Henry Arundell's Hat-Trick Earns Jonny May Comparisons in England's Six Nations Triumph
Henry Arundell has drawn flattering comparisons to England rugby legend Jonny May after delivering a stunning hat-trick performance in his side's comprehensive 48-7 victory over Wales in the Six Nations championship. The flying winger completed his three-try haul during the first half of the match at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, helping England launch what they hope will be a title-winning campaign for their first Six Nations crown since 2020.
Arundell's Remarkable Scoring Record Continues to Grow
The 23-year-old's impressive display against Wales brings his international tally to 12 tries in just 13 matches for England. This marks his second hat-trick at test level, following his five-try performance against Chile during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. While Arundell has always been recognized for his exceptional pace and athleticism that consistently troubles defenders, his all-round game against Wales demonstrated significant development beyond mere try-scoring prowess.
Captain Jamie George Praises Arundell's Diligent Approach
Stand-in captain Jamie George offered particularly insightful praise for the young winger during his post-match press conference, drawing direct parallels with Jonny May's celebrated career. May accumulated 36 tries across 78 international appearances for England between 2013 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the country's most prolific wingers.
"He really reminds me of Jonny May in so many ways in terms of his diligence and preparation," George explained. "The way that he trains and the way that he's gone away and developed so many different areas of his game. When you've got a player like that on the field, it gives everyone else so much confidence that if we work hard in the middle and create space for someone like that, he's going to capitalise on it."
The hooker added with characteristic humor, "When asked how Arundell has changed since his 2022 debut, I deadpanned 'he's still a terrible bloke' before grinning 'no, he's good.' He's been brilliant."
Coach Borthwick Highlights Arundell's Commitment to Improvement
England head coach Steve Borthwick echoed George's sentiments, offering unusually effusive praise for Arundell's development and work ethic. "Henry is a player who has incredible ability running with the ball," Borthwick stated. "His ability to find the try line is excellent but what I've been really impressed by is his attitude to improve other aspects. He has worked exceptionally hard on other areas of his game since the autumn and he has come back to the Six Nations an even better player."
Borthwick further emphasized the balance within his squad, noting, "There's a lot of potential in the whole squad. We have a great level of experience and we have younger players emerging, Henry is one of those."
Looking Ahead to the Calcutta Cup Clash
Arundell will now aim to maintain his starting position for next weekend's crucial Calcutta Cup encounter against Scotland at Murrayfield. Gregor Townsend's Scottish side will be seeking redemption following their surprising opening-round defeat to Italy, setting the stage for another intense Six Nations showdown. England's comprehensive victory over Wales, powered significantly by Arundell's hat-trick, has established them as serious contenders as they pursue their first championship title in six years.
