What is required is a strong-willed vice-captain. What about Lawrence's leadership skills?  They're undeniable! His indomitable character is stamped all over teams for which he plays, even when he is not captain.  

It is testament to the man that he was picked to tour on three Lions trips, two ending in injury. Few players in their thirties would have had the drive and the character to come back from a dislocated ankle and broken leg on the fated Lions tour to New Zealand. Four years prior to that he underwent a complete knee reconstruction following the Lions tour to Australia.  

Too charismatic?

For some, his media profile clouds their reality. However, he doesn't control the press. Journalists make a bee-line for him at press conferences. All he does is give honest opinions. One can't help but be swayed by his words. Take the build up to the recent Heineken Cup final:

"Everyone was talking about the Leicester guys but when you're underdogs it pumps you up. We knew if we put Leicester under pressure, then it would be a tough game and everything worked really well. Everyone, to a man, was outstanding - Leicester are a great team and we feel very proud to have beaten them on the greatest stage of all. Of all the finals that was number one without a doubt. Everyone was telling us that was the best Leicester team ever, so we must be the best Wasps team ever."

Is he too old?

Neil Back was 34 when he won the World Cup in 2003 and he continued playing into his 37th year. Martin Johnson was 33. The Dad's Army tag given to the England pack in New Zealand during the summer of 2003. With the right preparation, age is not the limiting factor it used to be. LBND was in the form of his life when he fractured his ankle against the Bay of Plenty in Rotorua at the age of 33.
 
Can he really still hack it?

Are you kiddning? Just ask Leicester Tigers! He may have been replaced after 50 minutes with a dead leg, but just watch how he scampered on to the park like an 18 year old as the final whistle blew!

What about his form?

Lawrence admits his form was patchy over the past two seasons. Recovery from the fractured ankle in 2005 was a big challenge. Playing with a plate of metal was bound to slow the big man's progress in 2005/06. When said plate was finally removed prior to the beginning of this season he was set firmly back at square one again. Lawrence talked up his chances of playing for England again and winning things with Wasps. He proved the latter point emphatically only last month...

Charitable with it too!

To the chagrin of his many detractors, Lawrence has a big heart and supports many charities. This little known side to the man indicates that his pathos is writ as large as his gravitas. When his Lions tour was over in Rotorua, lying on a stretcher waiting to be ferried to hospital, the big man made sure his young opponent received the shirt off his back.

Does England need him?

To instil confidence and commitment to the cause, England could do worse...

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