FREDDIE Burns is confident his England Saxons adventure will make him a better player – for Gloucester's benefit.

Saxons coach Jon Callard has told the 21-year-old fly-half not to change his attacking style.

England's second-string XV bosses want Burns to handle matches just the way he does at Kingsholm.

And that has left the fast-improving outside-half excited by the challenges ahead.

Burns firmly believes stepping up through the international ranks will pay long-term dividend at Gloucester, even if he might be absent in the short-term.

Buoyed by the Saxons call after his first clear run of Gloucester starts, Burns hopes he can make a big impact during this international window.

He explained: "We're here to play quite an open, running style of rugby, which suits me down to the ground because of how we play at Gloucester.

"It's another step in the right direction, it's the first time I've had a real consistent run of games at ten.

"And to be named in the Saxons halfway through my first year in that position is a massive confidence boost.

"So the plan is just to keep on improving, and it will be a totally different kettle of fish coming up against an international side like Ireland.

"Obviously personally this experience is fantastic, but hopefully it will make me a better player – not just for anything that happens here, but also for coming back to Gloucester.

"Hopefully stepping up a level will help me progress even further, so that when I'm back with Gloucester that stands me in great stead for the club."

Burns works closely with Callard at Kingsolm, the former Bath and England full-back installed as Gloucester's kicking coach.

And the Gloucester tyro said he has been boosted by Callard's faith in his natural playing style.

Too often in recent years club players have stepped up to England honours, only to return to domestic action and promptly struggle for form.

A nucleus of players have been asked to adapt their natural approach to the point of undoing – but Callard's backing leaves Burns confident he does not have to alter too much too quickly.

The Saxons take on Irish Wolfhounds at Exeter's Sandy Park on Saturday (kick-off 5pm), and Burns expects Callard's men to hit their stride early.

He continued: "It's nice to have someone like that who you have a good relationship with.

"He's just said more of the same please, and a couple of different things here and there, but it just helps when you don't have to start that from scratch.

"You hear the way they want to play, and that's the way I like to play, so it always helps.

"But it's a case of knowing when to play, and when it's the right time to sit back and kick the corners, which I feel I've done fairly well this year.

"It's not too daunting, it's an exciting time and you just want to get stuck into it.

"Everyone knows what everyone else wants and it feels like we're gelling pretty quickly.

"You've only got to see the guys go through to the senior squad from the Saxons in the summer, and the Saxons has a lot more respect now all-round.

"It gives people a chance to show what they can do on an international stage and I think coaches put far greater stall by it than they ever used to.

"It's definitely not a case of just being a second string, it's an opportunity to wear an England shirt and go out and earn a place in the EPS.

"I've had a hell of a two weeks, getting the Saxons call, signing a new contract and beating Toulouse on Friday.

"It's a great place to be when you get on a run of confidence. My confidence is sky-high and I'm just trying to bring that here.

"It's just an opportunity, for things to be going well with Gloucester and then to have a chance here, it's just about taking that chance.

"Friday was definitely a massive boost, it's a big boost for everyone.

"To see Jonny race in off that Sinbad break, that's the Gloucester style and that's how we want to play regularly, and that's the aim now.

"You look at the boys in the Saxons squad, and there's Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye and guys with some serious international recognition.

"It's good to be seen as a young guy coming through, but you also want to step up and help push those more experienced guys into the right areas."