England prospect Sam Underhill could go on to hit the same heights as Richie McCaw, in the opinion of Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder.
Former All Black Blackadder played alongside former World Cup-winning captain McCaw while also coaching the New Zealand legend at Crusaders.
This summer, he recruited 21-year-old openside flanker Underhill from Ospreys and Blackadder has bestowed some lofty praise upon his young charge, who made his England debut against Argentina in June, by comparing him to a great of the modern game.
“Richie’s core skill was mental toughness. I’ve not seen anyone that had the cardio capacity that he had. He would just go all day,” said Blackadder, who saw Underhill make 25 tackles in 68 minutes on his Bath debut against Northampton Saints last month.
“You see a lot of those traits in Sam.
“He doesn’t stop. He just fires into everything. He is physical, he is hard – he gets up and he does it again.
“His repeated efforts are right up there.
“For Sam, if he plays consistently, the way he played that first game, then there is no reason why he can’t be of that ilk. No reason at all.
“It was not a great night for Bath but it was certainly a great night for him. He was our star performer.
“A lot of sevens over here are big sixes, whereas he is an out-and-out openside, which could be his point of difference.
“I can certainly see what Eddie Jones sees in him.”
Underhill was included in head coach Eddie Jones’ England training camp in Oxford ahead of November’s autumn internationals.
