Jamie Hosie caught up with England World Cup legend Jason Robinson, currently in training for this Friday’s charity Rugby Aid match with several other ex-pros and celebrities, to get his thoughts on the upcoming tournament.
JH: Hi Jason. First of all, I’ve got to ask about Sam Burgess. You are the most famous example of someone that has switched codes and had great success. Do you think Burgess is ready to play in a World Cup so soon after switching?
JR: Well, he has to be. It’s as simple as that. He’s a great player. He does have limited experience in rugby union, but he’s been an international in rugby league for a long time. He’s got that experience of the big games. The coaches have seen soemthing in him that will help the cause.
It’s all well and good us making comments about the team, but the coaches – Stuart Lancaster, Andy Farrell – they’re in there seeing the guys, how they react and train, the influence that they have, and they believe he’s going to have a big impact. He’s on the bench this week so hopefully he’ll get some game time and continue his development.
The coaches have spoken quite a lot about his influence, and how he contributes to the atmosphere in the squad. From your experience, how important is it to have guys like that involved for a World Cup?
It’s very important. The team will got through a lot in the next six weeks, and one of the key things is not what he does in training, but what he delivers in the games, ultimately. Come the evening of 31st October we’ll all be looking to say it was the right or wrong call.
Moving to another player in the squad, Anthony Watson has said recently that he models his game on you. Do you see shades of yourself in the way he plays?
Being one of the retired guys, it’s nice that some of the youngsters have seen me play and want to do similar things. He’s got great feet and great pace, he’s playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. As we’ve seen he can skin people in a very small space – that’s going to be needed at the World Cup. You need guys like him that can create something out of nothing.
So what would your England back three look like, if you were picking the team right now?
Watson’s form is great and he’d definitely be one of the starters. After that it’s very close between May and Nowell. This week we’ll see where we stand; it’s very close between all three of them. But I do think Watson will be one of the definite starters.
In 2003 when you won the World Cup you were an immensely experienced group with several leaders across the pitch. Are you concerned at all by the relative lack of experience of this England team?
There’s not that much experience in certain areas, but really if you’re good enough then you’re old enough. Hopefully they’ll be able to rise to the occasion and come up with the goods.
It’s a home World Cup, a huge opportunity for England – can this team win the whole thing then?
Of course they can. New Zealand are favourites but England can definitely win. They’re on home soil, they’ve got to make sure that they use that advantage. On their day they can beat any team and they’ve just got to do that consistently over the next six or seven weeks.
And last but not least, how is the training for Rugby Aid going? How are the celebrities shaping up?
It’s been great. Everyone’s come together for a great cause. We’re just putting the finishing touches together for Friday’s game. Louis Spence is insanely flexible and led a very interesting warm-up!
Rugby Aid kicks-off at the Twickenham Stoop at 7.45pm on Friday 4th September. Tickets are £20 and available to buy via www.tickets.quins.co.uk or on the night with all proceeds going to Rugby For Heroes, which raises funds and awareness through the sport of rugby to support military personnel. Rugby Aid is also exclusively live on BT Sport 1 from 7.00pm.
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Anyone doubting Burgess should watch this – https://youtu.be/qNVUwyFox5s.
You can’t coach this kind of work ethic, dedication and positive attitude.
I know many disagree but I reckon he’s going to be awesome in Union.
Well England were forced to play him in the world cup due to satisfying his cost. An insult to England and English players. Shame on the RFU.
Fully agree.Is the architect of all
this one SL?
For the last effing time, Burgess move was NOT funded by the RFU. His selection is based partly on Farrell ‘ s preference for league players and the fact that Manu is injured.
What cost are you referring to?
Bath paid his transfer fee and his wages. And England must pick him why?
To suggest the guy was not picked on merit alone is an insult to him and the sport of rugby union.
He might have a chance of eventually being awesome in union but only a 6 and not a 12.The same was said about A Farrell who at best was ordinary.Selecting him as the 2nd best 12 in England is ludicrous.He has no track record in real matches not on training paddocks
Harelquin,
Remember Farrell’s game against South Africa in Pool A in 2007? He was abysmal, utterly, utterly abysmal. He became a laughing stock by the end of the match, it was almost tragic really.
Many union players across the globe go on to become great League players but the other way round..it never happens. Robinson is the only one of note. Even then Robinson was a success because of his pace, not because he was a ‘great’ union player.