TJ's joy at squad inclusion

 

By Mark Stevens

Tom Johnson says he is "over the moon" to have again been named in Stuart Lancaster's England Senior squad.

The 30-year-old back-row forward, who has now won five caps for his country, is Exeter's sole representative in the 33-man squad which was announced on Wednesday.

Johnson hopes that form leading into the Six Nations, together with Lancaster's knowledge of the player himself in the Test environment, will enable him to feature in the forthcoming campaign which kicks-off on February 2 when Scotland are the visitors to Twickenham.

"I'm over the moon to have been selected," said Johnson. "It was definitely one of my aims for the season to be in and around the squad, so to be named is very pleasing indeed."

Johnson featured in two of England's four autumn internationals - against Fiji and Australia - but missed out on the subsequent encounters with South Africa and New Zealand.

He has, however, never faced any of the home nations, nor France, and is clearly keen to get the opportunity of pulling on the Red Rose jersey once more.

"I've never faced any of the home countries and the Six Nations is the premier competition in the Northern Hemisphere," added Johnson. "I've watched it since I can first remember and I know a lot of fans also watch it, so if I am involved in any way that will be great."

For Johnson to be amongst Lancaster's elite mix, the player knows that performing on the big stage for the Chiefs remains a key priority.

"I'll just keep trying to do my job for Exeter," he said. "Doing that to the best of my abilities is what has got me in the England squad so far, so that will be the aim. Obviously I've had some good experiences already, but I want to add to them in the future.

"As you can see the strength of the England squad is huge, so I'm delighted to have been named in it against. Like I said, all I want to do for now is keep my standards high and play well for Exeter."