Bath number eight Alfie Barbeary has been likened to former British and Irish Lions Test player CJ Stander after passing his latest England test with flying colours.
The barnstorming back-rower grabbed two classy tries in his side’s 61-29 victory over West Country rivals Gloucester in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, and was later named Player of the Match.
Barbeary is yet to earn his senior Test debut, but has featured for England A in the past and has been called into several England training squads as well.
Glowing praise for Barbeary
The number eight has quickly become a key figure in Bath’s 23 since his switch from Wasps in 2022, and aside from his impressive performance in the 10-try win over the Cherry and Whites – their second West Country derby victory in just over a month – Barbeary has hit another rich vein of form.
That has earned him glowing praise from boss Johann van Graan, who has compared him to Ireland and Lions star Stander, who he previously coached at Munster.
“The reason I signed him two years ago was because of his Test potential,” Van Graan said on Barbeary. “One of the first things I was looking for was ball-carriers and I believe he’s one of the very best.”
“I would probably compare him to someone like CJ Stander. You don’t get a lot of players in the world who can carry in tight spaces, but he gets gainline and dominance (for us) and has this ability to be in the right place at the right time.”
Injuries have been a major speedbump for the former hooker to contend with though since making the move to Bath. He missed a good chunk of his maiden season at the Rec with a knee injury and has also struggled with concussions in the past too, but the Bath head of rugby feels he has still taken great strides forward.
“He’s worked very hard on his game and his fitness,” said Van Graan. “He’s a very important player for us and he had a good game.”
Barbeary faces stern competition right across the back-row, with Tom Willis and Ben Earl both starting at eight for England during the Six Nations and Tom Curry, Chandler Cunningham-South and even Henry Pollock also comfortable at the base of the scrum. However, with the Lions back-row likely to have a heavy English tint it could open up a spot for him in Steve Borthwick’s touring party to the Americas.
This season, the back-rower has notched seven tries in 19 appearances in the Blue, Black and White, just one behind his tally of eight from the previous campaign.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-hopeful-likened-to-british-and-irish-lion-after-latest-test-audition
