By Paddy von Behr

PHIL Keith-Roach knows how to put together a World Cup-winning scrum and in Davey Wilson he believes England have found an important cornerstone.

South Shields-born Wilson has long been England’s second in command at tight head prop, playing a supporting role for Dan Cole since his 2009 debut.

But when a bulging disc dumped Cole out of this year’s Six Nations, Wilson grabbed the opportunity – and he clearly has no intention of letting it go.

The 29-year-old, who joined Bath from Newcastle Falcons five years ago, will start his seventh straight game for Stuart Lancaster’s side on Saturday and his fourth on the bounce against world champions New Zealand.

And Keith-Roach – scrum coach when the Red Rose lifted the Webb Ellis trophy back in 2003 – insists Wilson’s rise to prominence could be England’s most valuable, less than a year out from the World Cup.

“You need two guys competing for position and in a way you don’t really want to mind who is playing – you don’t want a gap between them,” he said. “Cole has proven it and now Wilson has proven it as well.

“I think he is exceptional. Everybody knew he was a raw talent when he was about 17 but he was a late developer. He made it gradually, step-by-step, every year and he has really established himself in the last three years and he has really looked the part.

“He is a terrific prop and seems to be a very solid, strong character and he helps give England that foundation and solidity in the scrum. When Cole is back they will have two really good guys.

“If you are going to be one of the best international teams in the world you need more than one truly international tight head.

“Otherwise you are one injury away from a big problem and it goes back through the whole team if your scrum is a bit under pressure.

“Not every game has gone perfectly for him. I think it was almost unexpectedly against Wasps, they were just not in the zone that day and their scrum wasn’t quite in the zone, but I think he is a pretty determined guy.”

While a tight hold on the No.3 shirt represents progression for Wilson, toppling the All Blacks would no doubt be much sweeter after three consecutive defeats in June left Lancaster’s side frustrated.

This weekend they have the opportunity to put one over New Zealand – as they did two years ago in triumphant fashion – and Keith-Roach believes Wilson and co are in with an excellent opportunity.

“In generations past people would come across the All Blacks, who almost had mythical qualities, and only play them once every ten years,” he added. “If your international career was perhaps four or five years, you wouldn’t play against them at all.

“The way to make them beatable is to play against them more often – England realise they are human and they can be beaten.”

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