Lewis Moody has recalled the day World Cup-winning Martin Johnson laid out the player he’d later name England captain.
Moody’s desire to impress on his return after injury in 2004 caused a flare-up with the then Tigers captain.
“It was my first session and I was extra keen, trying to do everything and hit everything,” Moody told The Sun.
“Tempers flared and ‘Johnno’ and I had a little coming together. He gave me a little dink and I gave him a little dink – but his hurt a lot more!
“It’s just typical training ground stuff. You need that friendly rivalry.”
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Five of Martin Johnson’s iconic SCRAPS
Despite being England’s inspirational captain at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Martin Johnson did occasionally hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
1. Doddie Weir
After an argument breaks out at a scrum, Leicester lock Martin Johnson lands a punch on the chin of Scottish lock playing for the Barbarians Doddie Weir during their match in May 1999 at Twickenham.