MIKE TINDALL has all the core English rugby virtues, which is why Brian Ashton should make him England captain. Tindall is big, strong, direct and honest, and while he might lack flamboyance, he is experienced and battle-hardened, and commands the respect of players around the world. That’s a great starting point for any captain, and we should celebrate our strengths because they have taken us to two World Cup finals in succession, rather than always wishing we had more frills. Tindall is a tough, no-frills character, and that, as well as the cardinal rule that he is an automatic selection in the starting 15, is why he is my choice.

The English do not need their captains to be great talkers with an inspirational speech for every occasion, but what they do expect, above all, is that they lead from the front. Having learnt his trade at international level in England teams captained by Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio, Tindall knows the score better than anyone. Another essential benefit is that Ashton knows him well, and the England coach could work easily and quickly with him as his leader on the field, which is a big bonus given that his initial contract is only for 12 months.

Ashton’s alternatives as captain are Phil Vickery, Martin Corry or Jonny Wilkinson. Vickery and Corry are veterans who have had a good run at it, but neither is sure of his place, and Wilkinson, who never got going as a captain due to injury, does not thrive in the media limelight, whereas Tindall knows how to handle it.

Tindall may seem a surprise choice given that he has spent a lot of time in the wilderness since winning the World Cup in Sydney in 2003, but he has matured, and has arrived at the second stage of his international career in good shape. Not many internationals get to the second stage, but if you are lucky enough to get right to the top, as Tindall did in winning a Grand Slam and a World Cup, you have to find yourself again and rediscover your drive. It takes character, especially after the injuries he has had in the past four years, but the signs are that he has his appetite back.

Just as important, you get the sense that, at 29, Tindall sees rugby from a balanced perspective. This is a great quality in a captain, because international rugby demands you handle internal and external pressures without letting them get on top of you. He is old school, in the sense that he knows how to relax when the pressure is off, but is focused and professional when there is a job to be done.

Tindall is playing great rugby with Gloucester in a team that is flying high in the Guinness Premiership and mirrors England in terms of youthful potential. His role cannot have gone unnoticed by Ashton, because he is the senior pro in a young, fast, dynamic back line that is tearing defences apart. He sets the standard others must follow, and his defensive work has been outstanding. He has always been good in contact, making the tackle, getting to his feet quickly and winning turnovers.

He also does the hard yards – carrying the ball up the middle is part of his make-up, something he does in his sleep. He doesn’t think twice about taking the ball at pace into the meanest midfield defence, and presenting a target for his forwards to hit and drive. This straightforward but crucial tactic has been missing from England’s back line recently, but it must not be ignored. We are what we are, and it works. Tindall has never been the best distributor of the ball, and that has been a burden to him because, between World Cups, England moved away from simple rugby and tried to be clever, without having the personnel to deliver. The big man provides Ashton with a strong focal point for his backs. Tindall has been bursting to get out there after missing the World Cup.

When young guns such as Ryan Lamb, James Simpson-Daniel and Anthony Allen make breaks, Tindall runs in their shadows, offering an option to take the ball on, including into areas where his smaller counterparts struggle. His experience as a young player at Bath was great grounding because he learnt his trade surrounded by internationals and went into the England set-up around the same time as great students of the game such as Wilkinson and Will Greenwood. To be around such quality and dedication must benefit a player – quality is contagious as long as you’re prepared to work, which Tindall always has. It’s time to give the old man of Gloucester a run with the armband.