Rugby:England secondrow Courtney Lawes insisted he is no thug after returning from a two-match World Cup ban in time for England's decisive Pool B showdown with Scotland.
Lawes maintains the suspension for striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma was harsh and there was no malicious intent in the challenge. But the Northampton lock prides himself on being England’s second-row enforcer and he is ready to unleash a fortnight of frustration on the auld enemy.
England and Scotland will both be playing for their World Cup lives in Auckland on Saturday. Coach Martin Johnson has given Lawes licence to continue playing his natural way, which he insists is ‘hard but fair.’
Lawes said: “I’m not a dirty player. I don’t make illegal tackles. I am not turning anyone on their head. I just make hard tackles when I can and do my job. I am always a physical player. I’m not afraid to tackle the big boys. I don’t aim to hurt people.
“I thought (the ban) was a bit harsh. There wasn’t too much else I could do, I didn’t try and do anything malicious.” It’s certainly a subjective view from the Northampton lock. He continued that eh would not change his style of play.
“The message (from Johnson) is very much to keep doing what I am doing. I don’t give away too many penalties or do stupid things; I just make big hits when I can. I thought I played well (against Argentina). I am looking forward to making amends and picking up from where I left off.”
Lawes is not concerned that any hard-man reputation will cost him in the eyes of the referees. “I have only been cited once in the five years I have been playing rugby and I don’t think it will happen again soon.”
England watched Scotland lose 13-12 to Argentina as a group, making notes about their next opponents for what is effectively a do-or-die encounter. An England victory will see them into the last eight. Scotland have to win by eight points — their biggest margin against England in 25 years — to stand any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
England meet Scotland every year for the Calcutta Cup — but Johnson has already steeled his men for match bigger than any Six Nations encounter. “We have to stay positive and keep our eyes on the prize,” said Lawes, who anticipates a Scottish backlash.
“You have to do the things you always do to win any game but just with that little bit more passion and energy. Yes, they will come out all guns blazing. We are ready for that. As long as you know it is going to happen you can be prepared for it. We are a good side and we are ready for it.
“We have to win, we always feel like that, and we have to try and display our dominance. The better teams we play the more we raise our game, like against Australia in the autumn. We are good at beating good teams. I think we will do well this weekend.”
