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Page last updated at 11:42 GMT, Tuesday, 11 January 2011

Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel is in form - Redpath

James Simpson-Daniel
Simpson-Daniel has scored 56 tries in 151 Premiership appearances

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath believes wing James Simpson-Daniel is close to the best form of his career.

The 28-year-old has scored in his last two Premiership games, serving a timely reminder to England boss Martin Johnson ahead of the 2011 Six Nations.

"He needs to keep working hard and getting on the ball. He's a dangerous runner. He must be assertive enough to go and demand the ball," Redpath said.

"In the last couple of weeks James is getting there in terms of consistency."

The 2007/8 Premiership player of the year has long been lauded as deserving more England caps but so far has played just 10 Test matches for his country - his last appearance coming in 2007.

The Cherry and Whites flyer was part of England's Churchill Cup squad last summer and was named in the Saxons squad for this season.

Gloucester team-mate Luke Narraway told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he finds it hard to accept Simpson-Daniel, known as 'Sinbad' at Kingsholm, has been overlooked by his country so often.

"He's a class act. He's a phenomenon," the number eight said. "How he hasn't got more recognition in terms of England caps, I can't believe it."

England team manager Johnson names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.

In the 2010 autumn internationals Northampton's Chris Ashton, Sale's Mark Cueto and Bath's Matt Banahan were used on the wings - although Simpson-Daniel was called up as injury cover for the South Africa game but did not make the match-day squad.



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see also
Gloucester 37-23 Exeter
08 Jan 11 |  English
Lock Attwood handed nine-week ban
06 Jan 11 |  Gloucester
Leeds 15-13 Gloucester
01 Jan 11 |  English


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