We'll make a lion out of lamb, says team-mate

Jun 3 2009 By Tim Street, Surrey Herald

DELON Armitage reckons signing for London Irish will be the making of Ryan Lamb.

The England Saxons fly-half joined Irish last month after being released by Gloucester following a turbulent few years.

Tipped as a future England fly-half, Lamb fell out of favour at Gloucester last season, and has twice been arrested amid assault allegations in the past two years.

But new team-mate Armitage insists moving to Irish will give Lamb a fresh start and help him recapture his past form.

Armitage said: "Sometimes you just need to get out of your comfort zone. Ryan had been at Gloucester for years having come through their academy, and this will be a new challenge for him, away from what he knows.

"He has a great kicking game too, which fits into the style of rugby we're trying to play.

"After losing Shane Geraghty, we needed to bring in some strong fly-halves, and in Ryan and Chris Malone, we have done so.

"It was definitely a position which needed strengthening before next season, and now we need to do the same at prop."

The England international saw last season's stunning showing as the culmination of three years' hard work at the club.

He said: "It wasn't so long ago that we were scrapping at the bottom of the table, rather than going for the top four.

"We have come a long way in the last three years, and a lot of it has been down to a change in our way of playing, with Toby Booth at the centre of it.

"We like to throw the ball around and go for the five point wins rather than three."

Armitage has backed his younger brother and London Irish teammate, Steffon, to join him back in the England team and add to his sole cap from this year's Six Nations.

He also gave notice of the next addition to the family's rugby dynasty.

"We have another younger brother called Guy, who is at Wellington College at the moment, but looks like being a promising player."