Disappointed Borthwick eyes Pumas

Steve Borthwick insists his commitment to the England cause will not be undermined by his rejection from the British and Irish Lions squad.

The despondent England captain was "very disappointed" not to make the original 37-man squad and it appears he has not even been considered for the injury standby list.

But he vowed the opinions of Ian McGeechan and his fellow coaches would not affect his desire heading into this summer's two-Test series against Argentina, saying: "I know I have always worked as hard as I possibly can to help my team-mates get success. Towards the end of the Six Nations our development started to come to fruition and we finished second in the championship."

He added: "I have worked as hard as I possibly can to help my country be successful. With that I hoped to get selection for the British and Irish Lions.

"It has not worked out like that. The selectors have decided not to select me. I was very disappointed but that is the selectors' view.

"Does that mean I am a bad player or a good player, a bad person or a good person? Not at all. That is their view.

Borthwick was omitted from the Lions squad along with Leicester flanker Tom Croft and London Irish full-back Delon Armitage.

England coach Martin Johnson issued an encouraging reminder the Lions door is most certainly not closed.

"You know how those guys are feeling. I texted a few of the guys last week and reminded them that injuries happen on Lions tours," said Johnson.

"Look at Tomas O'Leary on Friday night. Things will change again during the tour or possibly before the tour. We have an important tour ourselves and if there are injuries in South Africa the best place they can be is playing tough competitive rugby so if they are needed they can slip right over there."