Marland Yarde has had a roller-coaster couple of years. It is easy to forget that the man is still only 23, an age by which many now-seasoned internationals had not even made their debut. After a breakthrough season with London Irish in 2012/2013 he was called into the England squad for the summer tour to Argentina, scoring two tries in the process.
Despite it being very much a development tour, he impressed enough to retain his place for the first game of the Autumn Internationals at Twickenham against Australia. But then, as has come to be the case too often already in the fledgling career of the dreadlocked flyer, injury struck – as it would again later in the season to rule him out of the Six Nations.
What most England fans will remember most vividly, however, are his performances on last summer’s tour to New Zealand, where he scored two tries in three tests including one that involved unceremoniously shoving all-time great Richie McCaw firmly onto his posterior.
Then came a move to Harlequins, designed to allow Yarde to flourish on the bigger stage in a team that prided itself on its ability to offload and keep the ball alive. Sadly it happened to coincide with the London club’s worst season for some time and just two tries before Christmas – both in the hime demolition of London Welsh – saw him overlooked for England’s Six Nations squad – the first time that had happened (when he has been fit) since he made his debut in 2013.
It hit Yarde hard.
“The Six Nations was the first time I hadn’t been involved [in an England squad] for the last couple of years, which definitely took me by surprise,” he admits. “But if anything it has spurred me on to not rest on my laurels.
“It’s just part and parcel of professional sport. I try not to read too much into things. This season has been a massive learning curve for me from a personal point of view; I was really happy with how the second half of the season went, and I’m really proud to be in this 50 man squad.”
Indeed, missing out on the Six Nations squad certainly seemed to have the desired motivational effect – Yarde proceeded to score seven tries in the second half of the season.
“It [missing out on Six Nations selection] did a lot of good for me because it just teaches you that you can’t rest; you’ve always got to strive to go higher and higher. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my game, and look at parts that I can improve.
“From where I was 12 months ago in New Zealand to where I am now, I definitely feel like I’m a better player; my game understanding has got a lot better. Playing New Zealand – probably the number one team out there – I took a lot of confidence from performing at the highest level.”
Yarde’s form in his last outings in an England shirt will not count for nothing – there were several positives to be taken from that New Zealand tour, and he was very near the top of the list.
The one thing that will work against him, however, is his lack of versatility – most of his rivals boast top end experience in two or more positions, whereas Yarde is an out and out winger. In such a small final squad squad (the 50+ must be cut to 31), when specialist positions like hooker and scrum-half have to be compensated for, back three is one area that usually takes a hit.
Does Yarde think his inability to play in more than one position will hinder his chances?
“Not really – you don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades, you want to focus on one position and getting to know it through and through. Versatility helps, but first and foremost you want to focus on the one position that you want to nail down and do it as well as you can. Pretty much every player in this squad has that one position that they’re going for, and I’m no different.”
A lot is asked of wingers these days. Fans, and at times it seems coaches, too, have short memories and if the tries dry up, a winger can find himself out on his arse as quickly as he became golden boy a mere month or so before. And given they rely on the performance of the rest of the team more than most (if the pack’s on the back foot or your centres are failing to distribute, how much ball will they see?) this seems unfair at times.
Yarde, May, Rokoduguni – these are but three of the previous flavours of the month from the last year that have since been ousted by the latest fad quite literally winging his way in. Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson are currently in favour but given the frequency with which the 11 and 14 shirts change hands, there is absolutely nothing to say that a couple of eye-catching performances in the warm up games couldn’t give Yarde the chance to have a real impact on the Rugby World Cup.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Marland Yarde was appearing alongside his England team mates at the launch of the innovative England Rugby World Cup shirt #CommittedtotheRose. Visit Canterbury.com
Main photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Shouldn’t that Yarde doesn’t play in other positions. His real problem is that he’s too ltd. The only thing that matters in the end is if he cut it under pressure @ Int’al level. He falls a bit short positionally & in variety in running/attack.