Six Nations 2010: Steve Borthwick injury sees Lewis Moody captain England against France

By Gavin Mairs 139PM GMT nineteen March 2010

Leader of men Lewis Moody handed captain"s arm rope Photo ACTION IMAGES

Leicester Tigers close Louis Deacon will take Borthwicks place in the second row, with Stade Francais Tom Palmer promoted to the dais for the last compare of this year"s Six Nations.

Borthwick aggravated a long-standing complaint in his left knee during England"s 15-15 pull with Scotland last week end and has unsuccessful to redeem in time.

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London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage will additionally transport to Paris as behind row cover, that Johnson described as a precautionary move since a series of paltry injuries.

"Steves damage is worse than we initial thought and he is out for us this week," pronounced Johnson. "Louis will begin and Tom Palmer comes on to the bench. We brought him in since of his lineout cability and knowledge.

"Lewis is an inspirational figure in the organisation and he will move us that appetite and dynamism.

"The great thing about captaincy right away some-more than eighteen months ago when I got the pursuit is that there is a core organisation of care there. We could have selected dual or 3 guys. Mike Tindall has usually come behind as a comparison player and Nick Easter has a key purpose in heading the group any way and has that when Steve is there anyway.

"Whoever you are as captain, you need alternative guys around you who have alternative qualities."

Having forsaken Moody, who has usually captained Leicester Tigers a handful of times in his career, for last weeks 15-15 pull with Scotland, Johnson certified the openside flanker was "a small bit surprised" to have been allocated captain.

"He was happy to come and do it," Johnson added. "The guys usually wish to fool around well and be successful. The great thing is there is no egos. Steve has no ego about being captain. It is all about the group and perplexing to win.

"If I thought any one longed for to be captain for the wrong reasons, they wouldnt be captain. We thought he (Moody) was a great call for this week."

England B Foden (Northampton); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Brive), C Ashton (Northampton); T Flood (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), L Deacon (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester, capt.), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Stade Francais), B Youngs (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Toulon), M Tait (Sale Sharks).