Harlequins' Nick Easter eyes resurrection with Stuart Lancaster's resurgent England My last contact was in May when [forwards coach] Graham Rowntree rang to tell me that I wasn't on the tour to South Africa. He said that there were other No 8s ahead of me. Obviously I didn't agree with him. So, I'm out to prove people wrong. I haven't retired myself. I feel I'm playing as well as I ever did when playing for England. My speed, believe it or not, has improved with my times faster than they've ever been and even our conditioners here are taken aback by what good nick I'm in. I'm doing things now that I've never been able to do before. No, I've not given up on England. I'd never forgive myself if I did that while I feel able to perform. I want to wear that white shirt again. Over to you, England. However, the case has not changed much there. Easter is outside the top 64 players in the country on grounds of age - he will be 37 by the time of the 2015 Rugby World Cup - as well as of past association. When Stuart Lancaster took over last December, English rugby was in the mire, gasping for air after the putrid fallout from the World Cup. Understandably, Lancaster wanted a fresh start, not just on symbolic grounds, but also because he was charged with building for the future, even though his own initial contract was for the Six Nations Championship. Out went the old - Easter, Mike Tindall, Mark Cueto and others - and in came seven new caps for the opening Six Nations game against Scotland at Murrayfield. Easter was not alone in not playing particularly well at the World Cup. He will also be forever connected to a remark quoted anonymously in the wake of the quarter-final loss to France: "Well, that's £35,000 down the toilet." His sardonic tone does not sit well with everyone. Lancaster runs a tight ship with everyone on-message. It is not stretching things to imagine that Easter would be considered, at best, an overpowering presence for a young generation; at worst disruptive. Lancaster may be new but several of the management team from the previous regime remain. Easter would like to think that there is no agenda against him. "I hope that's not the case," said Easter. Whether there is or isn't, surely it's about what how you're playing. As for the age thing, well, [All Blacks lock] Brad Thorn was 37 at the last World Cup. Remember, I came to first-class rugby late. It's not about the registration plate, it's about the miles on the clock. I've never wanted to be one of those players just hanging on in there when in truth you're past it. I know I've still got plenty to offer. Kingston concurs, dismissing the notion too that Easter might be considered troublesome. "You don't want nodding dogs, do you?" said Kingston. Nick is an absolute pleasure to coach, knowledgeable, inclusive and bright. When he speaks about rugby, I listen. That's not to say he didn't need his backside kicked in the past but those days are long gone. Easter himself acknowledges that. We used to have chippy Tuesdays at Orrell years ago post-training, and I also used to eat a whole tube of Pringles because I thought the 2:1 carbohydrate/protein balance was just right. No 8 was not a position of huge depth for England which is why Lancaster went on the hunt for back-up, plucking Ben Morgan from Wales. Morgan, dynamic with ball in hand, had a good championship but tailed off. Waldrom, Phil Dowson, James Haskell and, below that Easter's Quins" team-mate, Tom Guest, and Wasps" emerging talent, Billy Vunipola, are on Lancaster's radar. Easter will bide his time. Injury may open up an opportunity while his form may make a compelling case for inclusion. There is no dying of the light in the Easter household.