Boks challenge excites Haskell

Back-rower says "something special is building" in England set-up

Last updated: 18th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Boks challenge excites Haskell

Haskell: Trying to relax

With the new set-up we've got here, not to be involved you kind of feel like you're missing out because something special is building.

James Haskell
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England's James Haskell has told Sky Sports News he is "very excited" to be facing world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

The Wasps back-rower is Martin Johnson's only change to the starting XV which lost to Australia last weekend, replacing Leicester's Tom Croft at blind-side flanker.

Although Haskell has been part of Johnson's squad since it convened for the autumn internationals, and played as a replacement during the 28-14 loss to the Wallabies, Saturday will bring his first start under Johnson.

And, according to the 23-year-old, part of the excitement he feels stems from the sense that momentum is growing within the new-look set-up.

"I'm very excited. I think it's pretty special to be involved in the 22 the last couple of weeks. With the new set-up we've got here, not to be involved you kind of feel like you're missing out because something special is building," Haskell said.

"It's building very slowly, inch by inch. But to get the nod...I am very excited."

Difficult start

Haskell impressed during England's summer tour of New Zealand but made a difficult start to the domestic season.

Champions Wasps are currently mired second from bottom of the Guinness Premiership, but Haskell insists he personally has turned the corner.

"I think you've got to have a certain degree on honesty when you're looking at yourself," he said. "I think the first two or three games this season things didn't go particularly well for me as an individual and that was maybe down to some personal form and me heaping too much pressure on myself.

"Luckily I've turned that round. I'm feeling really good. I'm just focused solely on the rugby and just trying to relax."

Haskell said that he was looking forward to packing down alongside club colleague Tom Rees and against what he considers to be the best rack row in the world.

He added that his likely opposite number this weekend, Springboks flanker Schalk Burger, has been used as a template for developing his own game.

"I don't think you can beat around the bush," he said. "They're the world champions, I'll try not to make too much about it but Schalk Burger I've looked at for the last two or three years to develop my game.

"I'm lucky, being a player coming up against people like Schalk Burger and Richie McCaw - I can try and cherry pick features of their games...not to say I'm as good as those two! For me it's a massive challenge.

"I'm looking forward to taking it on with Tom Rees and Nick Easter - especially Reesie because I really enjoy playing with him.

"I've missed out having that over the last couple of weeks. I secretly think he has too - he denies it."