THERE was a time Saracens flanker Will Fraser could pinch himself and be out of action for two weeks.
These days the 23-year-old can't help checking if life is all just a dream after finding himself a regular starter for the Men in Black, a big hit with England Saxons and on the threshold of Stuart Lancaster's full international squad.
And all that in just one mind-boggling, gobsmacking, breathtaking year.
"Looking back over the past 12 months I can honestly say it just feels surreal, said Fraser, who coaches once tagged an injury-prone youngster who might never make it into professional rugby. "I think this season has been very much one where I have had to keep pinching myself all the way through to see if what's happening to me is real and I'm not imagining it.
"In particular the last few months have been something of a whirlwind. It's been brilliant. To be called up to train with the Six Nations squad only a year after I broke into the Sarries' team is unbelievable.
"It is such a huge opportunity to even be in that environment. It is something I massively appreciate and something I have learned a lot from. It just makes me want to be there even more."
Fraser got his chance at Vicarage Road towards the end of last season and seized it firmly with both hands. Now, with Saracens ensconced in their plush new £24m home at Allianz Park in Barnet, the powerful No 7 is a regular on the team-sheet as the star-studded side chases a silverware double.
Director of Rugby Mark McCall insists: "He's only been going for 16 months and I think he's ready for England now."
It was McCall who revealed Fraser's stop-start development as a junior led Saracens to believe a career in rugby might be beyond him. "He just had different injuries for three years," he said. "Almost to the point where you think it's not going to work for this player. But we're glad we hung in there with him."
Fraser is sufficiently grounded to realise that what the game gives it can also take away. It was someone else's misfortune which handed him his chance and he is determined never to lose sight of that fact.
"I got my opportunity through injuries," he recalled. "Obviously you don't wish injury on anyone, especially your team-mates. But it happened and I grabbed the chance. Fortunately I was able to carry that form through into this season and everything has just happened from there.
"The more you play, the more confident you get. I learn from every game I play and I take those lessons into the next game. But when you look around you at the players we have here at Saracens you are bound to learn. Just look at the likes of Steve Borthwick. He is the only captain I have had in my professional career, but I will put it out there and say that I will struggle to play under a better one in the rest of my career."
Fraser admits the call-up to the Saxons was something of a surprise. But when he scored the winning try on his debut against Ireland A and then had a strong game against Scotland a week later, he impressed some pretty influential people. An invitation followed to join the full England Six Nations squad as injury cover before the Ireland and France games.
"It was phenomenal for me," he said. "It was such a huge honour to even be in that environment. It was good to see the lads operating on a day-to-day basis in the build up to games. It just made me want to be part of it again.
"I don't think I realised just how close I was to the full England squad. And now I'm knocking on the door is even more exciting. I wanted it before all this, but I want it even more now. It has given me that little bit extra to kick on now.
"There is obviously the tour of Argentina coming up in the summer, but there's a long way to go before then. I've just got to keep my head down, train hard, play well and, with so many of the lads hopefully going off with the Lions, hopefully I can push my way on to that plane. Who knows? If I get there then I will do what I can to put my face in the shop window."
