Graham Kitchener says England's players have to make the most of their opportunity in Sunday's match against the Barbarians.
The Leicester Tigers second-row is excited by the chance to wear an England shirt and also to lead the team as captain at Twickenham.
“I can’t wait,” Kitchener said. “It was really a bit of a surprise when I got the call to be captain, but it is a massive privilege to lead your country out at Twickenham.
“I’ve not had a lot of captaincy so I don’t want to go away from what I do too much and just try to lead by example. There are other leaders in the team and a good bunch of guys too.
“This game is going to be massive for me and the rest of the boys. You have to take your opportunity and make the most of it.”
Kitchener is joined by Tigers colleague Jamie Gibson in the England pack, while prop Fraser Balmain is among the replacements.
With the senior England squad already preparing for the opening Test of their tour in New Zealand, it will be a young squad lining up at Twickenham, and Kitchener is enthusiastic about the quality in depth.
“I think it is an exciting young group of players,” he told the RFU.com podcast. “I see those guys playing in the Premiership. The set-piece should be good, there are a few lineout options, a good scrum, there’s no reason why we cannot do well there this weekend.”
The whole England squad trained together before the tour party’s departure for New Zealand, and Kitchener said there was a lot to learn from that opportunity.
“We all said good luck and wished them well in New Zealand,” he said. “It was good to be involved with those guys during the week,. That is the kind of exposure that will really help the younger players here.”
The Leicester Tigers second-row is excited by the chance to wear an England shirt and also to lead the team as captain at Twickenham.
“I can’t wait,” Kitchener said. “It was really a bit of a surprise when I got the call to be captain, but it is a massive privilege to lead your country out at Twickenham.
“I’ve not had a lot of captaincy so I don’t want to go away from what I do too much and just try to lead by example. There are other leaders in the team and a good bunch of guys too.
“This game is going to be massive for me and the rest of the boys. You have to take your opportunity and make the most of it.”
Kitchener is joined by Tigers colleague Jamie Gibson in the England pack, while prop Fraser Balmain is among the replacements.
With the senior England squad already preparing for the opening Test of their tour in New Zealand, it will be a young squad lining up at Twickenham, and Kitchener is enthusiastic about the quality in depth.
“I think it is an exciting young group of players,” he told the RFU.com podcast. “I see those guys playing in the Premiership. The set-piece should be good, there are a few lineout options, a good scrum, there’s no reason why we cannot do well there this weekend.”
The whole England squad trained together before the tour party’s departure for New Zealand, and Kitchener said there was a lot to learn from that opportunity.
“We all said good luck and wished them well in New Zealand,” he said. “It was good to be involved with those guys during the week,. That is the kind of exposure that will really help the younger players here.”
