However, he did enough in 20 minutes off the bench against Canada (41-11) last week to sway Saxons Head Coach Jon Callard into handing him a start at the Commonwealth Stadium (12pm local/7pm UK).

“I’m just itching to get out there,” said Erinle. “People say I haven’t got enough consistency but I just need a chance, to start games on a regular basis.

“I thought at one stage I was going to be on the bench again so it’s nice to get a start. I haven’t started a game for seven or eight weeks so hopefully the legs and lungs will last the distance.

“It’s been a frustrating year, in and out of the starting line-up at Wasps, where we have a glut of centres (Erinle, Rob Hoadley, Fraser Waters, Stuart Abbot and Josh Lewsey) and obviously out here injuries haven’t helped.

“If you are on the bench or not starting then things can get on top of you and you can feel as if you are losing your head a little. But I’m lucky in that I share a flat with my sister and we do things away from rugby which take my mind off things.”

Erinle wants to impress after last year’s Churchill Cup, when he had limited chances as a replacement against Canada and in the final victory over Argentina.

“I’m never one to think I have a point to prove to coaches,” he said. “The only point I have to prove is to myself. I know what I can achieve and what I can do and it’s just trying to show that on the pitch.

“Wing is still a relatively new position for me but hopefully I can bring what I have learnt over the season and last weekend into this game. I did play wing as a colt for two or three seasons and it is very different but I like the fact that I’m playing there because it broadens your rugby horizons.”

And when the tournament is over, will he be taking requests at the baby grand in the team’s hotel reception?

“I’m not quite at that level yet,” he confessed.