When Raffi Quirke scored a try in training after returning to Sale this week, his team-mates mobbed him. ‘They were trying to recreate that celebration at Twickenham,’ said the scrum-half.
His stunning strike against the Springboks a week ago propelled England to a momentous home win over the world champions. It also provided ammunition for banter back at his club.
‘Everyone’s really happy for me — even the South African lads here,’ he said. ‘But they keep telling me I need to work on my diving skills and they’ve all been saying, “What were those faces you were pulling?!”’
Raffi Quirke scored a try against South Africa last week as England beat the world champions
For the 20-year-old from Manchester, last weekend’s grand occasion at the national stadium — his own eye-catching contribution and the manic aftermath — has been a surreal and profound experience.
‘Obviously, it is a dream come true,’ he said. ‘It is a cliche, but that is literally all I had dreamed about, so doing it is really surreal.
‘I keep watching replays of the try on Twitter and thinking, “I can’t believe this has actually happened”. It feels like an out-of-body experience. It is absolutely bonkers.’
The 20-year-old broke clear of Springboks players to finish off a fantastic England move
Quirke joked his teammates have given him a bit of stick over his diving skills
The Sale player's try came with just 15 minutes left in England's 27-26 win over South Africa
Quirke finished off an outstanding, clinical and cleverly-conceived England attack.
His long, sharp pass infield from a lineout, with 15 minutes remaining, set the wheels in motion.
Henry Slade sent Joe Marchant clear and Quirke had raced up in support, to take the pass and scorch clear to the line.
‘We spoke at half-time about that exact move, so I had an inkling we would make a break — which is why I ran that cheat line,’ he said. ‘I got the ball from Marchant and I just thought, “There’s no way anyone is going to catch me”.
'I was on autopilot.
'I didn’t even think about trying to get under the sticks, I just wanted to get the ball down.’
A large contingent of family and friends had travelled to London to watch Quirke.
He took all the tickets he was allowed and gave one to Owen Lucas, his former coach at St John’s Primary School in Chorlton.
‘He let me play with Year 6s in tournaments when I was in Year 3,’ said Quirke. ‘He backed me a lot.’
This is a talented rookie who has burst to prominence at a time when several scrum-halves are jostling to emerge as the long-term successor to Ben Youngs — England’s Test centurion No 9.
Quirke has benefited from the Leicester veteran’s guidance since joining up with the Red Rose squad.
The try temporarily put England ahead before Marcus Smith's late penalty clinched the game
At Sale, he has been mentored by the club’s Springbok icon, Faf de Klerk. The South African master has helped to develop a formidable
