I’ll never give up on England says Geoff Parling

Exeter lock Geoff Parling refuses to accept his England career is over despite falling down the pecking order following the failed World Cup campaign.
Parling, 32, admits he struggled to come to terms with his disappointment in the aftermath of England’s group stage exit, but since Christmas he has recaptured his best form for high-flying Chiefs and has told Red Rose boss Eddie Jones he intends fighting back.
“I found it quite difficult after the World Cup with the way things went,” Parling told The Rugby Paper. “To have one of the biggest lows you can have and then appreciate you’re one of the older members of the squad, nobody wants to finish like that.
“I’m not stupid, I knew a year ago that there were some good young guys around who would keep developing. Stuart Lancaster and the coaches said they’d be looking to develop younger lads after the World Cup so in my head I was always expecting it.
“But when I was on the phone to Eddie Jones and he said he wanted to look at the younger lads as well, I told him, ‘hang on a minute, I’m not going to accept that’.
“I’m not big-time enough to retire from international rugby like Martin Johnson did after 2003, so I’ll just keep going and hope to get another crack. Besides, you never give up on your country, do you, so I’d jump at the chance if they came calling again.”
Former Leicester man Parling believes he still has plenty to offer, adding: “Joining a new club, I’ve got into the flow of things at Exeter since Christmas.
“When you’re consistently performing to a good level, you feel like you’re contributing to the team and we’re in a good spot in the Premiership and through to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup, so I’ll try to improve and get another England chance.
“Someone like Maro Itoje is a good player already who is going to develop into a very, very good player, but I believe that over the past couple of years I’ve played pretty well for England and in the World Cup most people thought that I did a decent job.
“I can appreciate that the oldest player in the squad now is two years younger than me, but there’s plenty of legs left in me and I feel I can still contribute to that team and make it better.”
Exeter take on Bath today looking to cement their top four challenge and Parling is delighted with how things have gone since leaving Welford Road. He said: “Exeter’s a brilliant club. They hold to their traditions, it’s a great area and I’m looking forward to having a really good end to the season.
“I knew a year ago I’d be leaving Leicester for something new and we’ve done pretty well up to now, but the nature of this season, with all these games on the bounce, means there’s no rest and you’ve got to be at your best every week.
“There’s no London Welsh this year and every game is a battle. London Irish were fighting for their lives last week but we gritted that one out, and we know that even though Bath aren’t going well it’s a West Country derby and there’ll be feeing there.
“We’re in a good position, but the way this league is right now means that if you drop off your form you can easily find yourselves outside the top four.”
NEALE HARVEY