New England cap out to prove he’s not just making up numbers
CONFIDENT England new boy Alec Hepburn has vowed to up his physicality as he aims to maintain the pressure on established loosehead duo Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler and ensure he remains a viable prospect for a World Cup spot in 2019.
Exeter prop Hepburn took the white heat of the Six Nations in his stride, posting impressive cameos from the bench in England’s opening victories over Italy and Wales.
Of his first senior Red Rose involvement, Hepburn, one of many graduates from England U20s 2013 World Cup success, told The Rugby Paper: “My debut against Italy is a moment I’ll always cherish and coming on against Wales I was full of beans.
“You don’t see all the things around you – the full stadium and the rest of it – you’re just in the moment and against Wales there were guys a lot more exhausted than me, so I just made sure I made my tackles and did what I needed to do.
“Afterwards you can enjoy it and Eddie Jones is very good about that, but then it’s back to work on Monday and it’ll be another huge challenge against Scotland this week. No one wants to drop out so my challenge now is to stay in that squad.”
Hepburn claims England training was a bigger step up than matches, adding: “The main difference on game day is the build-up and attendance, but when you’re actually on the pitch it’s just another game of rugby – our training is the biggest thing.
“There’s a lot of onus on you to learn adequate things in your position and not to let the team down. England play quite differently to how Exeter do and they work you hard, with a lot more anaerobic stuff, lots of sprinting – I definitely found that.
“You’re kept on your toes and while there were no extensive talks about doing this and that, there’s a bit to work on around my physical attributes.”
Although England’s No.1 jersey is in his sights, Hepburn, 24, says of rivals Vunipola and Marler: “I can’t say enough good things about them. They were very accommodating, very professional and were really good helping with the finer details.
“I asked questions to the point where I was almost annoying them but I couldn’t tip my hat enough to them for that. Mako’s an exceptional player and Joe’s coming back from suspension so I’ve got a fight on, but I’ll strive to be the best I can be.”
As the madding crowds subsided after the Wales game, Hepburn reveals how he enjoyed a moment of quiet reflection with Worcester flanker and former London Welsh colleague Carl Kirwan – one of many ‘mentors’ who helped him reach Test level.
Hepburn explained: “Rob Hunter’s a prevalent figure I’ve learnt a lot off with the U20s and now at Exeter, while my old college teacher from Henley, Martin Unsworth, has been a perennial figure who used to drive me to U18s and U20s camps.
“I got a real nice message off Justin Burnell too, who put a lot of effort into me at London Welsh in 2014-15, but the nicest thing last Saturday was meeting Carl Kirwan, who I’ve been close to since we tried to get the best out of each other at Welsh.
“It’s unfortunate he’s injured at the moment because he’s a good player, but I used to live in a small flat opposite Twickenham and it was nice to drive past it with him after the game. “It seemed surreal after we played together in the Championship.”