Peacock ready to play on

Jamie Peacock
12 April 2012

Jamie Peacock is convinced his troublesome knee cannot only get him through one last match of 2011 but also carry him to a history-making victory.

The England captain was a major doubt for his side's must-win Gillette Four Nations match against New Zealand last Saturday after taking a heavy knock to the knee he had reconstructed a year ago in their defeat by Australia.

However, the courageous Leeds front rower made a miraculous recovery to play and is confident it can withstand another strenuous test, saying: "I'm just doing what any other rugby player does to be fair. Sometimes you are not 100% but that's the way it is."

He added: "My knee feels like it did three or four months ago, when it was pretty stiff, but you know if you can trust it structurally, that nothing is going to go, you can go out and play. It has definitely got one more game in it."

England picked up no further injuries and Peacock is hoping second rower Gareth Ellis will be fit to return after missing the Kiwis game with a back injury as he seeks to lead his country to a first series triumph over Australia since they won the World Cup in 1972.

"He's the best back rower in the world," Peacock said. "We want him back out there. He's an amazing player to play alongside."

Peacock, who missed last year's Four Nations Series down under because of the knee injury, will be making his 47th international appearance on Saturday, putting him joint fourth on the all-time list, just three behind team-mate Adrian Morley, who will become the first Briton to reach a half-century.

Morley made the first of his 19 appearances for England against France in 1996 and also won 30 caps for Great Britain up to 2007 when the team was moth-balled ahead of the 2008 World Cup.

Morley's current total of 49 has enabled him to draw level with Garry Schofield and Mick Sullivan, who as well as sharing the Great Britain record of 46 caps, also made three England appearances.

Peacock said: "He's been involved in the game for a long time and he's been one of the best players for Great Britain over the last 15 years. I'm really pleased for him. It's an amazing achievement to say nobody else has done it before in this country."

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