Ben Jaycock: After another low-key Six Nations, how do you rate England’s chances at the World Cup?
Tom Varndell: England are always going to be one of the teams to beat. I know they haven’t had the best couple of years but the quality is there and everyone’s got to get behind Steve Borthwick. There’s been a lot of unrest in English rugby since Eddie Jones left but England have that quality and you can see from the recent final, the amount of quality that is in the Premiership.
There is some young talent coming through. Not as much as we would like, but there are boys who will come in and do a very good job for England. It’s about pulling the squad together, taking the positives from the last 12 months and getting on the big stage because that’s what matters.
Everything that’s happened before doesn’t really matter. It’s about making sure when we rock up to the World Cup in France that they’ve done all the preparation that’s needed and that they believe in themselves. You saw an England team that in parts didn’t have that self-belief, there was a lot of negativity around them but they’ve got a couple of months before the World Cup kicks off and it’s all to play for.
BJ: Who are your favourites to lift the trophy?
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.