England scrum-half Richie Myler admits he does have a point to prove to the doubters as he ends his six-year exile from the national side tonight.
Myler, a late inclusion in Wayne Bennett’s squad after the withdrawal of Luke Gale due to injury, will line up alongside Jake Connor in the halves as England begin their autumn internationals against France.
It is Myler’s first England cap since 2012 – and he concedes he does have a point to make to those who have doubted him.
“I think so, yeah – there’s no point hiding away from it,” he said.
“I think I’ve had a pretty good year personally; I know it wasn’t great from a team perspective but personally I’ve done okay. I’m humbled and honoured to be back involved.”
Myler also insists he’s a very different player to the one who last appeared for England six years ago, having made his international debut at the tender age of 18.
“I was amongst this lot very young,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of growing up and maturing as a player since I debuted for England at the age of 18, and maybe I took it for granted a little bit.
“You’re young and dumb, you don’t sense it as much and when it’s taken away from you and it looks like you may never get the opportunity again, it’s a lot sweeter when it does come around. I’ve worked hard, I’ve never stopped doing that, and it’s nice that it’s paid off in a sense.”
And Myler now admits he’s relishing the chance to have the first crack at nailing a starting berth for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand.
“I get first crack at it on Wednesday, and it’s up to me to take the opportunity – which I intend to do,” he said.
“It’d be great to play against the Kiwis, but my focus is just on delivering on Wednesday so I’m in with a chance. I’ve got to perform, and if I do, I think I’ve got a chance.”
