Chris Ashton admitted suffering "sleepless nights" while waiting to discover if he had earned his place back in the England side, and is now determined to repay head coach Stuart Lancaster by breaking his try-drought against Australia.
Confrontation
Ashton helped himself to two tries when England and Australia last met this time two years ago and, unsurprisingly, the Sarries flier has fond memories of the 35-18 Twickenham triumph.
Asked why he may have enjoyed previous success against the Wallabies, Ashton said: "Coming from Rugby League there was always a big confrontation when England played Australia and every sport England play against Australia there is.
"I think the way we played against Australia at home last time we played them was the first team we'd actually played well together as a core group of people that are here now.
"It was a good day for England and hopefully we can do that again."
A two-week ban was imposed on Ashton ahead of the Autumn Internationals after he received three yellow cards while in domestic action for Saracens.
But the former Northampton player, while disappointed with the sanction, insists he has worked hard during that time to ensure any such suspensions will be avoided in the near future.
"It's been a long two weeks. It goes quite slow when you are banned from playing but I am pleased to be back," he said.
"For any winger to get three yellow cards in seven games is tough going. When you've only made two tackles a game it is pretty ridiculous to be getting sin-binned for three games.
"It was maybe justified. It was my fault a bit and I have to go away and work on my technique, which I have been doing for two weeks so hopefully I can erase those mistakes."
