Eastmond has talent to burn

FORMER Radclyffe pupil Kyle Eastmond is starting to make a big impression at Bath after switching codes to rugby union.

RUGBY UNION:

Oldham’s Kyle Eastmond is loathe to accept comparisons with World Cup winner Robinson.

After a slow start to life in the 15-man format, Eastmond is thriving in his first full season with Bath at outside centre.

His explosive pace and pint-sized predatory skills have led to inevitable comparisons with Robinson, who by contrast made a breathtaking start to life in union from league by scoring a try for the Lions against Australia in 2001.

Eastmond, who attended Radclyffe School, remains a work in progress but already Stuart Lancaster and his resurgent England have been keeping a watchful eye on the 23 year old, who featured in both the recent Saxons internationals.

Warren Gatland has made little secret of the fact that he will be using Six Nations form to gauge who will make this summer’s British & Irish Lions trip to Australia and not since Will Greenwood in 1997 has there been an uncapped international player among the tourists.

But Robinson, who lit up the last trip to Australia 12 years ago, making his first Lions start before his first England start, believes there’s no reason why Eastmond’s international bow can’t come Down Under if he continues his current irrepressible form.

He said: “I started a Lions Test before I started an England Test and it was because of that I burst on to the international scene — hopefully one of these guys can do the same.”