Saracens’ latest England international, George Kruis, recognises he has broken into Stuart Lancaster’s squad at the right time with a home World Cup less than a year away.

The Saracens second row made his debut for England as a first-half replacement for Courtney Lawes in Saturday’s 24-21 defeat by New Zealand.

The 24-year-old said: “There are still a couple of second rows injured, so I guess the main goal would be to try to get in front of them. It is the time of opportunity and there are some very exciting times in the next ten months and I am just trying to put my hand up for it.”

Asked what representing his country at a home World Cup would mean, he replied: “It would be massive. With all the support and your friends and family so close, it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Kruis, who has previously represented England Under-20s and Saxons, is one of several Saracens representatives in Lancaster’s squad for the QBE autumn internationals and believes being around familiar faces has been a “massive” help.

“Owen (Farrell) and Brad (Barritt) are two very well established England players, so it is nice to be able to ask them if I ever need anything, but at the same time you have got to be able to form your own relationships.

“You play each other week-in, week-out in the Premiership so you know the faces. At the same time, they make a big deal about your first cap and you have to say what the shirt means to the team,” explains Kruis.

It was a highly-charged atmosphere at Twickenham on Saturday, the day before Remembrance Sunday and with opponents New Zealand performing their traditional Haka prior to kick-off, but the 6ft 6ins forward was far from overawed by the occasion.

“It would be odd if you weren’t nervous, but I just enjoyed it really. You have just got to smile about the whole occasion really, rather than shy away from it, because you don’t get those things too often, so I definitely tried to embrace it.

“It was a very proud moment for myself and my family. My brother travelled from Hong Kong to watch me which was quite nice. It was a big occasion; the whole bus journey in was nice – seeing all the fans from the gate to the stadium.”

And following defeat to the current world champions, Kruis believes there is merit to be had in testing yourself against the best.

He mused: “They are all going to be tough teams. With the world champions straight up first it was nice and if you do alright against them then it bodes well. I was definitely thrown in the deep end and I really enjoyed it.

“I was quite happy with my game. It is the realisation that if you make an error it is magnified on the main stage and against such a good team, they will punish you for the smallest of things, so it is a learning curve really.”

Kruis will find out today (Thursday) whether he has retained his place in the squad for Saturday’s match with South Africa. Lancaster is hopeful Lawes, who Kruis replaced at the weekend, will be fit enough to start the contest.

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