LONDON Irish lineout leader George Nott is confident of backing up last week's fine 34-8 win at Agen as his side aim to boost their Challenge Cup bid.
The Exiles were imperious in France's south-west, racking up five tries to set themselves up for today's test against further Top 14 opposition in Pau.
“Ask any player and they'll tell you a win in France is huge, so to bring that result home was a real big confidence boost for us,” Nott told The Rugby Paper.
“It'll be nice to be sitting at the top of the Challenge Cup table if we can back it up and this is definitely a competition we want to do well in this year.
“You never know what French teams will bring and Pau will be unpredictable, but we're just worrying about ourselves and trying to improve weekon- week. It would be good to build further momentum going into next week's away game against Bath.” A Junior World Cup winner with England U20s in 2016, Nott's early career at Sale stalled. But the Llandudno- born lock has been revelling in the responsibility he has now been granted at Irish since deputising for injured Aussie Adam Coleman, who is on the bench today.
“Restart in August was good for me,” says Nott. “As unfortunate as it (the Covid layoff) was, for me personally it was a great opportunity to string a few games together and I managed to play in all bar one of them.
“I just developed and my confidence developed – and once the coaches put their trust in you, the better you play. That's carried on into this season and calling the lineouts has been a big thing for me – I'm really enjoying the responsibility of that.” Whilst leaving Sale in 2019 was a huge decision, Nott, 24, has no regrets. He explained: “It was a massive decision and my girlfriend's still living in Warrington which is not ideal, but I love it down here in London and it's a great set of lads at Irish.
“The club have really taken me under their wing and while I'll always be grateful for my time at Sale, I did hit a bit of a crossroads.
I struggled with injuries for a couple of years and fell out of favour, so sometimes you need to hit the refresh button.
“Luckily, Irish gave me that opportunity and I haven't looked back since.” Nott must keep on performing now because with Coleman nearing full fitness and fellow Aussie Rob Simmonds on deck after flying in directly after the Rugby Championship, Irish's lock stocks are set for a New Year injection of international class.
Nott is unfazed, though, adding: “There's competition but you want people in your position who are the very best, not just to learn off but to drive me on as well. You don't want to be selected by default because that will catch up with you.
“I want the best competition in order to develop my career.” Matt Rogerson is back to captain Irish, alongside another returnee Blair Cowan in the back row and Paddy Jackson at fly-half.
Pau narrowly beat Worcester in their opening fixture 24-20. Irish winger Eoghan Barrett and prop Nicolas Corato retain their places having scored two of Pau's three tries last week.
TEAMS
LONDON IRISH: Homer; Stokes, Rona, P Cokanasiga, Parton; Jackson, Phipps; Dell, Creevy, Chawatama, Nott, Mafi, Rogerson (c), Cowan, Tuisue
Replacements: Matu'u, Elrington, Green, Coleman, Munga, Englefield, Atkins, Meakes
PAU: Le Gall; Barrett, Couchinave, Dumoulin, Septar; Debaes, Le Bail; Odishvili, Barka, Corato, Marchois, Ramsay (c), Tagitagivalu, Gunther, Ugena
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Fisi'ihoi, Hamadache, Delannoy, Texier, Marques, Fumat, Votu
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
