When Lewis Ludlam threw down the gauntlet ahead of England’s win in Scotland he caused a storm before the Storm.
His talk of ‘war’ provoked a social media backlash which his team mates were still upset about, on his behalf, hours after they overcame the worst the Scots and Ciara could hurl at them.
Yesterday, in the relative calm of Northampton, there was praise for the 24-year-old for having set the right tone on what was his first Six Nations start.
Saints’ forwards coach Phil Dowson won seven caps in the England back row, as well as skippering his country in a non-cap Twickenham showpiece, and was playing at Franklin’s Gardens when Ludlam came into the academy.
He heard what the flanker had to say in the Calcutta Cup build-up and whilst conceding his choice of words might have been different, insists the message was spot on.
Dowson said: “After England’s game against France the Scots would have thought there was an opportunity to put massive heat on England.
“One hundred per cent they were going to come to try to put pressure on, to try to put England off their game and to try and create opportunity for themselves.
“So to meet fire with fire I don’t think is a bad message. Maybe people took it in the wrong vein but I totally agree with the sentiment.
“Lewis wears his heart on his sleeve,” added Dowson. “If you watch him train or even play five-a-side, it always looks like war! That’s the way he competes. He is a competitive animal. He goes hard regardless.
“What he meant was in terms of the emotion. People always talk about the passion of the Welsh and the Irish. Sometimes passion is not a word associated with England.
“But when you watch Lewis play that’s certainly a word I’d associate with his game. He’s 100 per cent passionate and full-on; non-stop, trying to get every yard out of every carry.
“He’s a back row who loves the collision element of the game. Brave, manic, his energy in how he plays is incessant."
It is remarkable to think Ludlam, who helped England to the World Cup final in Japan, only made his Test debut in August. And it might not have happened at all but for a twist of fate.
England needed back row cover in the build-up to a non-cap game in June against the Barbarians as Teimana Harrison’s wife was expecting a baby.
Ludlam was promised nothing but jumped at the opportunity, impressed with his attitude and the way he trained and the rest is history.
“It was the end of a long season and he could have turned it down,” said Dowson. “Instead he turned up full on and flat out and got what he deserved."
