English Rugby
Ojo eyes England return
Scrum.com
December 19, 2008
London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is after reclaiming his England place
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London Irish winger Topsy Ojo is eager to reclaim a place in the England setup after watching enviously as his team-mates Nick Kennedy and Delon Armitage made their international bows during the autumn internantionals. Ojo, 23, broke into international rugby with a try-scoring Test debut against New Zealand on England's 2008 summer tour but was overlooked for Martin Johnson's Elite Player Squad on July 1. Johnson can make five changes to his squad ahead of the Six Nations, with a space now open thanks to the retirement of Josh Lewsey. "These next few weeks will be an important time for me," said Ojo, who this week signed a new three-year contract with the Exiles. "It is hard watching England when you have been there because you want that opportunity to show what you can do on the international stage. "Being there, experiencing the whole thing, does make you much hungrier to taste it again. The best way to get recognised is to play well for your club and hopefully that shot will come. It came last year and I did really well. That can happen again. "The key for me has been consistency and I have been really happy with my form. I have scored four tries which is more than I had at this stage last season. Things have gone well so far and if I can keep that going then fingers crossed I can get bumped up to that England squad. I need to be ready to take an opportunity if it comes up." Ojo's form at the business end of last season, including a solo try against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi-final, put him on to the international radar and he has a chance in Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown with Gloucester to press his claim once again. One person convinced by Ojo's credentials is London Irish attach coach Mike Catt, who believes that he offers more of an all-round game now than when he made his international debut. "Topsy has been tremendous again for us this season. He has not been a try-scorer like Sailosi Tagicakibau but the work-rate Topsy puts in he creates tries for everybody else," said Catt. "There is a very good chance if he carries on performing they have got to pick him with Delon Armitage. They combine very well together, understand each other's game." Ojo committed his future to Irish, alongside scrum-half Paul Hodgson and Kennedy, and believes that the fast-improving squad are closing in on greater rewards fro their efforts. "One thing the squad is striving for is something to show for our efforts in terms of silverware," said Ojo. "We have come close in recent years with the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup, the Premiership play-offs, Challenge Cup final. We are on the brink of something and I definitely want to be part of that. "We always have really tough games against Gloucester. This weekend is first versus second - we are both striving to be really successful this year and there will be no holding back." © Scrum.com
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