COURTNEY LAWES fears a lack of big hits has cost him YouTube clicks.
The bone-crunching tackler wins his 50th England cap against South Africa on Saturday.
While his Red Rose appearances have risen during a seven-year Test career, views on the internet of some of his biggest hits have slowed.
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Die-hard Northampton fans made videos of their second-row hero’s monstrous sacks on opposing players.
But Lawes, 27, admitted: “The laws of the game are changing and I don’t want to put my team in any stress by getting cards. So obviously the online hits have taken a plunge.
“I prefer to stop big guys than little ones — but when they are big guys the impact doesn’t look anywhere near as bad because they are as heavy as you are.
“I do not go around like I was when I was 20, throwing my body into everyone. It’s a lot more technique now, picking and choosing my shots. You can't fly into everyone as it doesn’t work that well.
“As long as I am not missing tackles and as long as I am doing my part for the team, I am happy.
“I pride myself on being physical but it is not for myself — and certainly not for my shoulders — it is for the team and getting energy to the boys.
“I am not too fussed about who I hit, where I hit or how hard it is as long as I am doing my job.
“We have spoken about how physical South Africa are and how their mindset changes when they come to England. We will have strategies to deal with that.”
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Lawes has been forced to play second-fiddle to Maro Itoje and George Kruis since Eddie Jones took charge. But both the Saracens stars are crocked so Lawes will partner Wasps’ Joe Launchbury in the second row at Twickenham.
Skipper Dylan Hartley will allow his Saints team-mate to lead the team out to mark his half-century — although Lawes, who made his debut in 2009, feels he should not have taken so long to bring up his 50.
He added: “I could have got there quite a while ago if I didn’t get injured so much. But I'm just really happy to make it. It’s been seven years since my debut so I’ve missed a fair few caps along the way.
“But I hope there are still many more to come. I’m still pretty carefree. Obviously I’ve got more responsibility now I have to call the lineout but I’m still really excited to get the ball in my hands and play.
“I’ve got the opportunity to play well now so I don’t want to over-think things. I just want to get around the park, get some ball in my hands, make some good hits and stop South Africa from getting anywhere near our gainline.”
Wasps centre Elliot Daly is set to get his first England start when Jones names his side to face the Springboks this morning.
Daly, 24, is preferred to Bath’s Jonathan Joseph — who started all of the Aussie’s first nine Tests.
Daly, who has won five caps as a replacement, possesses blistering pace and a huge boot — which makes him a threat with penalties from 50 metres-plus.
Joseph had been struggling with a minor groin injury but was declared fully fit by scrum-coach Neal Hatley.
Hatley said: “Jonathan trained on Tuesday and will be able to train on Thursday as well”
ENGLAND (probable): Brown; Yarde, Daly, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Launchbury, Robshaw, B Vunipola, Wood.
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