Lions boss Andy Farrell has done England a huge favour he may yet regret

Ben Earl got the taste for life with the Lions down under and is desperate for a crack at the All Blacks in four years' time when the red clan regathers. The Saracens back rower, a first-time tourist, played in six games, including the first and third Tests against Australia, in the 2-1 series win, and insists he is a better player than the one who finished the Six Nations.

Earl embraced touring life, honing his single-figure golf handicap in every city the Lions visited and rubbing shoulders with the best of the British and Irish. He has seen how top players from other countries prepare and learned not to be so uptight about his game, which spells good news for England, which will be back in Australia for the 2027 World Cup.

The 27-year-old said: "I've made friends for life. It showed me something completely different in terms of the rugby side of things. It has been completely transformative for me and I'm a far better player because of it.

"You can overthink this sport so much but when you've got a game on Saturday, then you've got to play again on Tuesday or Wednesday, you're not going to be able to do every rep or review every opposition. Get out of your own way and just play rugby. It's almost like you get to the pinnacle of our sport, that is what this is, and you're back playing under-12s on a Sunday morning.

"Some of the best players in the world are in that changing room and some of them are the most relaxed people I've ever seen about preparation and training. It's eye-opening.

"Everyone talks about the aura around the badge, the honour and it has not got lost on me. I've seen people potentially play their last game in the shirt and what it means. I'd do anything to play for the Lions one last time."

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our WhatsApp community here.

Fitness and form permitting, Earl will be an obvious candidate to make the trip to New Zealand where Andy Farrell is favourite to be boss again.

Farrell might be Ireland's head coach but he might have done England a favour with the extra self-belief he has instilled in Earl.

Earl added: "He has made me fully believe in how good I am. Every time he talks to the group, I'm like, I'll do anything for that man - I'm ready to play. Every time he spoke to the group, I'm like, God, when the time comes, I'm ready to play for this bloke.

"If there was any circumstance where I would end up wearing that jersey, I know he'd back me 100% and he'd make me feel like I fully deserve that. And I think that's just testament to him, testament to the environment created, along with the other coaches.

"I didn't really know fully his story. He was captain of the Great Britain team at 21, we were actually speaking about the other day - the first game of rugby league he played professionally was at 16. He's just got an unbelievable story and I've learnt so much off him."

Earl will be reunited with Owen Farrell, a late call-up for the Lions tour, at Saracens, and potentially with England, this season after the fly-half's move from France.

"Every time I take the pitch with Owen, I think 'we're going to win', said Earl. "That's his best quality."