Evans: Quins' Clegg on path to the top (From Surrey Comet)

Evans: Quins' Clegg on path to the top

6:22pm Monday 8th March 2010 in

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Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans reckons understudy Rory Clegg has what it takes to become England’s finest - providing he is handled correctly.

The 20-year-old fly-half showed nerves of stroke over a penalty from the halfway line to secure a nailbiting 14-11 triumph over struggling Worcester Warriors at the Stoop on Saturday.

The result proved vital with resurgent Leeds Carnegie beating Saracens 24-hours later as they continue to turn the Guinness Premiership relegation battle on its head.

Clegg has made five starts in his first season at the club since switching from Newcastle Falcons, where he began learning his trade under England World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson.

And Evans, who withdrew from Saturday’s game late on Friday with a knee problem picked up against London Irish, reckons he will follow him in to the senior international ranks sooner or later.

“He has got a lot of rugby ahead of him, but he has already learnt from one of the best fly-halves England have ever produced,” he said.

“I firmly believe in four or five years time he’ll be knocking on the door of the England team, but they need to manage him well and make sure he is not thrown in at the deep end to soon.

“He is a young talent, but he took the kicks when we needed them at the weekend. I can’t kick that far.”

Which isn’t to say Quins wouldn’t have won the crucial clash had Evans - who expects to be fit to face Bath later this month - been at the helm.

“I used to be able to hit those when I was younger. I would probably have nudged us into the corner for a line-out and then set-up the drop goal,” added the mercurial Kiwi.