Pressure is on the favourites and our knowledge of players from Premiership encounters can be used to help inflict an upset
People will fully expect England to beat the United States on Thursday. That is entirely understandable: they have to be regarded as one of the World Cup favourites. At least we know our opponents well. It helps that our coach, Gary Gold, has spent many years coaching in England and AJ MacGinty, Joe Taufete’e and Paul Lasike are involved on a weekly basis in the Premiership. There is strength in understanding your enemy, something we can look to use come kick off in Kobe.
At World Cups it is funny how such small things can make a big difference and lead to great upsets. It may seem an unlikely positive for us but sometimes that is all you need to tip the scales. As I’ve written before, we will feel no sense of trepidation because we will not be the ones under pressure. The men in white are very good but they are not from Mount Olympus. I will enjoy looking across at them and seeing familiar faces. It will feel like competing against your brother, a contest in which you fight tooth and nail. The whole team will be preparing not just to compete against England but to go out and win against all odds.
Related: All change for England in second Rugby World Cup game against USA
Related: Rugby World Cup 2019: USA team guide
Continue reading...