Courtney Lawes will not look back on 2012 with much fondness.
It is easy to forget that Lawes is still a youngster because he has been creating headlines for so long. He made his international debut against Australia in 2009 as a replacement - however he has struggled to fully kick on since then.
Injuries and suspension have hampered his progress, with Lawes winning just 15 England caps in total (with nine starts).
Now older and wiser, Lawes is determined to establish himself as a vital member of the squad
"I'm not that old but I have been around a bit now," Lawes admitted. "I've had a stunted growth because of the injuries but I feel that I have a lot to give the team."
Tight
Lawes will start Saturday's Six Nations opener against Scotland on the bench but he is determined to make an immediate impact at Twickenham - with England looking to build on their 38-21 victory over New Zealand in December.
"It will be a really tight game," he said. "They have new coaches and it is a fresh start for them. They are sure to come out firing so it is up to us to up our game from New Zealand.
"It is so important to get the tournament off to a good start. You want to start as you mean to go on. For me, it is important that if I get on that I get myself straight into the game."
There has been little to choose between England and Scotland in recent years - with an average winning margin of just four points.
And Lawes claims England are well aware that they will need to keep their cool in the heat of battle.
"Discipline will be crucial," he added. "There are such small margins that we have to be aware that sides will punish penalties. That means it is up to us to put the pressure on sides to give away penalties while not conceding any ourselves."
