Back row Ben Earl says he has returned to an England camp buzzing with energy and fresh talent after his summer tour with the British and Irish Lions.
The emergence of a new generation of players has brought a buzz to England's preparations for the new season, says back row Ben Earl.
While Earl and 14 other English players helped the British and Irish Lions secure a series win over Australia, a youthful England squad beat Argentina twice away and thrashed the USA on their summer tour.
Earl was part of a 36-strong squad that met up for a three-day training camp last week.
"It was like two different sides of the coin coming together. It's such an exciting time to be an England player," Earl told BBC Sport.
"With the time difference in Australia, their games would kick off at three in the morning or something. But a lot of the boys would wake up, see the result, and then we'd all be watching the highlights together.
"It wasn't just the results, but also the manner of the performance and the way that certain individuals really stood up and showed they are ready to play for this team.
"Everyone's talking about South Africa and the strength in the depth that they've shown over the Rugby Championship, but you would be hard pushed to find better depth than in our squad.
"You could probably name three XVs and they'd all be a force to be reckoned.
"That's so exciting and it is certainly not lost on me, the magic of wearing that shirt again and competing to play for your country."
Earl is used to having to compete. Although he was called up to the England squad for the first time in summer 2018, his debut only came in February 2020. He had to wait even longer for his first start.
With then England coach Eddie Jones unconvinced by Earl, it was only after 15 appearances as a replacement and Jones being succeeded by Steve Borthwick in late 2022 that he emerged as a first-choice back row.
A series of barnstorming performances en route to the 2023 World Cup semi-finals helped cement his spot.
He started 17 successive England Tests since then, with only his Lions call-up ending the streak.
"This summer, after coming back from the Lions, you realise what it has taken to get you there," Earl said.
"I have a huge amount of gratitude for Steve and (Saracens director of rugby) Mark McCall as the two coaches I have had longest in my career.
"Without those two challenging me, encouraging me, pushing me in different ways, I wouldn't be anywhere near the player that I am today.
"They're never settled and they don't let you settle as a player."
Earl is also being driven on by a clutch of back-row contenders. Guy Pepper, 22, is the latest, impressing off the bench in the summer wins over Argentina.
"Absolutely, that pushes you," said 27-year-old Earl.
"It's a weird transition. I was looking around the back row and I think Sam Underhill was the oldest, but I was second oldest.
"It wasn't long ago that I was by far the youngest. There is an incredible amount of talent.
"Henry Pollock obviously will have picked up such a huge amount of experience on the summer. Guy Pepper is a Premiership winner and was a standout for me over the summer.
"Ben Curry was fantastic and has been fantastic in all the jerseys he's played over the last 18 months or two years.
"And then Chandler Cunningham-South and Ted Hill offer something a little bit different. There's a lot."
Earl's club side Saracens are also well stocked in the back row with Tom Willis, another top performer for England over the summer, Argentina's Juan Martin Gonzalez and Samoa's Theo McFarland as options.
With the exception of the the 2019-20 season - when they received a 105-point deduction for salary cap breaches - and the subsequent Championship campaign, last summer marked the end of Saracens' run of 13 straight qualifications for the top-flight play-offs.
The three-time European champions finished sixth after losing seven of their final 13 games.
They begin this season's Prem campaign at Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday.
"My hunger - our hunger - has never been greater," said Earl.
"A few boys had some long, very reflective summers, and I was certainly one of them."
There was an obvious reminder of the usual Saracens high standards when Earl returned to pre-season after a six-week break.
Owen Farrell has returned to north London after an ill-fated single-season stint with Racing 92 in Paris.
"He just seems so happy in himself. He seems so settled," said Earl.
"But he's still got that same steely demand on a group. He's still got the same impression on the team. He's still a great reader of the game. He's only going to raise our standards, that's for sure."
Earl ran into some more Saracens legends at captain Maro Itoje's summer wedding, with Mako Vunipola, Jackson Wray and George Kruis among the attendees at the traditional Nigerian ceremony and reception.
"It was an amazing day. To see Maro and Mimi having a great time and just be a part of that was awesome," said Earl.
"I've kept the outfit and I am hoping that some of the boys at the club, as and when they're lucky enough to get married, will maybe let me wear that one more time
"For now, I am just walking around the house in it, which is great."
Earl won't be as patient when it comes to wearing an England shirt again.
Category: General Sports
