NICK EASTER insisted England will never take a backward step on the field, despite Courtney Lawes’ aggression placing his Rugby World Cup future in doubt.

Lawes has been cited for allegedly striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee in Saturday’s 13-9 victory, an offence which carries a guideline suspension of between three and 12 weeks.

If judicial officer Terry Willis, from Australia, finds Lawes guilty and decides his offence is of medium or high severity then the Northampton lock could miss the rest of the tournament.

The low entry level is three weeks, which could be reduced for mitigating circumstances.

Lawes will attend the hearing in Auckland, which is due to start at 3am UK time, where he will be represented by England’s travelling legal expert Richard Smith QC.

No citing was brought on the Argentina player James Haskell appeared to accuse of eye-gouging after a scuffle in the closing moments of the game.

Easter was on hand to break up that scrap and he vowed the unity in England’s squad means the players all have each others’ back.

“You can’t take a step back in rugby. If you take a step back you have lost,” said Easter.

“It is a physical game. If you are not up for it physically you will get found out.

“We look after each other.

This is a very close group of players. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t going to do that automatically.”

Lawes relishes the physical side of the game and he put in a bone-shuddering tackle on Gonzalo Tiesi after the Pumas centre had kicked the ball.

Tiesi suffered a knee injury in the challenge and has been forced out of the World Cup, with Pumas wing Lucas Borges called up as a replacement.

England return to training today ahead of Sunday’s clash with Georgia after being given some time off to enjoy the adventure sports on offer in Queenstown.

Easter was one of those to go bungee-jumping while others enjoyed the jet-boating, helicopter rides and clay pigeon shooting.