Ross Harries’ entertaining new book ‘Behind the Dragon’ delves into World Cup preparations and the role of team bonding
It is about now in a Rugby World Cup cycle, with just over 40 days and nights in the phoney war wilderness still to endure, that the truth starts to emerge. There is only so much iron you can pump in a gym: if anyone hoping to lift the Webb Ellis Cup is not fit by now they never will be. You cannot fake it at a World Cup and expect to have a realistic chance.
With a slew of warm-up Tests shortly commencing for all the European nations, nevertheless, those seeking clues about the prospects of Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy and others should not focus purely on August’s results. Four years ago, for example, England saw off both France and Ireland at Twickenham before hosting the 2015 tournament and still exited in the pool stages. Scotland, conversely, lost against the French and Irish yet came within a midge’s whisker of the semi-finals.
Related: ‘There’s a belief that we can do something special,’ says Jamie George
Continue reading...