Aviva Premiership
Borthwick determined to bounce back
Scrum.com
July 24, 2010
Saracens lock Steve Borthwick looks on, Leicester v Saracens, Guinness Premiership Final, Twickenham, London, England, May 29, 2010
Saracens' Steve Borthwick has taken a few knocks of late © Getty Images
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Saracens lock Steve Borthwick is determined to prove that Martin Johnson was wrong to drop him from the England elite player squad.

The 30-year-old was the biggest casualty when the latest squad was announced earlier this month and his demotion to the second-string Saxons represented a dramatic fall from grace for the player who was Johnson's choice as captain for 20 of their past 23 Test clashes.

Borthwick, capped 57 times by his country, missed last month's tour of Australia and New Zealand with a knee injury and was forced to look on as the likes of Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer and Dave Attwood impressed. And his misery was complete when Johnson phoned him during his honeymoon to reveal he had been dropped.

"Selection was announced on the Thursday and Johnno rang me a couple of days before to make sure I didn't find out any other way," Borthwick told the Daily Telegraph. "I have to respect Johnno for doing that and in showing me the respect to give me that call. Where I was in the world and what I was doing was entirely up to me. He can't control that.

"It [the conversation] wasn't argumentative but I had just been dropped from the England squad and of course I am going to be asking questions as to why," Borthwick added. "I am quite forceful and he also has a strong personality. It is my responsibility now to play well for Saracens to change their minds.

"I was incredibly unhappy but I was certainly not going to dwell on those emotions because they are not good emotions to have. It is up to me to train, get myself in good condition and play good rugby."

"I am not going to sit at home and let it ruin my summer or my life. I want to be in the England team more than I can put in words. I am not going to dwell upon all the negative stuff because look at how many great positives there are. I have had a fabulous summer, I am with a great group of players under an outstanding team of coaches at Saracens and the medical staff here have worked hard on me.

"I don't know what went on exactly in the selection meetings but what I will say is that I will be doing absolutely everything to get back in and prove them wrong and change their opinions. I want to be in the England team, either as captain or not as captain, and that fact remains whatever."

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