100 up but record-breaker Leonard seeks more glory
12:31pm Friday 14th February 2003 in Harlequins
JASON Leonard insists he won't let the hype surrounding his 100th England appearance distract him from delivering the goods against France at Twickenham tomorrow. He'll wait until retirement before he starts celebrating (writes SIMON MILLS).
The veteran Harlequins prop - already the world's most capped forward - will become the first England player to reach the century landmark in the RBS Six Nations opener after being selected for head coach Clive Woodward's starting line-up together with Quins club-mates Dan Luger and Will Greenwood. Greenwood partners Sale Sharks' Charlie Hodgson in the centre, while Luger, back after injury, plays his first game for England since the Six Nations victory over Italy in April.
There are only two names ahead of Leonard on the all-time list. Wing David Campese was capped 101 times by Australia and centre Philippe Sella 111 times by France. The former carpenter from Barking, playing better than ever at the age of 34, could overtake them both before the year is out.
Trevor Woodman stood in his way at the start of the season, but an injury to the Gloucester prop let Leonard back in to win caps 98 and 99 in the victories against Australia and South Africa. The loose-head won rave reviews for his energetic performances as England went to the top of the world rankings.
"I feel as good as I've ever done," said Leonard. "It does help when you're playing in a good England side that's performing well. It was easy for me to slot straight back in.
"The 100th game hasn't entered my head a lot, because I've been thinking more of just playing to get selected - not about running out or accepting awards. If I thought about that, I'd be taking my eyes off the ball.
"It is a great milestone and something I'll probably enjoy when I'm retired, but I'm just as proud of playing in the other 99 games. All the games are an honour and winning is a big part of it, but the thing I'll always remember is the electricity you get every time you pull on an England shirt."
Leonard received the MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list last year after figuring in three Grand Slams, three World Cups and three Lions tours..
And he isn't finished yet. A fourth World Cup beckons for the only England survivor from the 12-6 defeat against Australia in 1991. "The World Cup is definitely a long term goal," said Leonard. "If there's one thing missing from my CV it's winning a World Cup."
Leonard, who grew up in Chadwell Heath, Essex ,and joined Barking RFC as a schoolboy, moved to Saracens before switching to Harlequins.
Leonard's England debut was in a hard-fought 25-12 victory in Buenos Aires on July 28th, 1990 and started a run of 55 England appearances in seven years, interrupted only when he was rested for one game during the 1995 World Cup.
By then he had taken part in England's Grand Slam Five Nations campaigns in 1991, 1992 and 1995 as well as appearing in a World Cup final and semi-final.
He had also survived a career-threatening injury in the summer of 1992, when a disc was removed from his neck and replaced with bone taken from his pelvis.
The surgery conducted by Jonathan Johnson was complicated. "Jon worked out that the best way for him to operate was by going through the front of my neck, either side of the throat and major vessels," said Leonard. He was playing for England again by October that year.
Jason summed up: "The game is now faster, the players are bigger and the hits are harder. All the players are athletes now - which wasn't the case when I started."
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