Back admits he needed a break

13 April 2012

Neil Back has apologised to the England management for his lack-lustre performance against Italy and admitted he should not have played following a pre-match illness.

'With hindsight I ought to have withdrawn from the team,' he said. 'It was my call and it was a bad one. I thought I'd be all right but I didn't have the power and energy to play my normal game. I let down myself and the rest of the squad.'

Back, always his own harshest critic, could lose his place against Scotland at Twickenham for entirely different reasons. A knee injury which contributed to his early second-half substitution has already put Leicester's 32-year-old flanker out of their Premiership home match against Saracens on Saturday and in doubt for the Calcutta Cup the following week.

The player whose slavish training routine raised fitness to new levels before rugby went professional is to undergo bacteriological tests after repeated illness. 'Within the last six weeks I've had two bouts of flu and two bouts of gastric flu with sickness and diarrhoea,' he said. 'It has begun to concern me.

'My GP doesn't think there's anything wrong, my appetite has returned and I feel back on track, so I can keep playing this wonderful game. But it will give me peace of mind to know for sure that it is nothing more serious than a bit of bad luck. At least it goes some way towards explaining my poor performance.

'I was ill on Wednesday and I had diarrhoea for the rest of the week. I felt fine for the run-out on Friday and, with the adrenalin flowing on Saturday morning, I felt good. I play rugby to play for England and I didn't want to miss it.

'But within minutes of the kick-off it was evident I wasn't 100 per cent. I made two or three uncharacteristic mistakes and that was before I tweaked my knee.'

Back apologised personally to coach Andy Robinson and manager Clive Woodward. 'Robbo told me not to worry,' he said. 'They were aware that I wasn't well.

'Robbo told me a couple of weeks ago after the Welsh game that he thought I was back to my best. It just shows how easily you can ruin all the good work. The knee ligament trouble has given me the luxury of an enforced rest and, hopefully, I will be fit for the Scotland game.'

Back, the leading contender for a second successive Lions tour but under the dual challenge of openside rivals David Wallace (Ireland) and Budge Pountney (Scotland), has played in 27 of England's 28 matches since missing the tour to Australia three years ago. His injury coincides with Joe Worsley renewing his bid to break into the most settled back row unit in the history of Test rugby.

As Back awaits the chance to resume normal service, his club has confirmed Sportsmail's report that they are in the process of signing another openside flanker, 29-year-old All Black Josh Kronfeld. 'His experience would be invaluable, ' said Leicester manager Dean Richards. 'Neil is at an age where he could start to suffer from injuries.'

Brad Johnstone, Italy's New Zealand coach, is to have talks with Italian president Giancarlo Dondi in the wake of Saturday's 80-23 defeat at Twickenham. Dondi said: 'On the eve of the match I noticed people treated me with consideration and respect. After the match it was only compassion.

'Conceding so many points is humiliating and damaging for our rugby. Something must be done.'

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