Now the 25-year-old returns to Paris to start pre-season training with Stade Francais more determined than ever to prove to Martin Johnson that he is the real deal.

“To get a win out in Australia is a special thing to do,” Haskell told the Rugby Paper. “Probably the most important thing we did was to convert words into action.

“Everybody has been talking about the good atmosphere but it is a different thing to back that up.

“There are only so many times you can say that you are ready to put in a performance without doing it.

“I was obviously disappointed that I did not get on. With a Test on a knife edge I can understand why coaches don’t want to risk making a change in the back-row but I am never happy unless I am playing.

“Tom Croft is world class and he did a great job in the second Test with the lineout.

“But if I was going to give up and think he is better than me then what’s the point in continuing.

“I know I can bring a different skillset to the team. We are very different players and people forget that when comparing us you are not comparing like for like.

“Next year is an important one for me and I need to back up what I am saying.

“I have got a lot of critics but they only inspire me more but I have to put words into action and end the lip service.”