Bye Bye Borthwick - Hello Courtney Lawes?

England captain Steve Borthwick has been ruled out of Saracens' Guinness Premiership title bid due to injury and is likely to miss England's summer tour down under.

Wonky-nosed Steve has lost his battle against a knee problem which saw him miss England's showdown with France in the Six Nations.

A new bout of tendinitis has scuppered his return to training with Saracens and put his inclusion in England's June tour to Australia and New Zealand in doubt.

It has been revealed today that the lock needs another two months of conditioning and rest to return to full fitness.

Bothers was targeting a return against Leicester this Saturday - a match which could dictate if Sarries will grab a home semi-final.

But has his absence been a bad thing?

Some of his critics have linked Borthwick's stint on the sidelines with Saracens' recent impressive and explosive play.  Sarries have been doing very well without him, thank you very much, and England seemed to cope just fine in his absence.

OK, so England lost to France, but under skipper Lewis Moody they were a much hungrier and dynamic force.

So with one of England's first choice second rows laid up, it looks like there'll be a space in the starting line-up. 

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.  The World Cup is but months away.

Courtney Lawes anyone?

Yes I think so.

But we'll probably just get Louis Deacon again...

Awesome.

Six Nations Week 1: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good...

A 30-17 win for England, despite a strong comeback from Wales in the second half.
England's line out.  Excellent work again from messrs Borthwick and Shaw.
Jonny Wilkinson.  Another 15 points in the bag.  Easy.
James Hook's solo try.  Is he Barry John in disguise?
France's Mathieu Bastareaud, an 18 stone double try-scoring powerhouse.  Ireland beware in Paris next week.
The French front five.  Dominated scrum time, solid in the line out and great in the loose.

The Bad...

Scotland's scrum which looked totally feeble.  Please hurry back Euan Murray.
Wales' goal kicking.  A couple of misses for James Hook which let England off the hook early on.
Ireland's second half performance.  Brian O'Driscoll said it was "mediocre" and "frustrating".  I nearly drifted off to sleep.  Ireland have got to step it up before their trip to Paris next weekend.
Rob Kearney's sloppy clearance, straight into the arms of Kane Robertson, who skipped over the line for an easy try.

The Ugly...

Italy's tediously slow work at the breakdown.  The BBC commentator said Italy's backs could make a cappuccino in the time it took their scrum-half Tebaldi to dig the ball out.  I think it would have been quicker if I had swum across the Irish sea to Croke Park and got the ball for him.  Zzzzzz.
Gonzalo Garcia's attempted spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll.  Tut, tut.  A well deserved yellow card for that one.
Alun Wyn Jones' stupid trip.  Cue a ten minute sin-binning and England scoring two tries against 14 man Wales.  D'oh.

Man of the Month: February

February brings us the start of the fabulous Six Nations, and February's Man of the Month is a player who I think will have a massive impact in this year's tournament.

There were a few players shortlisted but one player really stood out. 

Courtney Lawes was a big contendor.  He is one of England's young guns and a man I'm hoping to see do much more than spend the majority of the tournament warming the bench.

Then I almost plumped for Jamie Roberts, Wales' brilliant centre.

Of course there's Ireland heroes like Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip.  And who can forget Jonny Sexton, the new kid on the block?

Or how about Imanol Harinordoquy, France's excellent back row forward?

Scotland captain Chris Cusiter nearly made the final cut, and I would have gone for Italy's Sergio Parisse if he wasn't ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.

However there can be only one Man of the Month. 

Whilst I haven't exactly enjoyed a love affair of Mills and Boon proportions with Steve Borthwick, he is my Mr. February.

Why?  Well, I've had a change of heart where Borthers is concerned.  Whilst I don't think he's the man to take England all the way to the World Cup Final next year, he is the England captain and I'm going to get behind him.  Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Borthwick might not be the most dynamic leader on the rugby pitch but he is solid, dependable in the line out and brings a cool head.

If England are to win the Six Nations this year then they'll need both a minor miracle and also plenty of support.  That is why Steve is my Man of the Month.

Please don't let me down now, captain.

Captain Fantastic

Lo and behold, Martin Johnson has finally annouced who will captain England for (at least the first game) of the Six Nations.

It's....

(drum roll).

Still Steve Borthwick.

Ah.

Borthers looking quite dynamic for a change

So let me get this straight.  Based on form alone, Borthers would probably only make it onto the England bench behind the masterful Simon Shaw and his apprentice Courtney Lawes.  Hmm.  Call me old fashioned, but surely the captain should be a man who would make the starting fifteen?  Shouldn't the captain's name be the first on the team sheet, as it was in the days of Johnson himself?

Apparently not.

Oh well.  Consistency is a good thing I suppose.  Well, if you want England to be consistently shit that is.  I know that a captain's performance doesn't make or break the entire team, but it's a pretty good place to start.  Maybe being conservative really is the new black...

All this does make me wonder if we will be be treated to more of the same ineffective rugby from England in the Six Nations.  Hopefully not.  I mean, a flying pig might land on MJ's head during the England v Wales game, and in his concussed state he might choose a better captain for the rest of the tournament.  Like Moody or Hartley for example.  I doubt it will happen though...

Oink oink.