England berth in Barritt's sights

Editor

After getting the better of Test rival Luther Burrell on Sunday, Brad Barritt is eyeing up an international return with England.

After getting the better of Test rival Luther Burrell on Sunday, Brad Barritt is eyeing up an international return with England.

Barritt turned in an impressive display, gaining the upper hand over Burrell, who enjoyed a sterling maiden Six Nations earlier this year.

It was a display that did not go unnoticed by his domestic boss at Saracens, Mark McCall, and one the midfielder hopes will go some way to regaining favour in the eyes of England head coach, Stuart Lancaster.

Lancaster stuck with Billy Twelvetrees in the number 12 jersey, with Burrell partnering him throughout the Six Nations – a pairing that improved with each game and bore fruit in the form of tries and defence.

Barritt was restricted to two appearances of the bench, after an ankle injury ruled him out of the November Tests.

But McCall believes the powerful centre's display on Sunday – as Sarries saw of Burrell's Northampton Saints 28-24 – will give the England boss plenty to think about.

“Brad did an unbelievable job on the Northampton midfield and I thought he was the best centre out there. He will have made Stuart Lancaster sit up and take notice,” McCall told the London Evening Standard.

“I think I've had a great run of games since coming back from the injury and I feel I am playing well,” said Barritt.

“In the last four games the club have scored heaps of tries and we have been really aggressive with our line speed in defence and there is still a lot to come from this team. We want to finish top in the regular season in the Premiership and that will take a concerted effort in the coming weeks.

“There were lessons to be learned from last season when we lost to Toulon in the Heineken Cup last four and to Northampton in the Premiership play-off semi-final. They were bitter pills to swallow and I was injured at Twickenham in the Heineken Cup semi-final which ruled me out for the rest of the season.”