“I want your Test spot,” Matt Kvesic tells Chris Robshaw

Matt Kvesic has given notice he does not intend to give the England No.7 shirt back to Chris Robshaw without a fight.
Kvesic excelled on England’s summer tour of Argentina in the openside berth while captain Robshaw was rested – and the 21-year-old says he is hungry for more international honours.
“I’ve tasted international rugby now and I know what it’s like, and I don’t want to stop,” said Kvesic, who moved from Worcester to Gloucester over the summer.
“I don’t want to fall away – I want to play.
“Stuart Lancaster has said before that he picks on form and fitness and that if boys are playing well for their club and standing out then they will get a shot at games. So that’s my focus, to get into this Gloucester side and, fingers crossed, get an autumn international spot.
“After the Argentina tour the coaches sat us down and gave us the positives and things to work on. It was a good first tour for many of us young lads who got an opportunity, and we know what we’ve got to do now.”
Kvesic is backing Gloucester’s all-international back row to make him into a better player – although he admits a starting spot is far from assured.
Fans’ favourite Fijian Akapusi Qera has held the Cherry and White No.7 shirt in recent seasons, while Tonga battering ram Sione Kalamafoni was both the Gloucester players’ and supporters’ player of the season last term. Competition also comes in the form of fellow England star Ben Morgan and former Red Rose openside Andy Hazell.
“I’ve got my work cut out to make the team but competition makes you a better player and strengthens the team,” said Kvesic. “It’s no bad thing.
“I might have to be patient and bide my time, but, hopefully, when my chance comes I’ll take it and I can go from there.
“Both Sione and Akapusi are among the best players in their respective countries. They proved that in the Premiership last year. Sione, Akapusi and Ben were all outstanding last year, and, hopefully, I can learn off guys like Andy Hazell.
“I feel like I offer something a little bit different at No.7 and that’s what I’m aiming for – to try and develop that role and make it my own. But it depends what coaches want for different games.”
A month into his time at Kingsholm, Kvesic has no regrets about his short move down the M5.
“The change of environment and the new coaches are good. It’s a good young squad here and the team has aspirations to go places and I want to be part of a group that’s moving forward and, hopefully, winning silverware.
“It wasn’t that Worcester didn’t have aspirations, and I am really grateful for what Worcester did for me. I played a lot last year and it gave me a good footing and pushed me into that England side, but I felt the time was right for me to kick on and experience something new.”
TOM BRADSHAW