Mixing it with the All Blacks is fueling ambitions

Yet for Rob Webber, it represented another positive testimonial in his ever-expanding portfolio of international appearances.

The 28-year-old Pocklington-born hooker entered the fray at a rain-lashed Twickenham on 74 minutes, at a time when Stuart Lancaster’s side had seen the energy sucked out of them by the stifling All Blacks.

Still, Webber had to make an impact on replacing Dylan Hartley, and he certainly did that with the execution of a successful lineout followed by the application of the required grunt in the scrum to help force the penalty try.

While not necessarily a headline-stealing cameo, it was the kind of quietly efficient contribution Webber knows he has to keep producing if he is fulfil his ambition of playing in next year’s World Cup.

With Hartley and the injured British Lion Tom Youngs traditionally ahead of him in the pecking order, the Yorkshireman appreciates he has to make the most of every opportunity he gets.

“You’ve just got to take your chances when they come,” said Webber, who earned his ninth cap at the weekend.

“Saturday was another one. I felt I made a positive contribution, but the over-riding emotion was the frustration at the defeat.

“I’ll sit down with the coaches and see how I did, and we’ll move onto the next one.

“My own target this month is to be involved as much as I can.

“In the summer in New Zealand, I started two Tests and absolutely loved it.

“I appreciate there’s other good players in the squad who are trying to win that shirt back.

“Front-row for England is always competitive, whether it’s propping or hooking, there’s good players all round.

“It’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to continuing that battle over how ever many games. As long as I give it my all, that’s all I can do.”

If he can continue his progress, either with England or at club level with Bath – where a greater emphasis on the set-piece is improving his game – then the former Pocklington RUFC junior and Leeds Carnegie forward could find himself featuring in the 2015 World Cup.

With so much water to pass under the bridge before Lancaster’s men kick off their campaign against Fiji on September 18, many within the home camp are refusing to look too far ahead – but not Webber.

“If you say you’re not thinking about it, or you’re ignoring it, then you’re lying,” said Webber.

“Personally, I know it’s coming and I’m aware of it. Having said that, I know all too well it is one game at a time and anything can happen – injuries, selection, whatever – so I need to continue taking those chances when they come.”

Even if that means stepping off the sanctuary of the bench and diving headlong into the pouring rain, and a losing battle, as he did on Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not going well, because you’re sat on the bench desperate to muck in and get involved to help the team,” continued Webber.

“It’s frustrating, it’s exciting –it’s an array of emotions because you’re itching to get on, even if the momentum had gone against us.

“I wanted to get on to help us get that back, and, unfortunately, it was a little too far for us to claw it back.”

England’s fourth successive loss to the All Blacks was also Webber’s fourth consecutive involvement. He started the first two Tests on the summer tour, with fixtures against New Zealand making up nearly half of an international career that began with a debut against Italy in the 2012 Six Nations.

“Saturday was my ninth cap and four of them have been against the All Blacks so it’s been tasty, but it’s been great,” said Webber, who played three games in the 2012 Six Nations and two games on the summer tour to Argentina 15 months later, before this extended series with the world champions.

“As a player and as an individual you always want to be mixing in the best circles and up against the best opposition, and I’m proud to have played a formidable team like the All Blacks four times.”

Next up is South Africa, a team Webber is yet to face and Lancaster’s England are yet to beat.

“It doesn’t get any easier, does it?” mused Webber. “It will be a huge, physical challenge against the Boks and I’m desperate to be involved. We lost too much territory against New Zealand.

“It’s an area we’ll look to try and rectify this week.”