'Tank' has helped me improve - Ewers

A strong start to the season has only fanned the flames of a possible England call-up for Dave Ewers and the Exeter Chiefs back-row credits partner-in-crime Thomas Waldrom for his impressive form.

Ewers has already scored two Aviva Premiership Rugby tries this season and although Chiefs went down 29-24 to Newcastle Falcons last weekend, No.8 Waldrom notched his fourth score of the campaign.

Waldrom, who joined the Devon club over the summer from rivals Leicester Tigers, has slotted in alongside Ewers and Ben White to create a formidable back-row - in the absence of the injured Tom Johnson - that has helped the Chiefs soar to fourth place in the table.

And while Ewers acknowledges the impact of the whole club, he insists playing alongside 31-year-old Waldrom (pictured left) in particular has seen him develop as a rugby player.

"Our back row has been strong this season and I've really enjoyed it so far," said the 23-year-old. "It's great to play alongside Whitey [Ben White] and Tank [Thomas Waldrom].

"I'm learning so much from Tank and I'm enjoying playing alongside him - it takes a lot of pressure off me having to carry all the time when there's such a good ball carrier with me in the back row.

"He makes it so much easier for you to play alongside him, which shows how good he is - you can feed off his ball carries and there is more space for other forwards on the pitch.

"He's always willing to work hard and I'm trying to learn as much as I can from him."

Waldrom already has five international caps and, with Ewers' good form, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that more Chiefs could follow Johnson into the England pack before long.

But Ewers insists a call from England boss Stuart Lancaster would just be a bonus.

"I'm definitely striving for England caps eventually," he added. "Whether it comes in the next year, two or three or four is out of my control really.

"I'm just trying to perform here at Exeter and if things happen for me internationally it would be awesome and I would try to grab that opportunity with both hands.