Jordan: Thank heavens for Evans

Jordan Turner-Hall has hailed the contribution of former All Black fly-half Nick Evans to Harlequins' impressive first half of the season.

Evans's arrival at the end of last season on a £320,000-a-year salary was criticised by some, including New Zealand coach Graham Henry, who claimed he would block the progress of young English talent.

But Turner-Hall, whose outstanding form at centre has seen him elevated to the England Saxons squad, believes the signing of Evans (left) has had the opposite effect.

He said: "Nick has brought my game on. He is one of the best fly-halves in the country, as he showed against Stade Francais, with a late dropped goal, and against Leicester, when he had a kick to draw the game.

"It gives you belief when you see someone who doesn't crack under pressure."

Meanwhile, Leicester prop Julian White was last night called into England's Six Nations squad as a replacement for the suspended Matt Stevens.