Full-back Joe Carpenter says he wants to follow the example of Sale team-mate Tom Roebuck in claiming a regular England spot when he makes his Test debut against the United States on Saturday.
Carpenter toured Japan and New Zealand last summer with England, without winning a cap, and was left out of Steve Borthwick’s autumn and Six Nations selections.
However, with Marcus Smith on Lions duty and George Furbank out injured, he has been part of the squad this summer, scoring a try in the non-cap warm-up match against a France XV last month.
Roebuck, Carpenter’s former house-mate, was frustrated to not get more game time in Japan and New Zealand last summer, but made his first England start against Wales in the Six Nations and has four tries in his past four Tests.
“I’m excited to rip in,” Carpenter told BBC Sport.
“An opportunity to play for England is massive and, whatever game it is, it’s an opportunity to put my best foot forward and hopefully stay in the squad and get more opportunities.
“It’s great to be in this environment with Tom and see him thrive. I think he’s on five or six caps now and so I’m massively proud of him.
“We lived in academy houses together, and then moved into town together before eventually splitting off to live with our partners. He’s definitely my best mate in terms of rugby.
“To have someone that close to you doing it, it just pushes you to be better and get there with him.
“Unfortunately, he’s not playing this weekend. It would have been cool to share the field with him in an England shirt.
“But, I’m hoping that time will come at some point.”