Marland Yarde sees Amlin Challenge Cup as pathway to world stage with England Yarde looked the part, both in Argentina and at the fashion shoot. He has to continue to play it out on the field. With four tries in five matches for London Irish this season, he has picked up from where he left off in South America. And he wants more. "I haven't played a Test on home soil and that is definitely an aspiration of mine," Yarde said. I enjoy the big occasion. I enjoy playing in front of big crowds. It's part of the reason I play sport. I get a real thrill from that. I want to improve. There is no time for stalling. You have to want to better yourself. It was really exciting to be on tour in Argentina and my sole aim there was to show the best of myself. I got my chance in the second Test and I took it with both hands. There is not time, though, to rest on my laurels. I can't afford to be 10 per cent off. I have to be 100 per cent all the time. That sort of driven attitude has taken Yarde a long way in a short time. England have been impressed by his single-minded determination, his coaches at London Irish too. He fits the identikit picture of the sort of back-line player that Lancaster is looking for as he prepares to take on the might of the southern hemisphere, not to mention those brutes nearer home, Wales, who handed England such a beating in the Six Nations in Cardiff last March. Lancaster has said he wants backs with "pace, size, power and physicality." Yarde ticks all those boxes. "Strength and power is a big part of my game - that's what I bring on the wing," he said. So, too, is mental application. London Irish have surprised many with their start to the season, beating recent champions Harlequins and proving more of a handful than anticipated, especially after such a high turnover of players in the summer. The Exiles" head coach, Brian Smith, revealed that the squad had imposed a ban on alcohol since the start of the season. "It was a six-week thing, it's over now," Yarde said. We are a tight-knit, family sort of club. You can see that in the way we have played for each other. Yarde would not countenance the notion that playing in the Amlin, the secondary European tournament, might damage his chances of making the Test team. "Not at all," he said. Rugby is about 15 per cent skill, 85 per cent heart and determination. It is about having the mentality to want to do things. If you think you can turn up and be 10-15 per cent off yet go on to win, then you are mistaken. I know this Italian side will be coming to put down a marker. That is as may be, although Prato have lost all 12 of their previous Amlin matches. With the Portuguese newcomers, Lusitanos XV, in their group, London Irish appear to have an easy ride - until you come to the fourth side in the pool, Stade Français, who are among the pacesetters in France's Top 14 this season and were the losing finalists in this cup last season. The Amlin has long been a mixed bag and was overdue for reform. European Rugby Cup's decision to draft three of the best-placed Heineken Cup pool sides not to qualify for the latter stages of that tournament into the Amlin knockout stages has reinvigorated the latter end of the competition. There are also three former Heineken Cup winners in the mix from the start this year - Wasps, Bath and Brive - and along with the likes of London Irish and Sale they will see this tournament as a possible means of entry to the major European competition next season, no matter what the format might be or who is running it. Yarde is ambitious. He wants to be part of the elite scene, for his club as well as for his country. Opportunity is beckoning.