In-form Sale full-back Joe Carpenter admits part of him is focused on outshining Harlequins' George Furbank this weekend as he works to advance his case for an England recall.
Carpenter, who scored a hat-trick of tries against Bath in the Prem Cup last month, partly puts his fast start to the season down to missing out on England selection. His absence from a gruelling long-haul Nations Championship trip allowed him to take part in a full club pre-season for the first time in three years. "Those summer tours are very intense," Carpenter said. "But to actually get a full 10 weeks of pre-season and preparation, getting the body right, was definitely something I needed. I feel a lot fitter and a lot stronger."
England coaches have challenged Carpenter to improve his decision-making in the backfield and his stamina to cover ground and repeatedly take on tacklers. He scored highly in Sale's fitness testing and has been an elusive threat with ball in hand. "Beating defenders is a massive part of my game," he added. "But that repeatability is massive, being able to go again and again at speed." He admitted he is probably outside the mix for England at present but hopes back-to-back performances will put him in position for November.
Carpenter admitted that a disappointing seventh-place finish last season gave him pause for thought before he re-signed with the club this summer. Sale won only five of their 18 league matches and were beaten 85-19 by Saracens in April. Coach Alex Sanderson has been backed, with former England captain Courtney Lawes heading a clutch of new signings. "After last season, re-signing was probably a bit tougher than it could potentially be," said Carpenter. "But after speaking to the coaches and hearing the signings that are coming in, I think it would have been very silly to leave."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing