Tuesday 31 October 2017 00:20, UK
Saracens lock Maro Itoje remains keen to feature in England’s autumn internationals, despite being involved in the gruelling British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand over the summer.
Itoje played in all three Tests against the All Blacks and has also started eight out of Sarries' nine games this season.
Despite his punishing schedule, the 23-year-old hopes to feature for his country at Twickenham against Argentina, Australia and Samoa, despite England head coach Eddie Jones promising to rest some players who were on the Lions tour.
"I'm expecting to play and we'll see what happens," he said. "The body is good and I'm still relatively young.
"These decisions are not made to spite me. If a decision is made to rest me, then it will have been made for the long-term future.
"Whatever decision is made, both could be beneficial. Your outlook on it can be helpful. I have no qualms.
"But I often find it's the occasions when I'm rested or not playing for whatever reason, you realise how much you enjoy playing, how much you want to play."
Itoje was not due to start Saracens' season opener against Northampton but because of the club's injury problems in the back row, he was drafted in and it was not until Saturday's victory over London Irish that he could finally take a weekend off.
"Saracens have been very good to me, so whenever I can help them I will even if it cuts my holiday short a little bit," Itoje added.
"I haven't had to taper anything, I'm still doing the normal training with the rest of the boys.
"I'm doing my own extra bit of recovery. I am spending a bit more time in the pool. I make sure I have my pool recovery before every game, which is something that I didn't do last year.
"I normally go with Alex Goode, he lives in London now, so he is my recovery buddy."
Watch England v Argentina on Saturday November 11. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action at 2pm.
