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Borthwick cast in the leading role

By Chris Hewett
Tuesday, 28 October 2008


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Steve Borthwick was yesterday appointed England captain

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Steve Borthwick left Bath for Saracens last summer ""in search of a new challenge"" – an explanation of questionable value, rather like the line routinely used by politicians about spending more time with the family. He certainly has a challenge now, though, the 29-year-old line-out specialist from Cumbria was appointed England captain yesterday by the new manager Martin Johnson, and as a result, he has been burdened with the heavy responsibility of doing for this red rose vintage what Johnson himself did for the World Cup-winning one of 2003.

"I won't be giving Steve a specific amount of time in the job," Johnson said. "I just want to support him as much as possible. He is a good leader who prepares thoroughly for all his matches both at club and international level; I know he will enjoy the work that comes with being captain of England."

That latter point was something of a no-brainer, for Borthwick has long been renowned as a model professional who dedicates every waking breath, not to mention most of his sleeping ones, to making the best of himself. Danny Grewcock, who partnered him at Bath, once described him as the hardest-working lock he had ever encountered, and Johnson clearly sees something of this in his man.

However, Borthwick will have to be at his very best in terms of form, as well as preparation, if England are to make progress between now and the first week of December, when the draw for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand will be made on the basis of International Rugby Board rankings. They have four Tests at Twickenham. The first, against a hotchpotch Pacific Islands team, is eminently winnable, the second, against an Australian side, prospering under the controversial new laws, will be awkward; the last two, against the world champion Springboks and the Grand Slam hunting All Blacks come under the "profoundly difficult" heading. Yet they will suffer some sharp criticism if they lose more then once, especially in light of the Rugby Football Union's despicable treatment of Johnson predecessor Brian Ashton.

Johnson could not have placed his trust in a more ambitious individual. He knew this when he asked Borthwick to lead the thankless two-match tour of New Zealand last June – a tour the manager missed because his wife was expecting – and nothing has happened in the interim to alter his view. It was hardly the best England trip in history, what with heavy defeats, in Auckland and Christchurch and local police aiming accusations of sexual misconduct at a number of players, but the captain played a thoroughly rotten hand as well as it was possible to play it, acting with considerable dignity in desperate circumstances. Even had there been serious alternative candidates for the captaincy, Borthwick earned Johnson's loyalty on that tour. As it was, candidates were thin on the ground. Phil Vickery, appointed by Ashton early in 2007, performed magnificently through the World Cup in France and kept going manfully through a fraught Six Nations Championship but his bruised front-rower's body is now screaming for rest. Two of his colleagues in the Wasps pack, the young flankers James Haskell and Tom Rees, had been touted as possible "bolt from the blue" options – shades of Geoff Cooke's decision to appoint a youthful Will Carling to the role in the late 1980s – but Haskell is struggling for form and Rees has enough on his plate establishing himself as a world-class breakaway capable of mixing it with the likes of Richie McCaw and George Smith, the outstanding Antipodeans heading his way next month.

Ultimately Borthwick was the only sensible choice. If he fails, it will not be for the want of trying.

Captains' log England's leaders since 2003

*Lawrence Dallaglio, Winter 2003: Unhappy second spell before the first of his retirements.

*Jonny Wilkinson, Autumn 2004: Andy Robinson's first choice as captain. As usual with Wilkinson, injury got in the way.

* Jason Robinson, Autumn 2004: the rugby league convert was no-one's idea of a natural union captain and he ended up struggling.

* Martin Corry, Spring 2005: Robinson turned to him almost in desperation and was rewarded.

* Phil Vickery, Spring 2007: After taking over as coach, Brian Ashton wanted a captain of his own and picked the right mind.

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