Dan's the man

Luger cannot wait to get back to Twickenham

By BBC Sport's Nigel Starmer-Smith

While some England players appear to be suffering a loss of form, England winger Dan Luger, after a series of injury setbacks, looks to be back to his best.

Somehow he does not seem either to court, or receive, the same amount of newspaper column inches as one or two other wing-threequarters I could mention (and thank goodness for that).

But, in my opinion Dan Luger is as good a 'finisher' as there is in the world game.

On current form he should be a 'write-in' in any team selection.

Luger was embarrassed by Quins last defeat

England should make use of him for every one of the 80 or so minutes of a game.

Even amid the tame performance by Harlequins last Sunday in the Heineken Cup, and the big defeat at the hands of classy Castres, it was Luger who provided the individual highlight of the match.

With a combination of terrific acceleration, an eye for a gap, and in the end just sheer pace, he turned five defenders inside out in a sparkling 70-metre try.

It was his only real chance in the game.

"We seemed to start OK," said Luger, "but we fell away badly.

"In the end it was almost embarrassing.

Injury problems

"It wasn't an easy week, coming on top of defeat in Dublin for Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood and myself.

"But I was hoping a good performance back at home, against Castres, would help to erase the memory.

"It's hard to understand why Quins performed so much below par, especially as we'd begun to pick up form, winning four of our last six games.

"But against Castres, good a side though they are, we gave our worst display yet."

No better place to go, no better team to face

Dan Luger on the prospect of facing Australia at Twickenham

Happily, Dan has kept free from injury since rejoining Quins, having had to endure the frustrations last season of missing all bar the Wales match in the Six Nations.

Through injury, he was probably also robbed of a Test place on the Lions Tour.

He was forced to drop out after his two early games, against Western Australia and Queensland Reds, in which he looked on top of his form, scoring four tries.

That disappointment gives added significance to his return to England colours, with the chance to meet world champions Australia at Twickenham on 10 November.

"Having missed out in the summer, I just can't wait to get back out at Twickenham," says Luger.

"No better place to go, no better team to face."

Strangely, in my view, Clive Woodward chose to replace Luger in the recent Ireland match not long after he almost scored a brilliant try.

Denied by a last-ditch lunge and tap-tackle from Peter Stringer, I sensed a try then might have resulted in it being a turning-point in the game in England's favour.

With his early departure, England's most potent finisher was gone.

European recovery

"It's the coach's decision," muses Luger, "but of course it was disappointing to leave the field - I'd hoped I'd be there to stay on and help England take the Grand Slam."

Luger was unlucky to get injured on Lions' duty

For the moment, though, England duties are on hold for Dan for another week, as Quins try to pull off what would be a miraculous recovery by winning at Castres in the away return European fixture.

"Yes, that's a tough one," quips Luger.

"We're better than we showed at the Stoop, and now the pressure's on them because we've got nothing to lose."

A heavy autumn schedule lies ahead for Dan, but life's not all rugby boots, team tactics, training and travel.

"I don't think I could cope with nothing but rugby and training every day," he says.

"That sort of life would be pretty mundane, if not downright boring at times, so I keep myself 'fresh' with involvement in a property development company as a side-line I share with a friend.

"Meanwhile, I'm hoping to stay injury-free, and the last season that happened was the last time I was with Quins.

"So here's hoping for the same again!"

And here's hoping England see fit to make the most of a rare talent on the wing - and this time for as long as they are on the paddock!