After some initial displeasure, former England hooker Brian Moore will hail Steve Thompson for equalling his appearances record against France at Twickenham. Read his thoughts in the Daily Telegraph.
"My equalling game, number 42, was against France at Twickenham in 1993; we won 16-15. Although I remember thinking about the statistic on the morning of the game, when I look back, it is another memory that dominates – it was Martin Johnson’s first cap.
"A quiet, gigantic edifice walked into the forwards’ morning meeting, held in my hotel room. Johnson was early and although calm, it was obvious that he was going through the mixed emotions that all first-cap players experience – a mixture of pride, doubt and expectation. Rather than play the old stager, I simply talked about what I felt when I first appeared in the white shirt. The point was to reassure him, indirectly, that it was acceptable to have elements of uncertainty about whether he would be able to play at this level and that he was not alone.
"I wonder what Steve Thompson will be thinking on Saturday morning? Foremost, he must be thinking about whether manager Johnson will maintain his tactic of sending him on as a replacement towards the middle of the second half. I can reassure him; he will and with that, Thompson will hold, with me, a significant and satisfying honour."
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