It was hard sitting on the bench, completely unable to influence proceedings Martin Corry

"We were losing and something had to be done," Corry acknowledged.

"There's no ego about it. I want to be part of a successful side and if that's what they feel is the right course of action, I'll back it 100%."

But Andy Robinson's decision to replace his captain with former skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, at a time when England were trailing 12-9, was hardly a ringing endorsement of Corry's leadership.

The move has inevitably re-opened the debate over which player should be wearing the number eight jersey and, by extension given their credentials, leading the side.

Dallaglio has the ideal opportunity to state his case for a starting place against France on 12 March when he and Corry collide head-on in Wasps' Powergen Cup semi-final against Leicester on Saturday at the Millennium Stadium.

But many of you are far from convinced that restoring Dallaglio to the starting line-up is the answer to Robinson's thorny dilemma.

Have Your Say

There was plenty of support for Corry among some strong opinions expressed on the Scrum V messageboards.

"Dallaglio was ineffectual," proclaimed Ozmunsterman. "The team's confidence is brittle enough as it is, without his disruptive influence. Corry is a fine captain and needs 100% backing - especially from Robinson."

That was a view shared by knutynick, who thought "taking your captain off undermines him and loses control of the team. Robinson should back him or sack him, but the chances of him admitting he was wrong are slim."

Others were even more scathing about Dallaglio's much-trumpeted international comeback.

"'Dayglo' is like some balding cartoon hero character on the sidelines," reckons morepork. "His fresh legs didn't seem to keep up with the ball too well. Poor, poor management."

Dallaglio was unable to turn the tide

At 33 (Dallaglio) and 32 (Corry) respectively, neither player is in their first flush of youth.

Some of you believe it is time Robinson injected some younger blood - James Forrester, Magnus Lund and Tom Rees are waiting in the wings - into the back row.

"To see one over-the-hill number eight replacing another over-the-hill number eight was simply pitiful," said fivepointer, a view shared by ruckman. "Both these guys are way past their best, and not capable of playing the 15-man, fast-tempo rugby needed to compete with the best."

Robinson publicly declared at the outset of the Six Nations that Corry would be captain for the duration, which suggests he is likely to keep faith with the Leicester man, even if that could make him a hostage to fortune in some eyes.

"Corry is not a great leader at all," says no8_dave. "Robinson is just keeping him in the squad as he made him captain."

Dallaglio, who now has 76 caps to his name, also has his supporters, with some feeling he was not given enough time to make an impact at Murrayfield.

"His power and experience are pretty superb, and Robinson must have a lot of trust in him to take Corry off for him," says trisg211184. "Both have been brilliant captains."

Others feel the whole debate is merely a sideshow to a more pressing concern for England.

"Let's face it, England have far bigger problems than the Dallaglio/Corry debate," reckons kibbbs. "The problem is such an abject lack of creativity given all that possession."