Skipper Sanderson aims high
Vancouver
June 5, 2001

Alex Sanderson, the youngest captain in the Zurich Premiership, has been handed the role for England in their midweek tour match in Vancouver. But the Sale star will not be happy until he has forced his way into 'the best back-row in the world'.

At 21, Sanderson is used to having the weight of responsibility thrust onto his shoulders.

He held the captain's role with England through the age groups and last season now-departed Sale director of rugby Adrian Hadley chose the youngster to lead the Heywood Road club.

Sanderson obviously impressed Clive Woodward because, despite the former's tender years, another honour has been handed over for the clash with British Columbia at the University sports grounds on Tuesday evening (0230 Wednesday, GMT).

"I am quite flattered that Clive has shown so much faith in me,'' said Sanderson. "Hopefully I will live up to it.

"Being captain has never really bothered me and if anything it should be an easier task at this level than it is with Sale.

"When you are playing for your country, the guys around you all have great ability. It should just allow me to stick to my own job and make the decisions as they occur.''

Woodward has dangled the carrot of a possible Test appearance in front of Sanderson, while Bristol wing David Rees and Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman also have much to gain with selection for the second Test in Vancouver due to be finalised immediately after the confrontation with Canada's strongest province.

Sanderson will start at No 8 and recognises the strength England possess in the back row.

Even with three illustrious internationals away on Lions duty, Woodward was still able to name full caps Martin Corry and Joe Worsley at the weekend, with Leicester's Lewis Moody also excelling on his Test debut.

And Sanderson's brother Pat, of Harlequins, is scenting an opportunity having been named on the bench last Saturday and again tonight.

"England has some great back-row players,'' said Alex. "As a unit, the three guys away with the Lions are probably the best in the world and the competition outside that is immense.

"But that will just make it all the more of an achievement when I do break in.

"I'm clear in my mind that I will get in the England side one day. You have to aim for the top, otherwise there would be no point being here."

Leeds and former Scotland Under-21 lock Tom Palmer gets his chance, despite never having appeared in a Premiership game, while club-mate Scott Benton is at scrum-half.

England XV v British Columbia, Tuesday 5 June, Vancouver, 1930 local:

Tom Voyce (Bath); David Rees (Bristol), Fraser Waters (Wasps), Joe Ewens (Gloucester), Paul Sackey (London Irish); Olly Barkley (Bath), Scott Benton (Leeds); Trevor Woodman (Gloucester), Chris Fortey (Gloucester), Ricky Nebbett (Leicester), Alex Brown (Bristol), Tom Palmer (Leeds), Steve White-Cooper (Harlequins), Andy Hazell (Gloucester), Alex Sanderson (Sale, capt)

Replacements: Andy Long (Bath), David Flatman (Saracens), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Pat Sanderson (Harlequins), Martyn Wood (Wasps), Alex King (Wasps), Tim Stimpson (Leicester)

British Columbia's squad for the match at Thunderbird Stadium includes 15 players with Test experience, among them an all international front row of Garth Cooke, Harry Toews and Kevin Tkachuk. England lost a non-cap match 15-14 to Canada on their last visit to Vancouver in 1993.

British Columbia squad:

Backs: Pat Fleck, Chris Lonsdale, Mike Danskin, John Graf*, Bob Bremner, Kolby Brezden, Colin Robertson*, Rob Card*, Fred Asselin*, Jeremy Cordle*, Chris Lekakis, Jeff Williams*

Forwards: Garth Cooke*, Chad Plater*, Mark Reid, Kevin Tkachuk*, Mark Lawson, Harry Toews*, Mike Burak, Jamie Cudmore, Ron Johnstone*, Mike Andrew, Mike Langley, Paul White, Jason Callioux*, Brad Major, Ben Travena*, Colin McKenzie*, Adam Van Staveren*

* denotes Canadian International

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