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« You Bastareaud! | | Six Nations - Team of the Championship » March 19, 2010 Posted on 03/19/2010 Don't let us down Mad Dog
OK - it may have taken an injury to break the seemingly unbreakable bond between England manager Martin Johnson and Steve Borthwick but as the saying goes - out of adversity comes opportunity - in this case for Lewis Moody. The 31-year-old flanker will lead his country for the first time against France on Saturday night and has a real chance to stake a claim for the role on a permanent basis. I have long pushed his claims for the captaincy and it appeared that after an outstanding series of displays in the autumn during an otherwise disappointing campaign that his time had come. But sadly no. Johnson stood by his man - as he has done since appointing him on his arrival in the post in 2008 - although he appeared to flirt with the possibility of a change by not re-appointing Borthwick when he announced his squad for the Six Nations - opting to keep the media guessing until the opening game. Borthwick has been the subject of much criticism since assuming the captaincy with many questioning his on-field leadership and his performances. To be fair to the Sarries lock, he has rediscovered some form of late and is a key lineout technician but still wants for dynamism elsewhere which is one element that Moody has in abundance. The Bath-bound star can often be seen throwing himself into ruck and re-starts and charging headlong into a flying boot and it is that crowd-pleasing approach that has won him many fans since he stepped up to the international arena in 2001. A Rugby World Cup winner with England in 2003 and a tourist with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 he is no stranger to the big stage and is no longer the loose-cannon that managed to get himself sent off against Samoa a few years back. He is also equally able and eloquent in front of the cameras which may also go in his favour as England look to counter claims that they are also losing their way off the field. The task facing Moody is a daunting one. France are in sensational form and have been the best side in this year's Championship by some way. But no doubt he will tackle the task and the captaincy with the same kind of verve that has served him so well up until now. Comments
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