Shontayne Hape admits his time as an England player is over as Stuart Lancaster prepares to ring the changes.
Centre knows he is unlikely to be involved at the highest level again
Shontayne Hape admits his time as an England player is over.
The 30-year-old was selected for the World Cup after helping the side win the Six Nations, but was out of favour with Martin Johnson and played just once, in the pool match against Georgia.
And with new boss Stuart Lancaster poised to make wholesale changes to the squad in the new year, Hape - while not officially retiring from the international scene - believes the time is right to bring in new blood.
"It is time to start rebuilding for the next World Cup," Hape said. "It is time for the young guys to step up and take charge and get that experience of playing in big games.
"I got to win the Six Nations, which was a treat, and I think it is time for the young guys to experience that. You have to start looking at the new breed coming through.
"The only way they learn is if you play them. I am a big believer in chucking young players in there to see what they can do.
"On the way if older guys are selected to help out then so be it. I wouldn't say no if I was selected, but I wouldn't be hanging my hat on it."
Sad
Hape had been desperate to play at Eden Park, the stadium where his late grandfather had played cricket, but he was never given the chance.
Johnson decided to start with Toby Flood at inside centre for the first time in 20 months for the quarter-final defeat to France.
"The way it turned out was sad, the way we ended up losing," Hape said. "But if that was my last game for England then so be it - I would still be a happy man.
"Winning the Six Nations was the biggest achievement of my rugby career. I can say I played in a World Cup and I scored two tries.
"I would have loved to play at Eden Park, but I have a lot of memories playing for England."
Hape was one of three players not to take part in the player review that followed the World Cup, and felt the best way to give honest feedback should have been face to face, not with anonymous comments.
"We had lots of pressure put on us to take part but it was the best advice I received not to fill out that form," Hape said.
