Easter found himself frozen out in Johnson’s first EPS squad back in the summer of 2008 as the new boss opted for younger back row options.

But it was not long before the Harlequins star had forced his way back into the international plans and was only shifted in the autumn when a calf injury forced him out.

And despite being an elder statesman of the squad at 31, Easter can’t wait to get his teeth stuck into this year’s Six Nations – and beyond that next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.

He said: “Decision-making can only be improved with experience and I have gained that through my career.

“I won’t be able to beat some of the other guys over 100m or bench pressing so I have to use my speed of thought to compensate for that.

“You keep readjusting your goals throughout your career. When I first came to Quins I wanted to start eight games and ended up starting most of the games.

“Then you want to represent your country, then you want to go to the World Cup, then I had to get back into the squad and then the Lions which I did not achieve.

“Now I want to establish myself with as big a role as possible in the England side and then you start looking to the next World Cup.”