14 March 2008
ALL eyes will be on ‘Cips’ at Twickenham tomorrow and I for one can’t wait to see what he can do on an international stage.

Danny has definitely got that spark, that individual talent to light up the pitch, and if he directs all his energy into the right channels he’ll have a good match.

Circumstances took his opportunity at full back away last week but now he has his chance at No 10. It is different playing there because you are the general and you have to implement a strategic plan. But he has been doing it week in week out for Wasps so I’m sure he is capable of doing it for England.

He’ll bring some flair and youthful exuberance and he is a free spirit. But that’s nothing to be worried about and I am sure he will rise to the occasion. He enjoys that big arena and definitely plays best for Wasps when the cameras are there. He’ll be talkative this weekend and I’m sure that he won’t go into his shell.

It doesn’t feel like it but I suppose in terms of caps I’m something of a father figure to the halfbacks. I do feel that there is more responsibility shifting my way in that Danny and Wiggy are new into it. To be the most capped inside back is new to me and definitely the first time in my career so I’ll have to be a bit more vocal. I’ll just try and be there for Cips as much as I can because I know how daunting it is on your first test at 10. But I know come 3 o’clock he’ll be ready to go. 

It will seem a bit strange without Jonny in the side. He has been a huge help in my career so far and I’m sure that he will continue to be that.

He is obviously hugely disappointed to be dropped and rightly so – we have all been in that situation – but I think he’ll come back a lot stronger.

In fact I’m sure he’ll be excited about the competition he has now. He has very much been the No 1 for many years although Charlie Hodgson has been pushing him hard but now Danny is here and there is also Ryan Lamb and Shane Geraghty in the wings.

Perhaps Jonny was an over thinker and worried about things but now he is very much of the attitude ‘what will be will be’. What he means by that is not that he doesn’t care but that he is just going to go out and do the best he can. If that is not good enough then fair enough he’ll come back and work even harder but he won’t beat himself up about it

Some people have been saying there’s nothing riding on this game but for us there is – personal and professional pride. The fans and the public deserve a good performance. We have stuttered – we had mixed halves against Wales, a great win against France and poor game against Scotland. It’s hugely frustrating and we want to finish the tournament with a win and a good feeling in the camp so that we can reconvene, if selected, ahead of the tour of New Zealand.

Ireland are a different proposition without Brian O’Driscoll in that they don’t have an out and out No 13. Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan are strong ball carriers so it will definitely be a challenge for us. It will probably change their team dynamic a little bit but we have looked at that. It’s a case of fronting up and making our tackles and understanding where their new threats are rather than the ones they would have had if O’Driscoll had been playing.

I was massively shocked to hear about John Fletcher and Peter Walton going and hugely frustrated not to be at Newcastle to find out first hand what’s going on. To lose those guys , especially Fletch who I have known since I was 11,  and Steve Black is devastating . 

But I don’t think I can allow it to detract from tomorrow. People would give their left arm to play for England. I spoke to Fletch and he told me not to worry about things but to focus on Saturday because that is the most important thing. Then I can get back up north to understand what is going on.

There’s also a small operation to come. I’ve got some cartilage floating around in my right knee so I’ll need that clearing which will probably keep me out for four or five weeks