. Luckily there have been a few injuries and I've got a chance.
“I've played with quite a lot of the boys so it wasn't too difficult coming in. Sometimes you have to get to know the way each other plays, but I went away to Argentina a couple of years ago with most of them.
“Now I'll try to just keep doing what I'm doing, play every game as well as I can, prove myself to Tofty and hopefully get on the plane to Argentina.”
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