What’s the feeling in the England camp going into this Six Nations, Jamie? 

The overriding feeling is excitement. I spoke to Steve Borthwick today, and there have been a couple of injuries, but this squad has strength in depth. So many exciting young players have taken the Prem by storm this year. We can also take a huge amount of momentum from the Autumn Nations Cup. I think people are seeing there’s a more consistent feel to the team selection. That allows us to be tighter as a group and enjoy being in camp a lot more, which in turn makes us play better rugby.

You’ve said you want to connect with the Twickenham crowd a bit more. What does that mean in practice?

Ultimately, the fans come to Allianz Stadium to see an England team show its emotion, show how much it means to play for England, play with a smile on their faces, be confrontational, and play a good style of rugby. But there are other things that can enhance fan interaction too. We’ve lengthened our walk into the stadium to walk past more fans. When I was a kid going to Twickenham, I don't remember the game too much, but I remember Martin Johnson walking past me and getting to lay eyes on him and the likes of Jonny Wilkinson. As a kid, it’s absolute gold on days like that. I never want to lose sight of the eight-year-old rugby-obsessed kid.

You mentioned momentum from autumn. How did it feel to beat a team like New Zealand in that manner?

There's no feeling like it, if I'm completely honest. In the build-up to big games at home – wearing an English shirt in front of 82,000 people – there's a huge amount of excitement. You can see it in the way people carry themselves. You can hear it in the way people talk. When you get there, you see all the fans, and you see how much it means to people. There's an element of relief when you win, but also complete ecstasy. They're days that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

How are you feeling in yourself going into the Six Nations?

Obviously, I'm coming into the latter end of my career, but I feel really good. I picked up an injury in that New Zealand game that kept me out for six weeks or so, but I'm feeling really strong and really fresh now. I think your mind definitely leads in the way that your body feels. That excitement we're all feeling about getting into camp and getting going is something that I'm feeling.

Which teams do you think pose the biggest challenge?

This is why the Six Nations is one of the best competitions in the world. You've got such difficult games. Italy were probably seen as the weakest side of the competition, but that certainly isn't the case anymore. We've got them away from home in Rome, which is always a big challenge. Ireland are a top-ranked team, as are France. And we've got France away at nine o’clock in Paris in the last round on Super Saturday. We want to be going into that in a final-type situation: if we win, we win the whole thing. I think France pose a really big threat. You look at their club rugby, they're in really good form, and they've got a lot of world-class players. So that'll be a big test for us, for sure.

Post-match rituals?

After a big win, being in the change room, and enjoying a glass of sparkling wine (possibly a Nyetimber!), that time is so special. I've had some really cool victories in my career. The game itself, you remember little parts of, but the main thing that you look back and reflect on is that time in the changing room when you have a good laugh with your mates, there's music playing, and you get stuck into a bit of food. That's the bit that's special. That's the bit I will miss when I retire.

How would you describe your clothing style?

My style of dressing is generally relaxed and comfortable. But I also like to try to bring a bit of personality to it. I'm not someone who just throws on trackies and a hoodie.

Any brands you tend towards?

I love REPRESENT. There's a brand in Australia that I came across in the summer called Motorino. They have an amazing shop in Bondi, right on the beach, and it's really classy, cool, laidback stuff. It’s me down to the ground. I'm onto them about opening something over here, because I think it would be huge.

If we opened your fridge right now, what would surprise people most?

I’m a chilli jam connoisseur. If I want something a little bit sweeter, the Nando’s one is actually very good. Or Tracklements is really good. Or the M&S chilli jam.

What does it feel like to be the oldest in the England squad?

It's bizarre. It's come around so quickly, but it's something that I'm proud of and that I really love. I like the fact that I'm now able to impart the wisdom that I might have onto other people. I also know my role in the team now. I'm aware that I'm not the young guy who can come in and make loads of mistakes. I've got to set the standard and the tone in terms of where I think this team needs to be. 

Is life after rugby something that’s starting to run through your mind?

Yeah, definitely. I run a physiotherapy business alongside my rugby at the moment, which is going really well. My business partner is poking me about deciding on retirement, but they might only need me three or four days a week, so it might work to stay involved in rugby, whether that be coaching or punditry, one day a week. I think I would take to coaching quite well. But equally, I'm quite excited about getting my weekends back and being able to take my daughter to whatever sport she might be doing. It's been a long time since that’s happened.

You’ve won multiple titles across the Prem, Europe and the Six Nations, but the World Cup is still out there. Is that the ultimate goal for you before the curtain closes?

Yeah, absolutely. I've got second and third place medals. It'd be nice to get a gold. The last two World Cups in particular have been amazing but frustrating at the same time – 2019, in particular, getting to the final and losing is something that I'll probably always have small regrets around. I'm hoping that, if I'm still involved, the World Cup will be the end of my career. I've made that decision because I believe England are going to be right up there in terms of having the best chance to go and win it. I fully believe in the team. I fully believe in the coaching staff, and I know how hard that journey is going to be, but I just desperately want to be a part of it. So, yeah, it's the final piece of the jigsaw. It'd be lovely to finish my career with that trophy in my hand, but we'll see how that goes. There's a lot of rugby to be played between now and then.

How do you rate your chances of being in that team?

Right now, they're probably pretty strong. Equally, I spoke earlier about the strength and depth in the England squad at the moment. I play club rugby with a guy called Theo Dan, who's been on the outskirts of the team recently, and he's playing unbelievable rugby, so I’m aware that I need to stay at the top of my game – and that it's another 18 months down the line. But my motivation to be a part of that squad is as big as my motivation has ever been to be a part of anything, so I’ll be giving absolutely everything to try and contribute to a really successful trip to Australia.

England wins the Six Nations. Which player are you sharing a bottle of Nyetimber with?

Well, I've shared plenty of bottles of Nyetimber with Elliot Daly. He's done his level two sommelier course as well, so he’s into his wines, and he's my best mate, so I will say Elliot.

Nyetimber, now the official sparkling wine partner of England Rugby, has named former England captain Jamie George as its brand ambassador. Read more about it at Nyetimber.com.

Photography: Laura Granados