Borthwick is determined to bounce back from his Lions disappointment by leading England to success against Argentina © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Johnson talks up tour opportunities

News: Robinson on stand-by for Lions

Players/Officials: Steve Borthwick | Nathan Hines | Martin Johnson | Ian McGeechan | Simon Shaw

Tournaments/Tours: British and Irish Lions tour

Teams: England

England captain Steve Borthwick has revealed he has had no contact with the British & Irish Lions about being put on the stand-by list for this summer's tour to South Africa.

Borthwick, who was one of three Six Nations skippers omitted by Lions head coach Ian McGeechan, admitted to being "very disappointed" to miss out on the 37-man squad and instead must focus on England's two-Test series with Argentina.

The Lions management have drawn up an extensive list of up to 30 injury reserves with each player to be informed they are on stand-by and required to sign a contract but Borthwick has not received any communication indicating the Lions management do not consider the England captain among the leading 67 players in the British Isles.

"I have had no contact," said Borthwick.

Lions and England scrum coach Graham Rowntree explained that Borthwick had been overlooked from the squad because the tourists decided to pick a pack full of "beasts". Borthwick returned to form in England's Six Nations victories over France and Scotland after the more abrasive Simon Shaw had been installed alongside him in the second row. Shaw made it into the party along with similarly physical locks as Nathan Hines and Donncha O'Callaghan.

"I was very disappointed not to be selected. There is no escaping from that fact," said Borthwick, who was speaking at an event organised by Powerade. "The British and Irish Lions is a fantastic team with a fantastic history behind it. There are very few opportunities to go for that and I am very disappointed.

"I have worked as hard as I possibly can to help my country be successful. With that I hoped to get selection for the British and Irish Lions. It has not worked out like that. The selectors have decided not to select me. That is their decision."

Borthwick will instead lead England into a tough two-Test series against Argentina where they will be without eight of their leading names, including experienced heads like Shaw, Phil Vickery and Joe Worsley, who will be on Lions duty.

"I was very disappointed but that is the selectors' view. Does that mean I am a bad player or a good player, a bad person or a good person? Not at all. That is their view," he said.

"I know I always have always worked as hard as I possibly can to help my team mates get success. Towards the end of the Six Nations our development started to come to fruition and we finished second in the championship."