Topsy Ojo column: Max Malins can make the difference for England against France

England v Italy - Guinness Six Nations
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Topsy Ojo12 March 2021

Having come through the ranks at Saracens, Max Malins is used to being patient.

He has had to bide his time, particularly with the likes of Alex Goode and Owen Farrell ahead of him, and it’s been the same story with England.

Credit to him though, as while being patient you still have to keep delivering - maybe even more so when you are coming off the bench. You have got to show that hunger and desire as otherwise, coaches may pick up on it.

Max has done that and now, with the chance to start for England, it’s about stepping up and seizing the opportunity to make the 15 shirt his own.

This is what you work for as a player, it’s what you want, and Max just has to go out there, enjoy it and play his own game against France this weekend at Twickenham.

He has been getting a few looks off the bench and his impressive form in training has pushed Eddie Jones to give him the nod over Elliot Daly.

Personally, I have always preferred Elliot in the centres, as a 13. I know he has been Jones’ choice at full-back, but I always felt it wasn’t his natural position.

Max, on the other hand, just looks like a natural fit at 15 with his positioning and time on the ball - and particularly the way he enters the line in attack. He patrols those wider 15-metre channels so well, whether it is on the openside or blindside, and he just knows when to pop up and appear.

That is where England really need to get the most out of Max against France. They need to let him have a free role so he can go and find the space.

That’s what the best full-backs do, they pop up anywhere and have licence to attack the game - which is something Max has done really well all season.

I remember watching him when Bristol played Clermont earlier this season. It was an unbelievable game, tonnes of tries, and Max was electric - causing chaos out wide and beating people for fun.

He’s deceptively quick. It looks like he’s gliding, but he’s got a really good change in gears that means he can create for himself and others.

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Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall compared him to New Zealand star Beauden Barrett a few years ago and you can see those similarities and traits.

We know that Beauden is a gifted footballer. He plays 10 or 15 equally well, with great speed, and you can see shades of that in Max. He has a lot of control, but the skillset to go with it.

With a lot of players who operate at 10 or 15, they have a point of difference whereby they can go and change a game in a moment on their own.

It could be a piece of skill, a running line or a break and Max has shown he can do that this season for Bristol and off the bench for England.

He has the potential to be a real difference-maker and that’s what excites a lot of people about him being in the team.

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