Noah Caluori has scored 18 tries in the Premiership this campaign
Saracens' teenage star Noah Caluori believes he is now ready for the step up to international rugby after a stunning breakthrough season.
The 19-year-old has scored 18 tries in the Prem this campaign. just two short of Sam Simmonds' regular-season record from 2021.
Caluori trained with Steve Borthwick's senior squad before the autumn internationals and is now targeting a Test debut this summer.
"I feel like now is a good time [to play international rugby]," he told theBBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"I feel like I would back myself if I got put into that environment. if I got put into the team. I would be happy to go on the [summer] tour."
England face South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July before playing Fiji in an 'away' fixture at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool a week later. They then travel to the small Argentine city of Santiago del Estero to face the Pumas on 18 July.
Noah's Ark, the play-off race & Borthwick backed
Caluori was catapulted into the spotlightafter scoring five tries against Saleon his full Saracens debut in October, earning an immediate call-up to Borthwick's autumn squad. an appearance for England 'A' in November.
However Caluori was not involved in the Six Nations, instead featuring for England Under-20s,. admits playing full international rugby at that point may have come too soon.
"Maybe the autumn or the Six Nations would have been a bit of a rush," Caluori said.
"But I feel like I got handled well during the autumn. the Six Nations, putting me into England 'A' to experience that level as well as enjoying my time with the Under-20s, and going on a bit of a physical development plan was good.
"If I were to play [for England] earlier this year it would have been a rush,. now is a good time, especially experiencing this run-in with everything on the line for Saracens. It shows how [critical] every result is, and that's similar to a Test match game.
"I've had some comms [with Steve Borthwick], we've had a chat,. I'm just focused on playing my best rugby from now until the end of the season."
After scoring five tries in the home fixture against Sale, Caluori repeated the feat against them last month,. says he is coming to terms with being one of the most talked-about players in the league.
"I feel like the most pressure that will come on me is maybe internalised pressure," he added.
"And I've dealt with that pretty well. then spoken to people to help me with it, so I can just focus on being the best team-mate and the best person on the pitch I can be.
"But I feel like I'm handling everything pretty well. I'm trying to enjoy it."
Caluori aims for England debut inside six months - then greatness
Caluori-led rampant Saracens annihilate sorry Sale
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.