Charlie Sharples has been making his mark on the England squad in more ways than one as he looks to gatecrash the World Cup party.
Winger aiming to book his place on plane to New Zealand
Charlie Sharples has been making his mark on the England squad in more ways than one as he looks to gatecrash the World Cup party.
The uncapped Gloucester winger survived the first cull of players from England's training squad on Monday - with club-mate James Simpson-Daniel and David Strettle the two wingers to make way.
That means Sharples, who caught the eye in the Churchill Cup for the Saxons, is now battling it out with Chris Ashton, Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto for a place in the 30-man World Cup squad.
However, Sharples has already impressed with his effort on the training ground, while the 21-year-old more than made his mark on rival Ashton.
The in-form Ashton, a certainty for the squad, was left sporting a black eye at England's Pennyhill Park training base after a clash of head with Sharples in a trial game.
"I am not sure whether it was my head or Banners' (Banahan's) head," Sharples told
skysports.com.
Pleased
"But genuinely I was involved in the tackle and I think it was Banners' head. It wasn't on purpose. I hit my head on something but Ash thinks it was Banners."
Sharples is clearly relieved that the collision wasn't his last involvement in the training camp - and he is making the most of every minute with the squad, no matter how hard the training.
"To make it this far and to still be in the mix is great," said Sharples.
"I am obviously very pleased I am still here but sad that Sinbad (Simpson-Daniel) has had to go. He is a good mate from Gloucester but I am sure he wishes me all the best and if things had been the other way around I would have been extremely happy for him.
"There are so many quality players involved it is impossible to look around and say 'he is definitely going to get the chop'. There is so much competition, anyone could go.
"I have just had to try my hardest and do everything I can do to put myself in the best position. I know if I do go I can look back and say I did everything I could have done.
"Being my first time coming into camp, I didn't have any pressure on me but I wanted to prove myself. No one would have been expecting much from me compare to someone who has 40/50 caps.
Rewards
"If you want to be the best you have to train like the best, though, one doesn't come without the other. You have to put the effort in to get the rewards and the programme here has been designed to put us in the best position to go away to the World Cup."
England manager Martin Johnson will cut his squad down to 30 on August 22, following the warm games with Wales (home and away) and Ireland.
And Sharples knows that the entire squad will be looking to step things up as they try to force their way into Johnson's plans, starting against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
"There are still 10 boys going so you can't let off the gas. We will go in all cylinders firing," he added.
Charlie Sharples was speaking at an England team appearance to launch Get Up for England, with O2. Support the team and win a trip to New Zealand at www.GetUpforEngland.co.uk
