Photo: David Davies/PA
In the middle of last summer, as England wrapped up their preparations for the Rugby World Cup, Jamie George hosted a question and answer session and was asked what his favorite entertainment was on the way to matches. The implication is that he might have a favorite TV show, a specific playlist, a podcast or rather bury his head in a book. But his answer goes a long way toward explaining why he was appointed England captain. "In general, I'm a people person. I like to sit next to good, interesting people and talk."
Speaking to those who know George best, it is clear that his ability to communicate both on and off the pitch is one of the qualities that sets him apart. His director of rugby at Saracens, Mark McCall, has raved about George's 'emotional intelligence', while according to Jackson Wray, his former team-mate, ex-housemate and someone he joined the club with at the age of 14, it is his ability to " flow between different groups" that stands out.
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According to Wray, this was a trait that had been evident since those early days at the Saracens Academy. Then, after a Hertfordshire side featuring George and Owen Farrell defeated Wray's Essex in a national final, the class of 2008 - also featuring Will Fraser and George Kruis - was formed. They would go on to create a Saracens dynasty that McCall has admitted is nearing the end; it was only Tuesday evenings together then, but George's credentials were clear.
"He was a leader with his voice and his actions, even at that age," Wray said. "The first thing you need is respect for the people around you and he had that from the age of fourteen. He led from the front, whether in the gym or in training, he was always incredibly skilled and talented. I was probably late to the game, a little bit behind in that sense, it was always clear that he was going to go on and do great things.
'It's also the way he did it. His ability to move between groups and therefore have confidence, whether we started playing at the age of 18 when we were just starting in the first team, or now as a senior figure, his ability to connect at all levels players in the group is something he is. always have."
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McCall also speaks of George's self-confidence, and it is clear that when he speaks in public, on behalf of Saracens or England, his words resonate. McCall and Wray also speak of someone who has shown leadership throughout his career and learned from his former Saracens captains including Steve Borthwick, Alistair Hargreaves, Brad Barritt and Farrell.
"He just connects with everyone, whether you're the youngest on the team or the oldest," McCall said. "He has great self-confidence and that is important for a leader because he doesn't feel the need to do it all himself. He will share the burden. He has a great understanding of the game. On the pitch, leadership is probably sometimes most important and Jamie has the right insight and tactical awareness."
George was a popular appointment to replace his good friend Farrell for many reasons. He freshens things up without Borthwick having to completely sweep the new broom and as a senior hooker in the side - especially since Luke Cowan-Dickie's withdrawal - he is guaranteed to start. He commands respect from his peers, has a light touch and is able to find the right balance between pulling away from teammates when the moment calls for it and flipping the switch as the senior figure of the playing team. As someone who knew him well says: "He went from social secretary to captain."
George is an avid cricket follower and, according to Wray, also a handy footballer. A versatile sportsman, then, who honed his versatile skills at Haileybury University, where his father, Ian, a former Northampton and London scrum-half, was director of sports. "It goes back to that point: He connects with everyone, partly because he has a lot of different interests," Wray says.
"He is doing very well with his physio clinic, which he started with his friend from school. [But] when push comes to shove, he's incredibly competitive. He is proud of his achievements in his individual field. As a leader, this is crucial. You have to do your job and do it well."
As much as George was the logical appointment, Borthwick did his research before completing it. "We did this research before the World Cup," he said. "It was a network analysis, for lack of a better term. It was actually an idea I got from [Burnley manager] Vincent Kompany. You basically give the players a series of questions. And then place the top three players you turn to in this situation. What it effectively delivers is this network of how everyone connects, and who connects the most with whom. And the number of people who have had contact with Jamie George is enormous."
Despite overtures from French Top 14 clubs, George has committed to Saracens for another two years, making him all the more fitting as captain in the eyes of the Rugby Football Union. He made his debut for Saracens in 2009 but was left behind Schalk Brits and John Smit and had to bide his time before establishing himself in the first team. It was a similar story for England, with Tom Youngs and Dylan Hartley, then captain, keeping George out of the squad, and he still holds the national record for the number of appearances as a substitute before finally coming on.
"Some people want to go out on loan, but what he had was real exposure to the dressing room at half-time, the dressing room after the game," says Wray. "The preparation, the bus trips to competitions. All the little things that, even though he didn't play as much rugby as he would have liked, you learn an awful lot from the way people lead, how they deal with pressure at half-time, how they turn things around. He has learned invaluable lessons."
So how will George differ from Farrell? The temptation is to assume that the differences will be numerous, but Wray is not so sure. "They are both incredibly competitive. We had arguments during training, we argued all the time, we fought a lot, because we are incredibly competitive and we want to win. So there are a lot of similarities between them, the way they lead and the way they play.
"You follow someone because you respect them, you like them and you know they will deliver. They are both incredibly talented rugby players, they sense what is needed. Owen is very direct, everyone knows where he or she stands, what is important and Jamie does that in a slightly different way, but you know what you get from both."