Stevens ready to deliver for England

It's my shirt now Phil: Stevens is hoping to make the England tighthead spot his own

Matt Stevens, widely regarded as one of England's finest tighthead props, has always had a struggle to cement his place in the England team - largely due to captain Phil Vickery.

However, with Vickery sidelined for the foreseeable future, Stevens knows he has a chance to make the number three jersey his own.

With 26 caps to his name already, and a tour to New Zealand looming large on the horizon, Stevens knows a rich vein of form now could see him wrestle the tighthead mantle from Vickery.

The England captain is out with a knee ligament tear, sustained in Wasps' Guinness Premiership victory against Sale Sharks, and is expected to miss the two-Test tour to New Zealand.

Whilst the loss of a player of Vickery's calibre will be a blow to England, in Stevens they have a more than able replacement.

The 25-year-old South African-born prop made his England debut back in 2004 against New Zealand, and having served his apprenticeship it now seems he is ready to dislodge his master against the very same opponents.

"I have always seen myself fighting for a starting place with Phil in previous seasons anyway and it has always been tight," Stevens told Planet Rugby in an exclusive interview.

"I don't know what the side is going to be and what the plan is to move it forward so it's hard to comment on that.

"However if I am picked, like any other time I have played for England, I can guarantee I will give it my all."

Despite the change in England's structure Stevens is wise enough to know this is a big chance for him and he is ready to take it with both hands.

"That said if I am first choice it is a real chance for me to give it my best shot to ensure that I stay in the team now," he added.

"I have won half of my caps from the bench and half starting so it will be nice to get a regular run in the side.

"If we are without Phil it will be a blow but at the same time I am confident I can step up to the plate and do a good job.

"Going to New Zealand is never easy and we are going to have to be at our best just to compete with them."

Not only that, but England will head on tour with a new management structure in place, following the demotion of former Head Coach Brian Ashton and the introduction of Martin Johnson as Team Manager.

Despite never having played under Johnson, who played his entire career with Leicester, Stevens has played against the former England captain and knows just how tough he is.

"I have never had any experience of Martin as a captain but only as an opponent as he is without doubt one of the toughest I have come up against," Stevens revealed.

"What I do know from playing against him though is he is a complete winner to the end and that can't be a bad thing for English rugby.

"His pedigree speaks for itself and if he can transfer his success as a player into the coaching arena I think the future will be bright for England.

"Time will tell but I am sure he will have a positive influence on the set-up and the players will enjoy working with him."

Whilst Ashton had a positive influence on Stevens he knows that professional sport is a tough world and that you live and die by the sword.

"From a personal point of view Brian has always treated me with a great deal of respect and has always had a very positive influence on my rugby," he said.

"I think Brian did a great job as well, especially when you look at the pressure he had to deal with.

"He got the results that were needed at a difficult time in English rugby.

"You could easily say he has been harshly treated and it is a difficult position he has been put in, but such is the nature of professional sport in today's world."

With Guinness Premiership play-offs and a European Challenge Cup Final to come before England embark on their New Zealand tour one thing is for certain; Stevens has plenty of big matches to prove he is the right man to anchor England's scrum.

By Marcus Leach