To make my point, I'll rewind to 2003 and the World Cup knockout stages, particularly against Wales and France. I remember going into those games thinking we had a limited idea of what was coming our way but we had no fear whatsoever that we could deal with it. It's like surfing, knowing there is a big wave coming, not quite sure how you are going to catch it, but always managing to get on for the ride.

This is tied up with expectation, self-belief and bloody hard work. In the grand-slam decider earlier that year against Ireland, we caught that wave beautifully. Against Wales in the World Cup quarter-final, we didn't play particularly well but still managed to haul ourselves on.

Before games, I am particularly aware of my frame of mind. I tend to find myself pacing around the bath and shower area saying to myself: “This is a big game, I'm going to be my best, I'm going to be my best.” Before those matches in 2003, there was real conviction in this: I am going to be at my best.

However, I also know the feeling before other games when I would parrot this through my thought processes more as a way of convincing myself. What I am really thinking is: I hope to be at my best. I suppose you could use some of my comeback games, especially after my neck injury, as an example, or certainly the Lions Tests four years ago against New Zealand. I can't say that I enjoy being like that. In retrospect, you know you have been trying to brainwash yourself; you sound like a guy at the roulette table with his fingers crossed.

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You earn the right frame of mind by being in a team that build properly. What has particularly pleased me about watching England in this RBS Six Nations Championship is seeing that Martin Johnson has been constructing the team without short cuts. If you cheat the process, you will be found out at some point. You will find yourself using that cliché: “We didn't turn up today.” Well, England did not play well in that 2003 quarter-final against Wales, but we still found a way through.

Johnno has not gone for any short-term gains or short-term success. To be more specific, he has let a squad understanding develop, allowed players to find their roles within the team and started to build a better platform up front. Momentum is earned in this way; it is not bought or cheated.

This does not mean that England will repeat against Scotland today their knockout blow against France last weekend. That France result was a special one, not one that you can expect week in, week out. And, as I say, England are still building.

Ireland are a more advanced team in that respect. You sense that they have the ability now to find a way to beat almost anyone, and if they don't beat Wales today, it will be damned close and Wales will have played out of their skins.

As for me, I still cannot even get my toes wet. I had hoped to play today, for Newcastle Falcons against Bath, but my knee is not quite ready and I have to counter myself from being demoralised. I hate thinking of myself as an incapable athlete, especially around a group of team-mates who are doing what I want to do every day and are doing it pretty well.

I know there has been speculation about my future of late, but my focus is on getting fit and getting back. Newcastle have been excellent in helping the rehab process and, as ever, I simply want to be back again and playing with these guys. Nothing of note has actually occurred to hold me back, but on Monday, my knee just didn't feel right. Often it starts a bit stiff but warms up; on this occasion it just didn't warm up. We were doing a training session and I had no problem whatsoever with the contact, it was simply the pounding through the joint from the running.

So I am now in a pretty horrible position where I am having to listen to my body. I could be on the field but it might be better if I am not. I am not particularly comfortable with that - I would always prefer to be on it. But people have said: “There's no point in rushing back.” They are right, but I have discarded that advice time and again.

There is a need for maturity. I am not going to take a risk. We are assessing this day by day. I would like to play next week, but it may be the week after, or maybe the week after that. There is an element of crystal ball-gazing in this, but I will be playing again soon, when the time is absolutely right.