Steve Borthwick insists he has not thought about the England captaincy beyond next month's New Zealand tour.

The Bath lock will lead the squad with this season's skipper, Wasps prop Phil Vickery, recovering from a knee injury.

Asked if he had ambitions to be captain full-time, Borthwick said: "I wouldn't say that at all. To aspire to something like that is not in my make-up.

"What I aspire to is playing at a level and conducting myself at a level that has the respect of my peers."

Borthwick, who has led England once before, against Italy in this year's Six Nations when Vickery was taken ill, added: "If I am seen fit to do a role like I have been for this tour, then fantastic.

"There are plenty of people with the ability to captain England and I will always support them. Really for me, it is about having the respect of my peers.

"Phil Vickery has been a magnificent captain and a fantastic player.

"It's a shame he's not with us, but I've been asked to do that job and I'll do it to the best of my ability."

Borthwick was keen to emphasise that he would be happy to work with whoever wears the England captain's armband next season.

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"If there's somebody else in the role, and plenty of people have the ability to captain England, I will support them.

"I've been asked to captain this tour and I'll concentrate on the Bath games between now and then and then I'll concentrate on that tour and then that's it - a new season starts after that."

Borthwick, who leads Bath in their Guinness Premiership semi-final at Wasps on Sunday, believes being a captain at international level poses different challenges to that of club captaincy.

He added: "By the nature of international rugby, you're bringing together players who are the best of their abilities and the best in their positions and are generally in leadership roles within their own clubs. That is a unique environment."