Rekeiti Ma'asi-White eager to audition for England's problem position

Rekeiti Ma’asi-White has played his way to an England call-up on the back of a try-scoring run which has surprised even himself.

The 22-year-old centre scored his third try in successive games in Sale’s victory over Bristol on Friday night to underline just why he is about to be named in a senior training squad for the first time next week.

It brought his total to five for the Sharks since he completed a loan spell with Caldy in January.

“I’ve never really scored tries so this season is a shock,” he admitted. “I just do my job and do the basics – carry hard and hit hard – so the tries are a bonus. It’s just being in the right place at the right time, I guess.

“I’m happy to contribute to the team any way I can.”

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Ma’asi-White’s form in the Sale midfield has turned influential heads and he has been invited along to a two-day England alignment camp at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The likes of Fraser Dingwall, Will Butt and Max Ojomoh are unavailable because of European commitments so there are no guarantees but he is hoping it could be the precursor to inclusion in the squad to tour Argentina and the USA this summer.

“It’s my first alignment camp and I’m excited about it. When the email came on Thursday I was buzzing. It was nice to get it,” he said.

“It put a bit of pressure on me for Friday, knowing I needed to perform – I was quite nervous about that – but I was happy with how the game went.

“We did the basics well, we physically fronted up and that gave us quick ball to play fast and I was lucky enough to get a try off a fast setpiece.

“If I focus on these next games for Sale, assuming I play well, I can hopefully put my hand up for the tour.”

The 6ft 1in, 16st centre is from international stock – his father Vili won 36 caps for Tonga. Alex Sanderson, his director of rugby at Sale, believes he has the temperament as well as the physical attributes to emulate him for England at senior level, having already represented England at under-20s level

“He’s so good,” said Sanderson. “He found out that he’s going to that alignment camp on Thursday and that could rock a young lad but then he goes out on Friday and says: ‘this is why you picked me’. He put his hand up.

“He gets better and better and better, week in week out. Super physical. Very impressive.”

It is a big leap from the Championship to a Test match against the Pumas in six months. But the stream of England call-ups from Sale, with Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck joining Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie as starters for Steve Borthwick this season has convinced Ma’asi-White he is capable of making the step up too.

“Playing with the Currys and Tom Roebuck has given me so much confidence. They are very positive around the environment and it boosts me a lot,” he said.