All The News

England captain Steve Borthwick will miss Saturday's Six Nations match against France because of a knee injury, England manager Martin Johnson announced on Friday.

Flank Lewis Moody will captain the team in Paris with Leicester's Louis Deacon taking Borthwick's place in the starting XV.

Tom Palmer of Stade Francais joins the match 22 and will take up a place on the bench.

Borthwick, captain for Johnson's entire reign as manager, had a scan on Thursday on his left knee but Johnson said: "It is worse than we first thought."

The Saracens captain aggravated the problem in last weekend's 15-15 draw with Scotland and after spending two days with the joint in a brace was withdrawn from the squad before they travelled to France.

Leicester's Moody has won 60 caps and played in two World Cup finals, including England's win over Australia in 2003 but was dropped for England's match at Murrayfield.

Johnson added: "Lewis is inspirational figure in the group. He was happy to come and do it."

AFP