Nick Kennedy is determined to cement a permanent place in the England starting line-up after he was recalled to face New Zealand.
England forward keen to make the most of recall
Nick Kennedy is determined to cement a permanent place in the England starting line-up after he was recalled to face New Zealand on Saturday.
The London Irish second row did not make the 22 for either the Australia or South Africa games, but goes straight into Martin Johnson's starting line-up at Twickenham following an injury to Tom Palmer.
Kennedy and fellow lock Steve Borthwick will be seen as key to England's ability to win quick ball, which has been sadly lacking in the autumn Tests so far.
"I was told it was nothing negative I'd done in the game against the Pacific Islanders and that helped me," said the 27-year-old.
"I kept my head up and trained really well. I was gutted not to have the opportunity to play against Australia and South Africa but I was never going to get in a mood about it and drag my feet, that's not the sort of character I am. I was always going to come back fighting.
"When they put up the sheet and announced the team I was just over the moon. New Zealand are the best team in the world. I've been watching them for years.
"Now I've got the chance to play against them and face that Haka dead on and that's what I'm really excited about."
However, Kennedy is aware that he has been thrown into the lions' den.
"Their scrum is very strong and Ali Williams is one of the best line-out forwards in the world. They're a very exciting team to watch," he added.
"We have a massive challenge ahead of us. To have ended the autumn series against South Africa with that defeat and have no rugby until the Six Nations would have been awful, so to have this game to right some wrongs is a big positive."
