Ben Te'o was yesterday named in England's squad for their three-match tour of Australia next month.
Leinster's Player of the Season moves to Worcester next season and has been fast-tracked into the England set up by the RFU. That he can be capped so quickly by England is facilitated by his mother being born and raised there.
The 29-year-old would have qualified to play for Ireland by November of next year had he chosen to stay with Leinster.
Back in October, during the World Cup, Te'o - like the rest of us - was sitting on the couch watching as hosts England fell to Wales at Wembley.
Late in that game, England had a chance to level the game through what would have been a tough penalty kick. Instead, England captain at the time Chris Robshaw chose to kick to touch in an attempt to win the match.
It did not work as he had envisaged. England lost 28-25.
Robshaw's decision was the subject of much ridicule, including from his future team mate Te'o.
In somewhat mitigating circumstances, perhaps Te'o is fortunate Eddie Jones replaced Robshaw with Dylan Hartley as captain.
h/t Michael Keenan for alerting us.
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
