England World Cup winner Will Greenwood believes Harlequins’ George Lowe can prove size doesn’t matter when it comes to being a starring centre in the Aviva Premiership.

Lowe announced himself on the scene last season with Quins – helping himself to seven tries in 17 league starts after making his Premiership debut against Wasps on September 5 And a barnstorming end of the season – where he grabbed three tries in the last four league games – led to the former Epsom College student collecting the club’s young player and player’s player of the year gongs.

However, Lowe’s emergence was a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing season for Harlequins as they finished down in eighth – a far cry from their second-place finish 12 months earlier.

But former Quins centre Greenwood insists Lowe is only just getting started and has earmarked him to drive the club back up the table – with his small frame reminding him of Wallaby star Matt Giteau.

“George will have a big, big year this season,” said Greenwood, who was helping Aviva showcase their long-term commitment to English rugby at the London Double Header.

“He had a good year last year and he will only get better with the more Premiership rugby he is exposed to.

“He’s got the potential to be a Giteau style player and they both have a similar physique and height.

“He’s got a low centre of gravity and he’s very strong but he really needs to work on his skill set.

“What he does show though is that there is still room for the little guy in the centre if you have the ability to step and play around the meatheads – which he undoubtedly does.”

Conor O’Shea is spoilt for choice in the centre positions at the Stoop this season with Lowe being joined by former British and Irish Lion Ollie Smith from Montpellier and a fit-again Jordan Turner-Hall in contention for the 12 and 13 shirts.

And while Greenwood insists the ram-raiding Turner-Hall and the nimble Lowe compliment each other in the middle of the pitch – he insists the former must still improve if he is to live up to his billing as a future England centre.

“I played alongside Jordan in his first game in the old National One when he was around 17, a very long time ago,” Greenwood added.

“He’s still developing and is hugely muscular player, which is such a benefit in the style of rugby he plays.

“He’s as strong as you get, but he needs to balance his game up a little bit more.

“I want to see him passing with a little bit more accuracy, he’s got a great left foot, but he needs to improve his kicking game.

“He’s a tremendous talent but there are elements that he needs to work on.

“But in the week in week out structure of the Aviva Premiership he’s a top guy to have around your team there is no doubt about it.”

Quins battled back from 13-0 down to lead 16-13 through a try from George Lowe and three penalties from fly-half Nick Evans, but they couldn’t hold on.

And Jones insists his side is out to break its Aviva Premiership duck at Sale Sharks on Friday night.

“We had two players held up over the line and one try ruled out for a marginal forward pass, so it could easily have been a bonus point win,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with the way we are playing we just need to convert the chances we are making and that will come.

“Sale is a tough place to go but we have enough confidence in our ability to have the beating of any team, anywhere.”

Quins’ next three matches: Sept 17 Sale Sharks (a), 25 Exeter Chiefs (h), Oct 2 Newcastle Falcons (h).

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