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.
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Rugby World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Rugby World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
RUGBY RANT
Writer Sam Larner rails against rugby's scheduling of fixtures
"The list of highlights is endless - I wouldn't change a thing"
The Wales great who also represented the Scarlets and Lions with distinction
SIX OF THE BEST
MANOR PARK have played a blinder by Nutting out So many teams in one massive weekend
Back with a bang!
The first sell-out since Covid in the final year at the Hong Kong Stadium... we bore witness to a madcap Hong Kong Sevens
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
A globetrotting, jet-heeled, kick-blocking, defender bamboozling star. Keeping up with Springboks wing Cheslin Kolbe will make you dizzy
MY DAY OFF..ADAM RADWAN
THERE IS a symmetry to Adam Radwan’s favourite hobby. A player renowned for his remarkable athleticism, leaping like a salmon to score by the corner flag, likes nothing better than spending a day fly fishing on the River Tyne.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
LORENZO PANI had it all planned out. If he managed to score a try in Cardiff, he would reach for the trademark ‘Siuuu!’ celebration of his footballing idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.
WHAT'S UP WITH ULSTER
Mid-Season changes to leadership, poor form on the pitch and a lot of confused looks from fans Tom English digs into troubled times at the Irish province
ROSSLYN PARK SEVENS
With blockbuster numbers, high skill and a fired-up crowd of players, former pupils and parents, this traditional event is as strong as ever
TOP 12 FINISHERS
It's try-time as we run down a list of our favourite scorers across the global game down the years