World Cup place is my dream – Skinner

HARVEY Skinner aims to persuade Steve Borthwick it is time to open the England door and let him charge through it over the coming weeks and months.

■By GARY FITZGERALD

The fly-half has been knocking for some time and many felt his performances in Exeter Chiefs‘ impressive Twickenham-reaching campaign deserves some kind of international recognition.

Skinner admits he would love to get that white jersey on his back in time to throw his hat into the ring for a place on the plane to Australia next autumn.

But the 28-year-old star – so pivotal and influential in turning around the club’s on-field fortunes – knows he must remain patient while continuing to dream of getting the call.

He says: “The competition for the England No.10 jersey is as fierce as it is for every other position. You just have to keep on doing what you can to try and get a chance.

Boss: Steve Borthwick

“It’s my dream to represent my country, and I’d certainly love to be part of a World Cup squad. I can only focus on my Exeter form and try to get people talking about me… then see where it takes me. If my club team is playing well you hope to get an opportunity somewhere down the line.

“My immediate goal has to be helping Exeter win more games and challenging for trophies. It’s what we all want at this club, and the reason we work so hard in training.

“I’m always trying to improve my game and felt I was a more of an attacking threat last season. I just want to be consistent with my basics as a ten, which are my decision-making, my catch-pass and kicking game. I have good coaches and players around me, and they will continue to challenge me.”

Chiefs have already learned they will need to up their performances if they are to go one better this season and get their hands on the Prem trophy.

Gloucester threw a huge spanner in the club’s title-chasing works by turning up at Sandy Park on the opening weekend and upsetting the odds with a stunning bonus-point win. Rob Baxter‘s men will need to turn their ground into the fortress it was last season.

And Skinner, who has made over 150 appearances for the club, admits Exeter’s revival means they will face rivals arriving in Devon even more pumped up than usual.

He says: “I guess reaching the Final has made things different this time. It’s turned us from the hunters to the hunted. We were the underdogs before but now others will want to shoot us down. We just have to create good habits and build on what we achieved over last 12 months.

“You cannot afford complacency because as soon as that happens you start to slip into bad habits. I’d like to think we are mature enough as a playing group to keep ev-

eryone on their toes, and driving standards individually and collectively. Just keeping everyone honest, because every other team will now up their games against us.

Aiming high: Harvey Skinner scoring against Harlequins

PICTURES: Getty Images

“I love it here and now I’d love to get another trophy. We’ve had good and bad times. We’re building a strong squad and Rob is very good at not letting the off-the-field situation become a distraction.

“He lets us know what is going on. There are a few subtle changes around the place but our mindset is nice and channelled with goals and targets.”