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Eurosport rugby expert Neil Back casts an eye over the possible replacements for Tom Rees after the England's openside was ruled out for two months with a knee injury.

With Tom Rees effectively ruled out of the Six Nations after picking up a knee ligament injury, Martin Johnson will have to find a replacement for the Wasps player.

There are a number of very good English opensides putting their hands up at the moment - Michael Lipman, Steffon Armitage and Will Skinner to name a few - but for me, the name of Lewis Moody springs to mind as the automatic replacement.

Lewis has been a great performer for Leicester and England in the past and although I'm not sure he is yet at the top of his game after his long-term injury, he has been starting to show his quality for the Tigers.

Lewis is Lewis, and you always know what you are going to get from him - energy, which has been missing from England's performances of late. That is why I would give him a run ahead of Lipman.

With his destructive tackling and kick-off chases, Lewis leads by deed and that is what England need at the moment.

Lipman has also had a good season for Bath and I imagine he will be retained in Johnno's squad ahead of Armitage and Skinner.

The fact Lipman already has 10 caps will probably work in his favour, though Johnno might see qualities in Armitage and Skinner that he wants to bring to his squad.

Armitage is a good shape for an openside. He carries that ball very well, has good hands and is good over the ball. Although he can lift in the lineout, I do not think he is used much as a jumper and this could affect his chance.

It's the same with Skinner, who has very good pace and has lead Quins very well. But like Armitage he is not considered a lineout jumper.

For me, it is all about balance in the back row and I think England have the best chance of getting the balance right with Lewis on the openside, Tom Croft at six and Nick Easter at eight - with James Haskell chomping at the bit to come on as a replacement.

That said, I still think Croft could make an ideal openside in this modern game, though I appreciate it may be a little risky for him to learn his trade at international level.

But Tom has so many attributes - not least his speed and athletic ability - that he could develop into a new generation seven. Some may question his effectiveness over the ball at the breakdown but he has worked hard on that area of his game and has made huge improvements, which are now bearing fruit.

Anyway, opensides are no longer expected to be the first player to the breakdown so that is no longer as big a concern.

Tom has what cannot be coached: genuine pace. Add to that his lineout skills, on both his own ball and attacking opposition ball, and awareness of the try-line - he has scored three for Leicester in his last two games - and that adds up to a pretty potent combination.

Back row is an area of strength for English rugby, but I do not think we have seen it gel yet, mostly because they have not yet had the chance to do so.

Johnno will know the character of his loose forwards much better than I do - and that will influence his decisions - but I think it is important that England settle on four back-row players in their match day 22 and give them a decent run in the Six Nations.

Eurosport