Lewsey Relieved at England Call-up

Josh Lewsey returned to Sandhurst yesterday afternoon to train with the England squad, 18 months after abandoning his army career to concentrate on rugby and secure a place in the World Cup squad this autumn. On Sunday he will run out at Twickenham while his former colleagues prepare for war.

The 26-year-old Wasps full-back, who will start his first Six Nations match against Italy on Sunday nearly five years after making his international debut, has had cause to question his career switch - Jason Robinson has jumped ahead of him in the England side - but his decision will be justified this weekend.

"There are a number of players you have a lot of time for and Josh is one of them," the head coach Clive Woodward said. "He has never let the disappointment of me not picking him affect him. He thinks he is the best full-back in the country and he has the chance to show us why."

Robinson was injured during England's victory over Wales last month. "He was the international player of the year last season and he is just brilliant," Lewsey said. "There is no better player in the world when it comes to one-on-one - he's like John Travolta with his dancing feet, while I step on toes all the time. I offer something different, a more classical full-back perhaps, and we are not players in the same mould.

"This is the opportunity I have been waiting for. My six caps have all been won abroad and, while there is always a thrill in playing for your country, nothing beats running out on to Twickenham.

"I joined the army after I got a bit frustrated with rugby; playing in the back three in January and February can be a bit like the Somme, with your feet stuck in mud.

"Though I passed out from Sandhurst as an officer after 12 months, I knew I had to make a choice because there was a clear conflict between the army and full-time rugby. I did not want to be a token soldier in a job where you are dealing with people's lives and my men could have come to resent me. I was in the Royal Artillery, but to become attached to a regiment I needed to pass a course which rugby insurance did not cover me for and I knew then I had to make a choice."

Lewsey said his time in the army had given him a more rounded perspective of rugby. "Friends of mine are getting ready to go to the Gulf while I am being paid to play a game I love," he said. "My thoughts are with them and, whereas I used to worry about matches, now I go into them with the intention of enjoying myself and coming off the field mentally and physically knackered, knowing that I could not have given any more.

"I do not think I have anything to prove to anyone. Clive has stressed the enjoyment factor this week and we are ready to show against Italy exactly what we can do. Though we beat arguably the best side in the world and an upbeat Wales team on their own patch, there was a lot of frustration after those matches whereas 10 years ago that would have been enough to signal a successful championship."

Italy are expected to be an insignificant hurdle as England continue their quest for a first grand slam under Woodward but, with Lewsey only one of several players drafted into the side because of injuries, there will be no complacency against opponents whose victory over Wales last month has earned them a modicum of respect.

"Italy are a different proposition to previous years," said Lewsey. "They look to ruffle you in the first 20 minutes and set out to intimidate. They are a very physical side and we do not have any false ideas about what to expect.

"In a sense we are in a Catch-22 position: if we enjoy a great big win, people will say it was a non-event, while if you struggle to win a hard game and take another step towards the grand slam we are going for, everyone will say we are underperforming.

"We can only go out there and play, letting the performance determine the outcome. We have to show the right attitude; you can have all the moves, skills and flash players in the world but if you have not prepared for the physical contact and hard running lines you will lose.

"This team is experienced enough to make sure our appetite is right. We are playing for the games coming up and a place in the World Cup. My focus is to put myself in the frame for Scotland in two weeks."