WILL Goodrick-Clarke's call-up into the England squad during the Six Nations has given him the taste for more.
The Exiles' improved form this season has seen wing Ollie Haskell-Collins and flanker Tom Pearson summoned by the England head coach Eddie Jones as well as prop Goodrick-Clarke and the club has a sizeable contingent in the England U20 squad.
“It was a really good experience with England,” said the 26-year-old loosehead Goodrick-Clarke. “It was short and sharp but I enjoyed it. It gave me a taster of the level I need to be and train at.
“It is not a matter of turning up but training at that intensity day in, day out. It has given me the motivation for more.
“I had loads of feedback from Eddie and (forwards coach) Matt Proudfoot and I am clear about what I need to do.
“I would like to be on the summer tour to Australia, but I need to focus on London Irish, play well and be part of a winning side. I am under no illusions.”
Goodrick-Clarke has made it to the top the hard way. He was in Gloucester's academy but was not taken on and his career looked to have stalled. He was recruited by Richmond and made an immediate impact in the Championship.
“Richmond made me fall in love with rugby again,” he said. “I played 49 games for them in the Championship, something that is huge for a prop.
“It was a great place to learn, not least in the scrum. You come up against hardened old boys who know all the tricks of the trade.
“You can train all you want and think you have got all the perfect body positions, but it is only when you come up against a horrible tighthead that you realise what the crack is.”
Goodrick-Clarke's form earned him a place in the Championship dream team for 2018-19, prompting London Irish to make their move and sign him.
“It was a step up,” he said. “I was a student (he studied computer science at Oxford Brookes University) training twice a week and playing on a Saturday.
I was a bit overweight and unfit but the coaches at Irish invested a lot of time in me and helped me develop.
“I guess I came into the professional game in a roundabout way. I have had a lot of rugby this season and feel I have improved and it is an important part of the season for us now.”
Home defeats to Northampton Saints and Harlequins jolted Irish's play-off hopes, but they remain in contention for the top four and their three remaining games are all against sides currently below them in the table, Newcastle Falcons, Wasps and Bath.
“If we play to our ability, we can win all three matches,” said Goodrick-Clarke.
“We had a number of opportunities against Harlequins but only converted one. As a squad, we are excited about what lies ahead.”
