Graham Kitchener would be playing for the All Blacks if he was from New Zealand.
That is the view of fellow second-row forward Brad Thorn, who is better placed than most to make that judgment.
Kitchener and Thorn formed a powerful partnership as they have taken the load in Tigers' injury-hit second-row this season.
The two men may come from different generations of the game with Thorn almost 40 and Kitchener just 25.
But the World Cup-winner is one of the greats of the game and when he says England are missing out by not including Kitchener in their squad, it should make people listen.
"I look at Kitch and I see a Test player," said Thorn.
"When you come into footie, and life in general, people might change the way they come across because of the environment they are in.
"But Kitch is a strong enough man not to have to do that.
"He is a quiet kind of guy but don't mistake that for a shy guy. He is really intelligent and is very thorough. He is sure about what he says, so when he does speak it is of good quality.
"If he was in New Zealand, he would be an All Black.
"That's what I believe. They have Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick. But I just believe he would be an All Black.
"I like the fact he stays his own man. He reminds me of Leo Cullen (former Tigers and Leinster skipper).
"Brian O'Driscoll says Leo was the best captain he has played under. Leo is a quality type of guy and people follow him.
"Surely at some stage, sooner rather than later, Kitch needs to be involved in the England squad in some way.
"He is 120kgs, a great athlete, a good scrummager and a great and smart line-out caller. He is the full package."
The Leicester man trained with England during the autumn internationals but never made it to the match-day 23. Stuart Lancaster preferred a second-row pairing of Northampton's Courtney Lawes and Bath's Dave Attwood.
With Wasps' Joe Launchbury out of the Six Nations following a neck operation, Kitchener is likely to be battling with Tigers team-mate Geoff Parling for a place in the Elite Player Squad come selection time.
