Five-day schedule will not be easy

AS A team, we’ve come off a big high of winning the Six Nations, so naturally we have confidence in ourselves going into the World Cup.

- OLAMIDE SODEHE

However, that means nothing going into this new competition. Each game in the World Cup is a new challenge, and we cannot afford to rest on our laurels or rely on past successes. Every team here will be aiming for the same goal and will bring their best game.

As a player, I think the big challenge is the short turnaround between games. Unlike the Six Nations, where games are spread out, the World Cup schedule is more compressed. We had the opportunity to practise the five-day turnaround in Georgia. It highlighted the importance of getting things right off the pitch in terms of recovery so that as a team, we are in the best position possible from a physical point of view.

As a team, there is excitement going into this competition with a pool of great opposition who we are looking forward to playing against. Competing against the best teams from around the world is both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase our skills. In our squad, notable mentions go to Angus Hall, Jack Bracken and Lucas Friday who’ve done brilliantly to be included in the squad as young players still in their final year of school. Their inclusion is a testament to their talent and hard work, and they bring fresh energy to the team.