Hype around England's fullback prospect enters overdrive after Barrett comparisons

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.

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