Monday 30 May 2016 13:36, UK
Maro Itoje says the seven Saracens players selected in the England squad for the three-Test series in Australia next month will not lack the mental appetite to compete.
Fly-half Owen Farrell, lock George Kruis, full-back Alex Goode, hooker Jamie George, No 8 Billy Vunipola and prop Mako Vunipola have all been included in Eddie Jones's 32-man squad along with Itoje.
Itoje insists the Sarries players will be raring to go after completing the double with Saturday's Aviva Premiership final win against Exeter following on from their Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 earlier in May.
"If you need to get up for it, I think you are in the wrong sport because playing for England is an honour. Whoever is in the 23 that is picked will be raring to go," said Itoje.
"They [Saracens' team-mates] never want to take a backward step in anything that they do and whether they have just won or lost, the hunger is always there."
Saracens became the first English club to do the European-domestic double since Wasps in 2004, and Itoje, who has been named as European player of the year, is optimistic about the club's future.
"It means a lot to win the double. There's a bit more to come from this club," added the 21-year-old.
"The core group of the squad is going to stay together for a few years to come and I think we can get better. This has almost been like a seven, eight-year project to get to this stage."
England play the first Test against Australia on June 11 in Brisbane.
