Alex Goode: Secret to Saracens' success and Six Nations predictions

Sport360 staff 17:54 03/02/2017
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  • Alex Goode.

    Alex Goode, the Premiership Player of the Year, was in Dubai last week to share his expertise at the HSBC Rugby Festival Dubai.

    The 28-year-old missed out on selection for the Six Nations and has since been sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained earlier this month.

    Despite the disappointment of missing out on Eddie Jones’ squad, Goode talks to Sport360 about what makes his club Saracens so successful and his thoughts ahead of the Six Nations.

    Saracens are flying this season again in the Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup. Is it tough to keep the motivation going after such a successful season last year?

    I think we’ve got a really good group of boys who are highly competitive and hugely motivated to get better. I think it’s also further enhanced by several players who play international rugby or others who want to get into their international teams. There is a want to improve and get better. I think the more impressive thing is there has been nine front-line players out the last few weeks and lots of injuries, and yet the team has put in some huge results.

    We talk about being tight as the group. We set out being like a family and that closeness gets us through tough periods. It’s more about not letting anyone down. We ultimately believe that if people treat us well, then in return, we work really hard. From my best mates on the wing, you don’t want to let them down.

    Your the reigning Premiership Player of the Year, but unfortunately you weren’t selected for the Six Nations squad. What do you have to do for Eddie Jones to select you again?

    For me, I just have to make it impossible for him not to pick me. I just have to keep working on my game and keep showcasing my skills in the big games, the big European games, and show my point of differences, and what I bring to the party. I’m very lucky that at Saracens we play in these big European Cup games. I can keep knocking on the door and that’s all I can do on my part.

    I honestly believe that throughout my life – I haven’t been first choice and not many people have – but those setbacks make you the person you are and give you the extra motivation, they force you to improve or you won’t get picked again. I certainly feel stronger from the setbacks I had at an early age and I hope this one again will be the same. I believe this will be. If you don’t get picked you have to work incredibly hard to get back in. The fire burns bright inside me more than ever and the want to represent my country again.

    England and Ireland are in solid form again going into this edition of the Six Nations. What’s your assessment ahead of the start of the competition? 

    I think England are favourites. There are injuries, but the squad is strong. There is a lot of strength in depth, but there comes a point where too many injuries can be disruptive. The great thing about Eddie’s team is that it’s been the same team for the last year. Injuries might play an impact, that’s what worries me in the Ireland game.

    Who do you think will win?

    If England had all their players out, I’d say England would win. I would be weary of Ireland in that final game. I hope it comes down to that. If it’s a Grand Slam decider – England going for the most consecutive wins in history and its St. Patrick’s weekend in Dublin – it will be worth the spectacle alone.

    That last game against Ireland will be everything and at the moment I don’t know which way it will go. Ireland are looking good, they are at home, Munster and Leinster are going well. It’s going to between those two.

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