England's Most Improved Player in Toni's Opinion

He's The Man!
By Toni 4/7/03
July 4 2003

England's most improved player or is he? - This is Toni's selection for the most improved player in the England squad. I'm sure some of you will be saying no way!

"Why not write a piece on who you think is England's most improved player?" Kath said to me in an e-mail. Okay, thinks I, I shall do. As I typed her a reply, I had no doubt in my mind who that player was. Not Jonny Wilkinson, not Martin Johnson, not Lawrence Dallaglio (though he isn't far off) - my immediate thought was of Mike Tindall, the Bath and England centre. Why him

Well, read on, and I'll present the case.,I remember Mike Tindall's debut against Ireland, when a certain Ben Cohen also made his debut. It was three years ago, which shocks me - how time flies! - but I remember squinting at this new inside centre, knowing nothing about him, watching him score a try on his debut and thinking he might be pretty good. He played for Bath - an immediate faux pas in my book, as I am a Tigers supporter - but I could forget that as his first display in England colours impressed me.

He was no Brian O'Driscoll. He couldn't create tries out of nothing, he didn't have a silky sidestep, he wasn't remotely flashy. But he was strong and fearless, and time upon time he's gone crashing through an opposition midfield like he really doesn't have a concern for his own safety or survival. Winning is what matters. Relaxed and friendly off the field, with a grin the size of Bath's recent points margin, and a hard-worker on the field, you can't want for much more from an inside centre.

However, 2003 didn't start well for Tindall. An injury continued to aggravate him and Bath continued to ship water and points in the premiership, looking like prime candidates for Division One. He'd had a good Autumn despite the England midfield being highly criticized for reasons I still can't comprehend, and despite his club's struggles was playing well if not brilliantly. This was reflected in Clive Woodward's team selection for the opening Six Nations game against France, with Charlie Hodgson at inside centre and Will Greenwood taking the outside berth. My eyebrows went up as I read the team on Teletext, but not because Mike was missing, because I was wondering how the Hodgson experiment would work out.

It didn't really, if we're all honest. No disrespect to Charlie, but he's no inside centre. Which is fine, because he lists his position as fly-half. However, he was selected there again for the Wales game and Mike seemed to be left out in the cold. Yes, he had a nagging injury, but he maintained the fact he was actually fit to play. All was forgiven for the Italy game, where he had a sound but not brilliant game, and he was again included against Scotland.

It took the Ireland Grand Slam decider, though, to show Tindall at his all-powerful best, and I'm not just talking about his decisive try. He ran, he fought, he tackled, he linked with Jonny Wilkinson, he got over the advantage line every time he got the ball. Blinded by another wondrous performance from Mr. Wilkinson, the Man Of The Match trophy was presented to him, but Tindall should surely have been a contender. The next day at Dublin airport, he was friendly, chatty and by his own admission hungover - displaying all the signs of knowing life was on the up for him.

I didn't catch any Bath games, preferring to stand at Welford Road and cheer on my deflating team, but then England were on tour and Tindall was in the side for the New Zealand game. Once again, immense and dominating, never missing a tackle - so it appeared - and playing out of his skin. You've got to respect the guy. His try against Australia was the result of beautiful hands from the England backs but it wasn't handed to him on a plate; he had to break a few tackles to get there. The game finished along with Tindall's season, which can only be described as wonderful.

Like I said, he's no Brian O'Driscoll, but when you need someone to get you over the advantage line and never give up - Tindall is there. Brave to the point you question his sanity and willing to give his all for the England team, it's hard to imagine him not being in the England World Cup squad. Clive Woodward's a bigger fool than I thought if Tindall isn't included.

So this, to me, makes Mike Tindall England's most improved player. Yes, Lawrence Dallaglio has had a great season - but it has been a return to the Dallaglio of old. With Tindall, we have seen something new, something that makes him stand out. Now 25, he's matured as a player beyond belief and firmly claimed the number 12 jersey as his own. With 26 caps to his name, it's surely only a matter of time before he adds to that tally in Australia this Autumn and beyond. Not flash, not particularly quick, but brave and powerful. You can't ask for much more in my book.