Banahan at home on big stage
Matt Banahan believes he is ready for anything Test rugby can throw at him after emerging from England's 24-22 defeat by Argentina with his reputation further enhanced.
The giant Bath winger has adapted to the international game with remarkable ease and has proved one of Martin Johnson's finds of the season.
"It was a very hostile environment but if you can play well in the worst places, hopefully when you visit the nicer places your standards will only rise," said Banahan.
Showing speed, power and composure, he ran in England's only try in front of a nationalistic Pumas crowd whose jumping shook the stands at the Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
Having survived his club baptism at the Shed, Gloucester's infamous stand, Banahan insists the experience of playing in Argentina will enable him to feel at home in any Test arena.
"I was always told that playing at the Shed will make or break a Premiership player," he said.
"To come to Argentina will probably make or break an England player as we only had about 10 fans there and it was really noisy. I was pleased with the way it went.
"Hopefully I can keep playing well in front of those Gloucester fans and the next time I go to Argentina, and into bigger games like Australia, New Zealand or Wales at the Millennium Stadium, I will cope."
