Arundell cools hype after electric debut sparks Campese comparison

As England wrestle with their structures, their systems and seemingly their straitjackets given the paucity of their attack for large parts of the first Test defeat in Australia, it is refreshing to hear Henry Arundell’s reminder that sport is at its best when played on instinct. “There was no thinking to it, I just tried to find space, get off the tackle and try to score.”

Rewatch the last 10 minutes of last Saturday’s first Test in Perth and Eddie Jones would do well to keep Arundell’s mind clear for good. That may sound overly simplistic but all the best players have an uncanny ability to make things look easy. Australia had the game won by the time Arundell scored his debut try but nonetheless he reduced Andrew Kellaway and Noah Lolesio to the slapstick – colliding in a manner of which Laurel and Hardy would have been proud – before dashing into the left-hand corner and evoking memories of Jason Robinson’s try for the British & Irish Lions in Brisbane, where England now find themselves, 21 years ago.

Had Lolesio not knocked Freddie Steward’s pass on soon after, Arundell would surely have had a second – he was on his own 22 line but such is his pace there would have been no need to click those red boots of his together three times to disappear down the wing. Indeed, the 19-year-old still holds apprentice status in the squad but help beleaguered England turn the series around and Arundell will be heralded as the Wizard of Oz.

That may be jumping the gun but it is hard to remember a debut that has lived up to, or even exceeded, the hype. Danny Cipriani’s virtuoso performance against Ireland in 2008 springs to mind, as do Robinson’s fireworks in 2001 against Australia, even if both of those were first Test starts as