Sevens elementary success for Marcus Watson

DUBAI // Marcus Watson reminded the English rugby community that there is more than one Watson to be excited about after stealing the show for the sevens side in Dubai this weekend.
The playmaker, 22, crossed for four tries as the side who won the Emirates International Trophy in 2010 and 2012 finished fourth this time around.
As the elder brother of three young rugby prospects, he was probably grateful to retrieve some air time from his juniors. Younger brother Anthony was one of the outstanding players as England won the Under 20 World Cup during the summer.
He is seen as one of the brightest prospects in the English game by Stuart Lancaster, the England XVs coach, who called him up to train with the senior squad for the recent autumn series.
Marcus was also highly rated when he first broke onto the international scene with England's sevens side. Injuries checked his progress, but his outstanding form at The Sevens this weekend was a reminder of his rich talent.
Whether he rejoins his brother in bidding for recognition in XVs rugby is a moot point, though.
"For me, my sole focus is sevens and the Olympics is in the back of my mind," he said. "But at the same time, a little bit inside me wants to play XVs as well, so I'm a little stuck. I'm just happy to play rugby at the moment and keep getting better as a player.
"Sevens has helped me a lot and I'd like to think that if I went back to XVs, I'd be a much better player than I was."
England's coach, Simon Amor, is unsure whether he will be able to add the younger Watson's firepower to the ranks of his side in the abbreviated format.
"I thought Marcus Watson was in outstanding form today," Amor said. "Anthony is doing outstanding stuff with Bath and is knocking on the door of the England XVs side. "He is a super, super talent and this is the same old question about sevens: can it help a young player's development?
"Of course it can, but if they are getting developed elsewhere as well, you have to work out what is best for them."
Amor was overseeing his second series tournament in his new role as England coach, after a third-place finish in Gold Coast last month, and he thinks his side have improved.
"The challenge with sevens is always the fact that if you make progress, so does the rest of the world as well," he said.
"The others have upped their game as well, so we have to go back, have a look at it and make another step up for Port Elizabeth.
"We have to improve the good stuff and drop down the naive stuff and that will come with time and experience."
pradley@thenational.ae
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