Matt Banahan

THE man who took England to within a whisker of World Cup victory in 2007 has been heaping praise on Jerseyman Matt Banahan ahead of this week’s selection for the autumn internationals.

Brian Ashton, instrumental in taking Banahan (22) from London Irish, and the second row, to Bath and a winger’s berth, was giving his views in the Independent on the approach needed in top flight rugby, when he mentioned the former Les Quennevais student.

Banahan, who made a sensational try-scoring impact when making his England debut this summer, is many pundits’ favourite to get the nod from manager Martin Johnson to start in the No 11 shirt against Australia at Twickenham on 7 November.

Wrote Ashton: ‘I was delighted to see Matt playing so well last weekend. I’ve known the lad for years, switched him from lock to wing as a teenager, and was thrilled for him when he made his England debut against Argentina during the summer.’