NEW Gloucester recruit Matt Kvesic can lead a return to the Day of the Jackal for both club and country, believes England boss Stuart Lancaster.
Openside flanker Kvesic is a natural turnover hunter and an accomplished exponent of the 'jackal' technique.
Next season at Gloucester he will link up with mentor Andrew Stanley, who recruited him to the Worcester Warriors Academy.
And he will also fall under the wing of Kingsholm's evergreen back-rower Andy Hazell.
Both Gloucester stalwarts have made their name in the very same groundhog mould as 21-year-old Kvesic.
England head coach Lancaster has tipped him to follow in their stead and usher in a new era of ball-stealing loose-forwards.
Lewis Moody was the last previous scavenger incumbent for England, and before that a sizeable gap sits between him and World Cup-winner Neil Back.
Saracens' Will Fraser and Harlequins' Luke Wallace are etched of the same material as Kvesic.
So all of a sudden, after a dearth at international level, now Lancaster believes he could have a clutch of top-class true sevens.
Gloucester have hardly lacked in that department given Hazell's longevity.
But the 35-year-old has already admitted next term could be his last at his sole and hometown club.
While Kvesic is primed to slot into that Gloucester role then, he also has a big opportunity with England this summer – starting with his first senior international outing against the Barbarians at Twickenham tomorrow (kick-off 1pm).
"The ability to get over the ball, turn over ball, but also keep the continuity and be the link player," explained Lancaster, "it's an area we've wanted to build more depth in that position.
"The likes of Matt, Will Fraser and Luke Wallace, there's young players coming through there now, and it's certainly something I'm keen to see.
"And Matt's got a great opportunity on this tour.
"Tomorrow it's an opportunity for him to go toe to toe with Jonathan Poff who is a genuine openside as well."
Harlequins skipper Chris Robshaw has been Lancaster's ever-present openside.
But after missing out on British Lions selection, Robshaw has given a summer off by England as they build for the future on their three-match South America tour.
Lancaster admits he does crave a cast-iron openside in his strongest line-up – but only if that adds the best balance to his back-row.
He continued: "In an ideal world you would want that natural seven, but you often don't get that.
"And certainly from my point of view Chris Robshaw was my best ball carrier, my best defender and probably hit more breakdowns that anyone else.
"So he's certainly done a good job for us.
"When you come to select your side it's about balancing your back-row, and part of the selection decisions we made around the Six Nations were based around availability.
"We lost both number eights, and Ben Morgan was a big loss to us.
"So it's about balance, who is in form and fitness at the time.
"The debate will continue right up to the autumn internationals, but what you do is select on the players you have available.
"And from my point of view one of the primary objectives is to develop depth and options in certain positions.
"In my time as head coach I've probably only really picked Chris in that openside position, so this is an opportunity for others, with Chris getting a rest, and certainly an opportunity for Matt."
