FRANCE IS a very beautiful country with lots of hospitable people, and I’m sure the Rugby World Cup party will look after itself and be fantastic. It’s what happens on the pitch that I’m judged on.
To actually get the World Cup first and foremost was a great feat by the FFR. Off the pitch I’m sure it will be a marvellous occasion, but I’ve got to be really single-minded. For me, it’s how fast can we chase the kick-offs? And make sure we get out of the 22 with a minimum of fuss. So that is my total, total, total concentration.
We have warm-up matches against very good opposition. Scotland are a strong team now. Then we’ve got a game against Fiji and we all know how much they’ve improved over the last few years. And then we’ve got one against Australia. Everyone is talking about them being a real threat at the World Cup; Eddie Jones has gone back, and they have a lot of players coming back to fitness. So we have to give various players a chance in various positions, and there could be a bolter or two who makes the World Cup squad.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Rugby World.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Rugby World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"I remember getting eating guidelines for Christmas Day!"
CHRISTMAS, the most wonderful time of the year? Not if you’re a professional rugby player it’s not.
Rugby firsts
FIRST RUGBY match you went to? I would have gone to RODNEY PARADE to watch a Newport game when I was about six years old, so around 1992 or 1993.
THE JOHN FISHER STATE SCHOOL RUGBY FESTIVAL
The inaugural John Fisher Rugby Festival hopes to Send state-school rugby players into the stratosphere.
The Making Of Robbie Henshaw
How this small-town boy went On to become a big-time player
RG SNYMAN
The giant Springbok is enjoying the best of both worlds since joining Leinster
BENHARD JANSE VAN RENSBURG
Bristol's South African centre has one eye on an England call-up in 2026
RUGBY RANT
Jessica Hayden, author of The Red Roses, says the women’s game can handle criticism
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ...GO ON TOUR WITH EMERGING IRELAND
Munster's Ben O'Connor tells RW about the eye-opening trip to South Africa
"Welsh rugby treats players like pieces of meat, not assets"
THEY’VE BUILT the women’s game around the men’s game in Wales but it has to be its own thing.
"I don't believe in dinosaurs – the boys think it's nuts!"
The Exeter Chiefs hooker talks Tarmac, time travel and Tyson Fury
