Borthwick's blast from the past

MARTIN JOHNSON and a group of his 2003 legends were in England camp last night to give the squad a pep talk on dealing with adversity.

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY

The dinner date was arranged weeks ago, thanks to team manager and World Cup winner Richard Hill, but comes at a good time for Steve Borthwick's struggling side.

The head coach, who has seen his side collapse to defeats by Scotland and Ireland, was dealt another blow when scrumhalf Alex Mitchell was ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury.

Sale's Raffi Quirke has been called up as cover ahead of next week's trip to Rome for the clash with Italy.

He met up with legendary skipper Johnson and other World Cup winners such as Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Lewis Moody, Jason Leonard, Paul Grayson and Ben Kay at England's Bagshot base.