Haskell: Itoje 'overqualified' for the back row

9:00 PM GMT

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  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

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  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England for the past two seasons, including their tour to New Zealand
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

BRISBANE, Australia -- England's James Haskell says Maro Itoje will do "outstandingly well" if he is picked in the back row for Saturday's first Test in Brisbane.

It looks increasingly likely that Itoje will be starting at blindside against Australia in a back row that looks set to include Haskell at openside and Billy Vunipola at No. 8. Though Itoje made his England debut from the bench at flanker, all of his three Test starts have come in the locks but Haskell says the young Saracens forward will be comfortable if selected.

"Considering he has won every player [award] at the moment and every time he takes the field, he wins something and every time he has tried once at everything and won it, I think he is overqualified!" Haskell said.

"He has been great, obviously he has played all sorts of positions with Saracens and at the end of the day, and I have said this until I am blue in the face, it is about balance really of a back row.

"It doesn't matter what number you have got on your shirt or what you are doing, the balance of the back-row is far more important and people have got to get their heads around that. So if that was an option then I am sure he would do outstandingly well there."

While there is plenty of interest in what combination Eddie Jones will go for ahead of Saturday, Haskell is on "red alert" over the threats the likely Wallabies back-row of Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper and David Pocock pose but he has stayed focused on what England's back row division will bring to the game.

"You have to take note of everyone, you have to understand what you are expecting and come up with plans to deal with certain aspects of Australia's play full stop, but it is really about us, how well we fit in and how well we play and how we get our game plan and what we can do this week but be prepared," Haskell said. "Whoever gets that opportunity to start has to deliver that on the field."

Away from the pressures surrounding Saturday's Test, Haskell played a key role in Ben Te'o's initiation to the England fold. "We had a little Ant 'n' Dec-style Saturday Takeaway, with Danny Care and Jamie George taking up the roles. We just got him [Te'o] in and asked him a few questions."

Haskell says the "guys have embraced him" into the fold but the acid test will be when Te'o eventually makes his England debut, which could come against Australia on Saturday in Brisbane.

Te'o has previously spoken of his interest in playing for Ireland while he was linked with a move to Super Rugby which would eventually see him become available for Australia but he is now firmly in the England camp. Haskell says he feels Te'o is "100 percent committed" to England.

"I just think that any professional sportsman who has a chance to play at the highest possible level and pull on a shirt for a national team, is going to want to be part of that," Haskell said. "It doesn't matter what accent you've got, what your name is and where you've come from.

"You saw last week how committed Teimana [Harrison] was when he played. He said that he wanted to play for England and he came over here. For me, it is about how you play and acquit yourself. If you're not involved and interested, you'll be quickly found out and Eddie will show you the door. But it is the same for me; if I take my foot off the gas I'll be straight out the window."

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Haskell: Itoje 'overqualified' for the back row