1
Hype around England's fullback prospect enters overdrive after Barrett comparisons
By Online Editors
The stock in Saracens' 22-year-old fullback Max Malins is heating up after boss Mark McCall said his performance against Bristol reminded him of a young Beauden Barrett.
The stand-in 15 clocked up nearly 100 running metres whilst scoring a second-half double against Bristol on Saturday to earn comparisons to the All Black superstar from his boss.
“He reminds me a little bit of a young Beauden Barrett who wanted to be a fly-half but played 15 in his early years for the Hurricanes and the All Blacks,” McCall said.
Malins, who has only eight starts for Saracens since his debut in 2017, looked every bit a star surrounded by seasoned internationals in Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola, Sean Maitland, and Maro Itoje.
Pundits on Twitter immediately dialed up the hype on his prospects of becoming England's next star, with one Saracens' fan calling for the fullback to be offered a 'lifetime contract' at the club.
With reports this week that Wales' fullback Liam Williams will take up an offer to join Scarlets, the door at Saracens for Malins to earn more game time is open.
However, Saracens already have England's current fullback Elliot Daly on the books, who transferred this year from Wasps, and club legend and former England international Andy Goode.
If Malins has to sit awhile longer to become a regular starter, he is in good company to learn a few tricks of the trade.
Can the Lions beat South Africa in 2021?
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Sam Simmonds' Montpellier replacement a blow for Wallabies – report
3
Camille Chat breaks silence on his immediate effect Racing 92 exit
4
Six players Rassie Erasmus must hand Springbok debuts to in 2025
5
Latest Comments
They bend the rules for pre-existing All Blacks, provided you've signed for a NZ franchise the following year.
Go to commentsUnder Rassie it is 5 wins for ABs, 1 draw, and 7 wins for the Boks. Of those games, only 3 were played in NZ, and 5 played in SA, and 5 on neutral ground.
Of the 3 played in NZ, the ABs only lost once. Of the games played in SA, SBs are 5-2, and on neutral ground its 3-2 to the Boks.
Seems pretty even to me, considering this is the greatest Boks team ever (I still think 2007 was better).
If Rassie wins, this will be the best Boks team ever, but the ABs aren't scared of a team who barely scrape wins against a reforming ABs team, and lost to an undercooked Irish side twice last year.
I predict a 7+ point win, leading by 13+ at halftime.
Go to comments