In-form Sale full-back Joe Carpenter admits that part of his focus ahead of this weekend's fixture against Harlequins is to outshine opposite number George Furbank to advance his case for an England recall.
Carpenter, who recently scored a hat-trick of tries against Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup last month, largely attributes his fast start to the campaign to missing out on recent England selection. After participating in tours to Japan and New Zealand in 2024 and Argentina and the United States in 2025, his omission from a grueling Nations Championship trip allowed him to complete a full club pre-season for the first time in three years.
Reflecting on the summer, Carpenter acknowledged that missing out was disappointing given the intense nature of international tours, but noted that receiving ten full weeks of preparation and getting his body right was precisely what he needed. He feels this has shown clearly in his matches, leaving him feeling fitter and stronger.
While acknowledging he is currently just outside the international setup, Carpenter believes that delivering consecutive strong performances and playing at his absolute best will put him in the prime position to push for inclusion in November. England coaches have previously challenged him to enhance his backfield decision-making and improve the stamina required to cover ground and repeatedly take on tacklers.
Having scored highly in pre-season fitness testing, Carpenter has continued to prove an elusive threat with ball in hand, noting that beating defenders is a massive part of his style. He emphasized that the physical repeatability allows him to go again at speed, putting him in better positions to influence the game positively.
Carpenter also reflected on Sale's difficult previous campaign, which saw the team finish seventh after reaching the play-offs in each of his prior three seasons. Following a year featuring only five league wins, a heavy defeat to Saracens, and a Champions Cup quarter-final exit against Leinster, Carpenter admitted that re-signing with the club required careful consideration.
However, discussions with the coaching staff regarding the future game model, combined with high-profile arrivals such as former England captain Courtney Lawes, convinced him to stay. Lawes, alongside experienced figures like Tom Curry and George Ford, recently helped inspire Sale to only their second-ever away league victory against Saracens, reinforcing Carpenter's belief in the squad's direction.