Alex Lozowski targets Saracens starts after making case for England World Cup spot

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Chris Jones27 November 2017

Alex Lozowski moved closer to a place in England’s 2019 World Cup squad with a try-scoring contribution in the 48-14 victory over Samoa, but now finds himself battling to get into the Saracens team for the Premiership clash at Harlequins on Sunday.

Sarries trail leaders Exeter by five points, having lost 20-18 to the champions yesterday, and are now desperate to avoid a third successive Premiership reverse.

Mark McCall’s side had gone 19 league games unbeaten at Allianz Park, but found Exeter too streetwise in the final 10 minutes.

Lozowski wants to forge a career as a centre for club and country, but is also a fly-half option at Sarries, where Owen Farrell is first choice. With club captain Brad Barritt at 12, the challenge Lozowski faces to win a starting place is formidable. Following the Quins fixture, Sarries also have home and away European Champions Cup matches against Clermont on successive weekends, starting at Allianz Park on December 10.

Lozowski has been enthused by working with England under Eddie Jones, who was named World Rugby Coach of the Year last night, and is up for the challenge he now faces.

“It has been good to get involved in my first autumn series, and I think I will obviously reflect on it, see where I can improve and then go back to the club and make sure I am doing everything I can to put myself in the frame for the Six Nations,” said the 24-year-old.

“Eddie always says that when you go back to your clubs you have to behave, train and play like an international player. The responsibility is on us now to do that, and I have to get back to Sarries, train really hard to push everyone in the team. We have some really tough games coming up, so there is no time to take your foot off the gas, and you have kick on.

Lozowski goes over in Saturday's win over Samoa
Getty Images

“Clermont are one of the powerhouses in European rugby and we are going to have to be right on the money to achieve what we want to this season.”

All Black Beauden Barrett was named World Rugby’s player of the year, ahead of Rieko Ioane, Israel Folau, Farrell and Maro Itoje.

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