By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph. February 2 2012
WHEN Red Rose coach Stuart Lancaster named the first captain of his reign yesterday, Cov Kid Tom Wood could have been forgiven a rueful smile.What might have been for the Coventry-born back-rower, the man who until a few days ago was the leading candidate to become the face of new England.
With his indomitable spirit, clean-cut image and under-stated yet rounded personality, the blindside is everything his country needs after the debacle of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Yet fate had other ideas and having battled through a toe injury answering Northampton’s call, Wood was warned against trying to do the same during the Six Nations. He will wear a protective boot and not play any rugby for the next three weeks.
For Wood’s England colleagues the tournament begins in Edinburgh on Saturday and uncapped Harlequins’ skipper Chris Robshaw is now the man to lead his side past the bagpipes and flame-throwers synonymous with Murrayfield.
But Wood, who started playing rugby at Barkers Butts when he was just five years old, has not given up hope of one day fulfilling what has appeared to be his destiny ever since Martin Johnson brought him into the Test arena in Cardiff a year ago.
“I am desperately disappointed because I had set my heart on being fit for the Scotland game,” the 25-year-old admitted.
“I have been playing with the injury for a while now, I played four games during which I tried to manage it week by week because there have been some big games for Saints. But the specialist told me if I kept pushing it I could break down and spend an extended period out of the game.
“My hope is that I will spend a few weeks resting then start progressing towards the end of the Six Nations.
“It pains me to have to admit that because I feel like I could play – that’s not the problem – but I don’t want to do more harm.
“As for the captaincy a lot has been said but not by me or the coach.
“The captaincy is a big honour and it’s not something I am touting myself about for.
“It would have made the game more special to have got it but I hate the idea of missing out on any game, especially an international at what seems like the start of a new era.
“It would have been a dream come true. While it is not to be now, you can’t rule it out in the future.”
What is clear is that Wood will be back. The inexperienced Robshaw aside, England do not have a surfeit of leaders.
"With his indomitable spirit, clean-cut image and under-stated yet rounded personality, the blindside is everything his country needs after the debacle of the 2011 Rugby World Cup."
what twaddle! I'm not even sure that, based on his England performances to date, he should be an automatic selection. he's been ok but nothing special.
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