Tim Payne determined to show his strong work ethic can prop up ailing England

Chris Jones
21 Oct 2009

Tim Payne has suddenly become a crucial part of England's plans for the autumn Tests and is determined to seize the opportunity as he looks towards the 2011 World Cup.

Injuries have decimated the first-choice front-row with props Andrew Sheridan (shoulder) and Phil Vickery (neck) joining hooker Lee Mears (knee) on the casualty list leaving Martin Johnson with a major headache for the 7 November clash with Australia.

Payne - providing he doesn't fall prey to the injury jinx against Gloucester on Saturday - is set to take Sheridan's place in the XV for that match, which is then followed by Tests against Argentina and New Zealand.

And although the London Wasps prop knows he cannot match the Sale man's power, the 30-year-old has a chance to prove to team manager Johnson he can handle a major challenge.

Payne said: "I want to stamp my mark during these Tests and show everyone I can do a job because I would love to play in the Six Nations and the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. I want to hang in there and I know Australia will be tough and we want to make it hard for them to get anywhere near us. Losing Vicks and Sheri is a major blow."

Since joining from Cardiff six years ago, Payne has steadily built his reputation while helping Wasps become English and European champions.

He can play both sides of the scrum - an art in itself - but prefers the No1 jersey that Sheridan has regularly filled at Test level. Payne, who was called up by the Lions as cover for the injured Sheridan in the summer, hopes the attributes he has developed at Wasps will keep him in the squad long term.

He said: "Myself and Sheri are different players and everyone knows he destroyed Australia in the 2007 World Cup. My game is all about work rate. When I first arrived at Wasps, Warren Gatland said that they wanted me to concentrate on the basics at scrum, line-out and hitting rucks. Anything after that is a bonus. If I get my basics right then everything else will follow. I do feel comfortable in the England squad and I know Sheri is first choice.

"I have got my head down and worked hard because if you start moping about you will give off negativity.

"I know Sheri is where he is because he is a great player and I want to push him hard along with other loose-head props in this country."

Sheridan is just one of 12 men from England's 32-strong Elite Player Squad to have been hit by injury. So deep are the problems that, on Monday, Johnson will announce a revised squad list for the three Tests.

Payne feels for every player affected, having suffered a serious injury himself. He said: "I did my knee ligaments a couple of seasons ago and I would not wish injury on anyone because it is a nightmare dealing with the boredom of sitting around.

"I had to watch on the sidelines while Wasps won a Heineken Cup Final and that's pretty painful to deal with. You just have to get your head down, do the rehab and get back as soon as possible. Sheri is a great bloke as well as a great player and I wish him a speedy recovery."

Payne won the first of his 12 England caps against Australia in 2004 and waited another five years to make his Lions debut, putting in a strong performance in the draw against Western Province in Cape Town.

The Lions call-up was a surprise for Payne given that he had just returned from Argentina where he played in England's narrow defeat to the Pumas.

He said: "I had a break after the Lions tour because I went to South Africa just three days after getting back from Argentina. The Lions was the best experience of my life.

"When I woke up the next morning after playing against Western Province it hit home that I was a Lion having just got off a plane from the London.

"Lions coach Warren Gatland told me to play exactly the same way as when he was at Wasps and that helped a lot making it more comfortable. Gats chilled me out and it was just like six years earlier when he spoke to me after I first joined Wasps.

"I have been very lucky to have won so many medals with Wasps, play for England and the Lions. Some people never get to play in a cup final. I have experienced six and hopefully there will be more."