Back dropped by England

The 35-year-old flanker said he was "shocked" to be left out and did not think his form had suffered since the World Cup win in November.

"Naturally he is disappointed and shocked, but that's the business we're in," said Woodward.

"I don't think we've seen the last of Neil as regards his England career."

Kyran Bracken and Martin Corry were the other World Cup squad members to find themselves out of favour, with Woodward sticking to his pledge to select players on current form alone.

Back admitted he was fully expecting to be named in Woodward's squad.

This may be part of Woodward's master plan to replace the old guard From Tobias B Have your say on Scrum V

"My kit had been laid out at home ready to drive down to the team hotel in the morning," he said.

However, the former Leicester captain added that he would not be forced into international retirement and would push for a return to the England team.

"My motivation to play the game of rugby and my enthusiasm hasn't dipped," he said.

"As long as I'm playing rugby union at club level, I will aspire to get into the England team."

Woodward said: "I've got to be very very clear that I'm picking what I regard as the best team.

"We've been looking at Joe Worsley for quite some time, including the World Cup, where we looked closely at him, but I think Neil was ahead then.

"In the last couple of months Worsley's form for Wasps forces him into the team but that's at Back's expense.

"As I said to Neil, he just hasn't been picked for this game and I didn't want to bring Backy down here to act just as opposition [in training]. He's got a lot going on at his club as well."