{"id":294880,"date":"2023-11-11T22:27:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T22:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=294880"},"modified":"2023-11-11T22:27:35","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T22:27:35","slug":"england-stars-world-cup-heartbreak-for-the-best-as-borthwick-message-sent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-league\/england-stars-world-cup-heartbreak-for-the-best-as-borthwick-message-sent\/","title":{"rendered":"England star’s World Cup heartbreak ‘for the best’ as Borthwick message sent"},"content":{"rendered":"

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England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will come in from the cold today relieved he did not risk his career to play at the World Cup. Cowan-Dickie, 30, was included in Steve Borthwick\u2019s initial training squad but after three weeks gave second best to the worrying neck injury that had derailed his transfer from Exeter to Montpellier.<\/p>\n

It was a form of torture watching the tournament on the television when England\u2019s options at hooker were so thin that Jamie George was forced to play all 80 minutes in three successive games.<\/p>\n

\u200cBut with Cowan-Dickie\u2019s problem, which depowered his right arm, easing and a new start for Sale looming, he knows the right call was made as he prepares to play his first game in ten months.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was gutting not to be involved but in the long run it was for the best because if I had played that might have been me done,\u201d said Cowan-Dickie. \u201cI watched all the games bar one and the boys did well. If I get the chance to be involved again with the England squad that would be really good.<\/p>\n

\u200c\u201cBut I need to start performing for Sale first. It\u2019s my first game for a new club and I\u2019m just excited to be back involved. I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m nervous for the game – I\u2019m more nervous about not performing as well as I want to for the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Cowan-Dickie, who was a Test Lion in 2021 in South Africa, still has a power imbalance between his left and right side but it is time to get back on the pitch. \u201cWe\u2019ve looked at it carefully and decided this is the best time for me to play,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u200c\u201cI\u2019m at the stage now where it\u2019s safe for me to play and my strength is at a point where I hopefully won’t be too disadvantaged. It\u2019s back to a point where my strength is plateauing. I should get more back but it\u2019s going to take a little bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

He will start on the bench for last season\u2019s Premiership finalists against Bristol having confidently assured his new teammates he will be the catalyst to turn them into champions this season.<\/p>\n

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