Tom Johnson's England hopes depend on Exeter success

Exeter flanker Tom Johnson says his continued role in the England team will depend upon how well the Chiefs do in the Premiership.

Johnson impressed for England while playing in all three Tests against South Africa in the summer.

"It's all about how well the team does and good things come off the back of it," Johnson told BBC South West.

"You've got to play well within a very good team and then things might happen for you."

Last season Exeter just missed out on the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup and were one place off the Premiership end-of-season play-offs.

For the first time ever the club will play in the Heineken Cup, in a pool which features Leinster, Scarlets and Clermont Auvergne.

And Johnson is confident that if Exeter play well in their big games in the upcoming season, more of his team-mates will catch the eye of Stuart Lancaster and the England coaching staff.

"Every player does the extras and puts in the hard work," he said.

"You tend to find that the hard work gets rewarded if the team does well."

And he says his experiences against the Springboks were the highlight of his career so far.

"I loved every minute to be honest," he said.

"It was probably the best experience I've ever had as a rugby player playing in front of sell-out crowds at places like Ellis Park.

"I had a good start in the first Test and managed to make an impact in the first few minutes and from there the confidence built."