Barritt: Aiming to impress England's interim boss

The South Africa-born 25-year-old has endured a frustrating time on the fringes of the senior set-up since making his England debut in the non-cap international against the New Zealand Maori in 2010.

And having felt he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip under Martin Johnson, Barritt is desperate to impress interim boss Stuart Lancaster.

Although he was born in South Africa, Barritt's grandparents were all English. He has family in Exeter and London and always considered England a home from home.

"I'm hopeful of an England call-up and if one comes I'll take it with both hands. I'll be a very proud man," said Barritt, whose grandparents were all English.

"I'm very ambitious in trying to attain some international honours. I'm very hungry to get an opportunity with England.

"Selection for international rugby comes down to just one man's opinion at the end of the day. I wasn't, in my opinion, given an opportunity but let's hope now with a new regime it could happen.

"I think I'm still relatively young in terms of rugby-playing age but I'd like to think my time has come.

"If I'm called up I'll be the happiest man in England."

Barritt is one of a number of players at Saracens who are hoping to be in Lancaster's new-look 32-man squad when it is announced on January 11.

Owen Farrell, Andy Saull and Alex Goode have also impressed as Saracens have continued to push for honours domestically and in Europe.

"At Saracens we thrive on big opportunities and big occasions," Barritt said.

"Most guys across the whole team have put their hands up. Let's hope when selection time comes we are all given a chance.

"I won six or seven Saxons caps under Stuart and really enjoyed the environment. He is very technically astute and there was a good camaraderie among the players.

"It will be a very happy environment - one in which I'm sure England will flourish."