A Cymru catalyst

STUART WALMSLEY explains what it could mean for the Wiltshire born centre, and how omission has allowed Bassett's Mike Baxter to focus on a club role

FORMER Devizes School student Simon Whatling will help England defend their U21 Six Nations title tomorrow when he dons the English Rose against the Welsh in Newport.

The selection, made yesterday from the squad's training camp at Bath University, looms as a key moment in the 20-year-old's career.

Based at Bath until he was set adrift by the South West Premiership club last season, Whatling has battled for notoriety at newly promoted Worcester throughout this campaign, and was understandably chuffed to be included among the elite 22 in England's last junior development phase yesterday.

"It's a great feeling, especially after everything that's happened in the last year," he said.

Initially a 33 man squad, Whatling and Wootton Bassett junior and Bath academy scrum-half Mike Baxter attended the initial three-day session at Bath University from January 17 to 19, after which 26 players were retained for this week's final Six Nation's preparation.

With four number nines in the initial selection, Baxter was unfortunately a casualty of the first cut, but Whatling made it through to this week's camp and will be in line for starting spot in the centres against Wales when coach Jim Mallinder today announces the 15 players to run on at Newport.

"I've never been too sure whether I was in or out, the whole camp is very structured and it's really hard to do anything to stand out at all. About all you can do is try not to be late for anything," he said.

"Now I know I'm involved it's a relief and, it might be an old clich, but I'm just going to take every game as it comes."

Whatling is now in line for a gruelling schedule over the next six weeks with matches against France, Scotland and Italy at Northampton, and a trip to Dublin to face the Irish.

But he's no shoe in for the entire campaign, and must keep performing to stay in the side. The squad will reconvene at Bath University before each match where a selection of 26 will again be whittled down to 22 by coaches Mallinder and assistant Nigel Redman, with input from manager Peter Drewett.

"It's not the first time I've played for England, but I see this as a huge test physically and mentally. It will be a great challenge," Whatling said.

After playing junior rugby for Devizes and Chippenham, Whatling went through the pilot academy scheme at Bath but, after serving the U19s, struggled for a place in the senior team with a glut of centres at the club including World Cup winner Mike Tindall.

Worcester expressed an interest and Whatling moved north, but while he has been a regular for their Zurich A League side, he hopes his fourth junior England jersey will convince the club to finally sign him.

"I'm one of the young players coming through the system, so hopefully Worcester will take note of that, and this selection will certainly help."

"Hopefully it might help me secure a contract, or even make other clubs sit up and take notice."

While Whatling's club situation isn't entirely as he would like it, Baxter is a fixture in the first team squad at Bath this season, made an explosive full debut at scrum-half in December against Harlequins in the Powergen Cup win and also played a full Heineken Cup match in France against Bourgoin on the wing.

He is also an Intermediate National Academy squad member, but reputation and past achievements seemingly counted for little in this national selection.

"I guess it was a bit of a shock not to be included," said Baxter after his training session with the Bath first team at Lambridge yesterday.

"It was a great chance, but c'est la vie, it's just one of those things and you get on with it. They chose to go with other people this time and I can deal with that.

"It just gives me more chance to train at Bath."

Baxter's current contract expires at the end of this season at Bath, and he said his focus now is giving the club no option but to offer him another deal.

"I'm certainly looking to sign quite soon and I will probably base myself at Bath from next year," said the 20-year-old who still spends the majority of his time at the family home in Huntsland, Wootton Bassett.

With the injury situation at Bath, Baxter seemed confident after training yesterday of a spot on the bench for the Premiership clash against Leicester on Saturday at the Rec.

He is also not out of the running for an England U21 jersey and stands a good chance of a recall with a 26 player squad reconvening before each match, especially with his close proximity to the national squad's base at Bath University

If he doesn't play for England this season, Whatling could give Baxter some advice on overcoming disappointment, and he said family support from parents David and Lynda, who still live in the family home in Lawrence Close, Devizes, made his reality check at Bath much easier to deal with.

"It really made me start treating rugby as a job, a club can put you up and down as they please, you've just got to deal with it," Whatling said.

A strong performance for England North against France East on November 24 last year, when England's U21 hopefuls were given the chance to impress coaching hierarchy in the now annual cross channel representative fixture, was the main factor in Whatling's selection for the initial 33 man squad.

His stocky build lends itself more to the number 12 jersey than the 13, but he can also play fly-half," manager Drewett said.

"He's versatile, he can also play 10, and I think that has given him more vision as a centre.

"His passing accuracy is good off both sides, his footwork is good and so is his defence."

Praise also comes from his former teacher at Devizes School, now Devizes Sports College, Sue Marshall.

"He is the most talented student I have ever taught and I'm chuffed to bits he's made England under 21s," said the present day sportsmaster at the school.

"He's a lovely lad."

Rob Alford, now Chippenham head coach, also reserved some praise for his former charge, who he coached at junior level.

"He's got big passes off both hands and a nice boot. He can play that Mike Catt sort of role wider out if they opt for that strategy of having almost two fly halves.

"He's a very good footballer, he has the ball skills for a fly-half, and I think they should be concentrating on that really, I'm not so sure he's tall enough for the centres."

Having captained England A at U16 level and also at U18s when he was a year young, Whatling identification as a strong leader was also a factor in his inclusion.

"Attitude is a huge part of selection. If you look at the players who have made it on the world stage, their mental approach to the game is generally a major factor in their success," Drewett said.

"While we realise there is plenty of competition for places in the squad we consider how the guys work with each other for a common goal.

"Being able to make the right decision under pressure or at a crucial moment in a game is a great asset in a player, however big or small they are."

The squad travels to Wales thisafternoon in preparation for tomorrow's opening match of the campaign after a final training session at Bath thismorning.

Having only recently been appointed coach of England's U21 squad, Mallinder is new to the role himself, but feels his side have a strong chance of being crowned the best junior team team in Europe for a second year running.

"Although there have been a few injuries we've had the strength in depth to cover and the players we have selected are a really talented bunch.

"We're all excited at the prospect of seeing this new group play their first game together.

"England faced Wales three times last season in the Six Nations and World Championships and although we won each time they were a very difficult team to play and this year we face them on their own territory."