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The 32-year-old fly-half made an immediate impact as a half-time substitute to put the hosts ahead with a drop goal before an audacious decision with less than three minutes remaining handed Saracens their fifth league win of the season.

Trailing by a point in the 78th minute, Jackson spurned a straightforward penalty shot in front of goal to kick to the right wing for an alert Richard Haughton to dive over.

"I've been here for three years now and not played for another country, with an Irish wife, so if that means I've qualified now I'm not 100 percent sure," said Jackson, who is poised to qualify for England through residency.

"I've just had a son who is an Englishman, and in terms of where we live this is home. There would be no greater honour than to play for the country that you live in, in terms of England."

The former Waikato Chiefs number 10 qualifies under International Rugby Board regulations as he has completed 36 consecutive months of residency, having made his Saracens debut in November 2004 against Bath.

He will therefore be eligible for consideration for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations - with Tonga-born Gloucester wing Lesley Vainikolo, formerly of Bradford Bulls, and Wasps' Riki Flutey, who spent two seasons with the Exiles, also close to qualifying.

However, Jackson faces stiff competition to make the squad from Jonny Wilkinson, Charlie Hodgson and Andy Goode, while Danny Cipriani claimed two tries in a 20-point haul in Wasps' 35-12 win over Newcastle at Adams Park.

"He's one of those players who has got the ability to play it both ways," Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney said. "If they want to play the game forward, I think Jacko's one of the better players at that.

"And Jacko's got the ability of sitting in the pocket and knocking it into the corners - he's got a very good kicking game."

Jackson's endeavour was demonstrated by his match-winning decision, one which was fully endorsed by Gaffney.

"The one thing all my life I've coached is never take the flair out of players and never die wondering," Gaffney added. "I know what Jacko was thinking - a few years ago he knocked it over and they've come back down the other end and stolen the game.

"I could see why he was doing it. There was no doubt it was on, but you've still got to have a fair bit of accuracy and a fair bit of balls - he has that in spades."

Newcastle coach John Fletcher hopes the return of England stars Wilkinson and Toby Flood will help kickstart their season after the Falcons' loss to Wasps.

The World Cup pair have been struggling with ankle injuries but their impending comebacks, combined with the arrival of big-money Kiwi signing Carl Hayman, will give the squad a boost.

"Jonny will be in full training today," said Fletcher. "He was pretty close last week and we expect him to be available for selection along with Toby Flood.We start paying him this week so I expect he will be in the squad."

England winger Paul Sackey and fly-half Cipriani scored two tries apiece as Wasps continued their post-World Cup resurgence.

Sporting Life / Eurosport