By Jonathon Moore
Rugby union editor |
He has visited Lord's, Wimbledon and The Open. In his own words the past few months, have "reignited his enthusiasm level to get out and play".
One of the most innovative players ever to don an England shirt during the professional era, Greenwood admits his performances last season were unremarkable.
Struggling with a shoulder injury he failed to impress in the Six Nations championship and was "rested" for what turned out to be a less than salubrious summer tour.
While the Harlequins veteran was contentedly watching England demolish New Zealand at Lord's, his international team-mates were suffering at the hands of the All Blacks.
Sir Clive Woodward's side were defeated 36-3 and 36-12 by the Kiwis, before being humiliated 51-15 by Australia in Sydney.
Greenwood's creativity in midfield was notably absent but he offers little explanation of why he was given the summer off. "I discussed it on the phone with Clive Woodward two weeks before and we decided I wouldn't go," he said.
"Even having had the phone call, I still don't know whose decision it was. It was like an old Brian Clough meeting - we had a 15 minute discussion and decided he was right in the first place.
"But what the summer has achieved for me is a summer off. I'm back where I'd like to be."
Reclining on the couch, as at ease in front of a gaggle of hard-nosed hacks as on the lush green surface of Twickenham, Greenwood is philosophical about regaining his international place.
"Sport can go one of two ways," he said. "Look at Mark Butcher. He picked up an injury and couldn't play and then looked doubtful to make England's cricket squad to tour SA.
"That's the way sport goes. I know I got my chance in 2000 when Catty (Mike Catt) was out-and-out first choice centre with Mike Tindall.
"He picked up a knock against Argentina, cried off on the Friday and I played against South Africa with blond hair and scored a try.
"Catty then became third man. And if four people have gone above me in the pecking order since, then that's the nature of sport."
The club Greenwood has made his home for the past four years has recruited cautiously over the summer months.
Among others, they have expanded their Pacific Island delegation in the form of former Warriors flanker Maama Molitika and Orrell's Samoa scrum-half Steven So'oialo.
"I'm excited about Molitika," Greenwood admitted. "He adds to our bruising South Sea Island contingent.
"When I look inside and outside me and I see a Tongan and a Samoan, I feel very brave."
Greenwood will not be drawn on what he expects to achieve at Quins this season.
 |  Two years down the line, if I was asked to come out of retirement I would |
One of the perpetual underachievers of the English top flight, they are at least back in the Heineken Cup. "Personally, my target is to get into the Harlequins first team and play well in Europe and then go and have a crack at England," he said.
"The least hopeful objective of mine is to stand out in a team that's not playing well. The most hopeful is to stand out in a team that is playing well."
At 31, Greenwood will be starting his eighth year of top flight English rugby and, should he fight his way back into Woodward's first team, his fifth year in England colours.
But he is adamant he will go on as long as he is required by his country.
"I don't think I'll ever retire from international rugby. I'll be retired," he said.
"Two years down the line or whatever and there's an injury crisis in the centre, if I was asked to come out of retirement I would.
"It harks back to my 'A team' days. If my country said they wanted me to play on the weekend - I would play."
MMIX
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