KEY POINTS:
VERSAILLES - Phil Vickery believes fear holds the key to England's success against Tonga in their make-or-break World Cup clash on Friday.
The prop forward, England's World Cup captain, has been forced to sit on the sidelines for the champions' last two matches - a 36-0 defeat by South Africa and last weekend's 44-22 win over Samoa - after a two-game ban for tripping.
But rather than pitch him straight back into the Paris encounter with Tonga, where the winner will qualify for a quarter-final against Australia in Marseille on October 6, England coach Brian Ashton has left the 2003 World Cup-winner on the bench and kept faith with Matt Stevens instead.
Should England lose or draw, allowing Tonga to finish as runners-up to Pool A table-toppers South Africa, at the Parc des Princes it will be the first time a reigning champion has failed to make the last eight of a World Cup.
"You've got to have that fear," the 31-year-old Vickery told reporters at England's hotel here Thursday.
"I've always wanted fear, whatever game I play in whether it be for club or country. For me, it's a huge part of playing the game," the Wasps front-row, who made his name with south-west Premiership side Gloucester, added.
But he said it was important fear didn't turn into anxiety.
"It's a very fine line. There's no point in dressing it up. We lose and we're out. How you can dress that up and not make people edgy, people are going to have to be edgy.
"There's a lot of (England) players out there who've played in huge games. We all know what's at stake."
Vickery, capped 56 times by England, has seen his career blighted by several back injuries since making his Test debut against Wales in 1988 as a 21-year-old.
"It's been a little bit strange for me on that front (being fit and not playing) but you just have to deal with it," he said.
"I've just tried to stay positive. It's been very frustrating. I'd like to be on the field. I'm obviously disappointed. You want to be in the starting line-up.
"But I've been away for a couple of weeks, Matt's played really well and I'm on the bench. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to come on."
Reflecting on the display against Samoa after England had, in his words, played "pretty poorly" against the Springboks, Vickery said: "To put a half-decent performance in was encouraging.
"But, ultimately, it doesn't really mean anything.
"We know we are going to have to move on again and be better than we were last week if we are going to win," Vickery insisted.
Tonga, who beat Samoa 19-15 and ran the Springboks close before losing by just five points on Saturday.
Vickery, who scored two tries in England's 101-10 Twickenham trouncing of Tonga during the 1999 World Cup - the only previous Test match between the two countries - said the Pacifc Islanders had made huge strides in eight years.
"I remember the game and they were a good side. There have been a lot of teams that have surprised people (at this World Cup) but when you start looking at the players, there are a lot of experienced guys who are playing hard-edged European rugby and a lot of that has filtered back into the national teams.
"That was always the thing in years gone by, you could probably say these teams organisation-wise weren't great. But they've certainly moved on and proved by their results they've improved a helluva lot.
"Tonga have got quite a bit of confidence and look like a team who can cause people damage."
- AFP
