THOMPSON'S NECK ON LINE

BORN again Steve Thompson will revive his international career at Twickenham on ­Saturday – three years after a ­crippling neck injury forced him to quit rugby.

England’s World Cup-winning hooker admits he lost motivation following the euphoric Sydney ­triumph and says he was ­“relieved” when doctors told him he would never play again.

However, after seeking a second opinion nine months later, ­Thompson, 31, re-laced his boots for French side Brive, gave up his ­party lifestyle and aimed his sights on reclaiming his ­England shirt.

Having paid back £500,000 in compensation and shed almost four stone, the new-look ­Thompson yesterday convinced his former skipper Martin Johnson that he ­deserves another shot.

Ahead of the clash with Australia, Thompson, who is set to make his 49th England appearance, said: “It was always my target to get back playing for England. That was my whole reason for coming back, in order to play at the highest level.

“There was no point coming back otherwise. I’m just really excited. It’s sort of like ­winning your first cap again.

“You don’t realise how good something is until you lose it. Suddenly I’ve got a chance to get it back and take it all in.

“I’ve only got a few years left as a rugby ­player. I know it could all end tomorrow, like it did ­before.

“But I’m here and I’m fighting fit. I’m fitter than I have ever been size-wise and fat percentage-wise.

“Rather than carrying the extra weight, I have become a bit more ­explosive.”

Thompson joins fellow World Cup winners ­Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody in a side ­containing only four of the ­starting line-up thumped by the Wallabies last year.

He added: “I have to SDHp forget about 2003. That’s something for a few more years when I can start drinking again, like I did when I finished last time.

“For me, it’s all about the future. I am here now and I really want to ­cement my place and go to another World Cup.

“Before this I didn’t have any injuries, I just played non-stop rugby. Now I feel ­really rejuvenated and ready for the challenge.” Dylan Hartley has to ­settle for a place on the bench, alongside uncapped 20-year-old lock Courtney Lawes, after sitting out training last week with a hamstring problem.

Ugo Monye makes his first start at full-back in an exciting back three that also includes Bath powerhouse Matt ­Banahan and Sale speedster Mark Cueto.

Jordan Crane, Lewis Moody and Tom Croft make up an all-Leicester back- row, while Bath prop Davey Wilson fills the troublesome tighthead spot. Injuries have robbed Johnson of 12 of his first-choice squad, but with Australia also below-par, the head coach is ­remaining upbeat.

He said: “The guys you play Test matches with have to have trust in each other to win Test matches.

“If you can keep that trust between each other in the heat of a game, it will win you the game.”

England: Monye; Cueto, Hipkiss, Geraghty, Banahan; Wilkinson, Care; Payne, ­Thompson, Wilson, Deacon, Borthwick (capt), Croft, Moody, Crane. ­Replacements: Hartley, Bell, Lawes, Haskell, Hodgson, Goode, Erinle.

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