Worsley intent on adding his name to JPR legend

Things could get tense as the Six Nations' Championship draws near. The present is on a collision course with the future, with a raft of England youngsters lining up to challenge the old order. And among them is Joe Worsley.

He used to think that having the initials JPR was something of a handicap and felt they should only be made public when he earned the right; after all, Jean-Pierre Rives and JPR Williams had given them a certain cachet. But while the verdict is that Worsley has won his spurs, he still has an obstacle in his path to lay claim to the England No 8 spot ­ and that, too, is a set of three initials, LBN ­ the prefix to a formidable surname, Dallaglio.

But Worsley is fearless. He has waited patiently while his Wasps club-mate has rightfully held the upper hand on the England front, but finally, after three gruelling weeks that have helped to rub off the rough edges of Worsley's back-row game as well as adding another dimension to it, the young pretender is ready to throw down the gauntlet. "It is quite peculiar, really, that the next time England have a match Lawrence Dallaglio will be fit and available for selection. It is something I will have to face when the time comes."

Worsley's second-row colleague, Ben Kay, had to face up to selectorial reality a little sooner, ceding his place to Martin Johnson for the Springboks match. Worsley acknowledged: "It is a similar situation between Ben and Johnno and me and Lawrence. Whether he comes in straightaway is not in my control. It is up to the selectors.

"But I think I have done enough in his absence to make Lawrence have to fight for his place. I was stuck behind Lol, Neil Back and Richard Hill for two years. Because they were playing well I could not have any gripes about not being picked. Now it is on the other foot. If I keep playing well I expect the same treatment."

If Worsley plays as well as he did on Saturday anyone would have a hard time dropping him. He marked the imposing Springboks captain, Bobby Skinstad, out of the game, indeed it might well have been JPR's pressure game that persuaded Skinstad to lob up the pass that gave Dan Luger his interception try. That pass seemed to be made more in desperation than expectation.

Phil Larder, the defensive coach, said of Worsley: "His particular strengths are that he has a physical presence, he carries the ball forward and makes a lot of yardage, and defensively he stops people in their tracks. He made two massive hits early on, catching very low and knocking them back. His technique and concentration is excellent."

The England forwards coach, Andy Robinson, added: "Worsley has been a major success in the last three weeks. With the likes of him, Lewis Moody and Ben Kay we have a number of youngsters capable of taking on the established players."

Robinson also highlighted Worsley's contribution to the line-out, where he played a key role in an area that three weeks ago was foreign territory to him. Worsley explained: "It is the first time I have ever been involved in line-outs. Never before, even at Wasps, have I been one of the main line-out men, but in these three weeks I have really worked on it and think I have improved massively in that area."

Frankly his all-round game has improved beyond all recognition. The rugby world is about to add another set of those famous initials to the legend.