With a month to go to the World Cup, Andrew Daniel caught up with Neil Back MBE to get his thoughts on the tournament, England’s chances, Sam Burgess and the battle at the breakdown.
Andrew Daniel: Neil, Many thanks for your time today. Firstly, how much are you looking forward to this World Cup in your home country?
Neil Back: Genuinely, I am massively excited. We obviously held the 1991 Rugby World Cup but it was nothing like this. The game was not as popular back then and with it being only the second World Cup ever played, the media coverage was nowhere on the scale that we see in today’s game. Therefore, it didn’t grab the attention of the public like it does today.
AD: Realistically, what are England’s chances of winning this World Cup?
NB: Getting out of the pool and topping that pool is England’s first challenge. Wales and Australia are obviously going to be extremely tough. That said, playing these types of teams in the pool stages can really stand you in good stead. Look back at NZ over the years – they have historically had very easy groups and when they have arrived at the big knockout games, they have been undercooked.
If they top the group then they would more than likely avoid South Africa and New Zealand in the knock out stages. Home advantage is a huge thing. The other advantage they have is in the recovery periods that they have in between games. England have at least seven days between the group games where other nations are playing weekends and mid-week.
My head however, questions the consistency of this squad and the inexperience within it. Is it ready to win a World Cup? Let’s have a re-think on that in two weeks’ time after the France and Ireland games.
AD: Moving away from England specifically, are we seeing a change in the modern game as to how coaches are setting up their back row, in trying to get their best back row players on the field even if this means playing them out of their favoured positions? It seemed when you were playing that England had a defined back row with you as an out and out openside, Richard Hill doing the underground work at six and Lawrence Dallaglio at 8?
NB: I think that coaches are very lucky to have that strength in depth and can fit players around game plans. What I would say is that they don’t seem to have the rules and definitions of their roles when watching them play. Back in 2003, we did have a defined six, seven and eight but you also have to mention in the same breath the roles that Lewis Moody, Martin Corry and Joe Worsley played in that team. When we were on the field we all knew what our roles were and what the rules were and executed them to give us the right balance we needed as a team.
AD: Which Country’s Back Row would you fear the most at this World Cup?
NB: New Zealand. They have real quality and strength in depth, not just in the back row but across the whole team. Two weeks ago, Pocock, Hooper and the rest of the Australian team caught New Zealand out but what you have to say about New Zealand is that they are quick learners; they adapted only a week later and changed their game plan to secure a victory against Australia.
Ireland cannot be dismissed either, their back row is big and powerful and one of the main reasons that they are sitting at number 2 in the World Rankings at the moment.
AD: Do you think that England will suffer for not having a conventional or ‘traditional’ style of number seven; a ‘fetcher’?
Only time will tell. Stuart Lancaster has a very talented team of experienced coaches and a very talented pool of back row players to choose from. They can only play with the tools that they have at their disposal and by the rules that England have chosen to abide by in their selection policy. Chris Robshaw does a great job as the leader and England have strength in depth and competition for places. Also, you need to look at who is available in that position. If Chris Robshaw didn’t play then who would? A lot of people were talking about Matt Kvesic not that long ago but he has played for a team that have struggled all of last season and as an openside flanker, he has been overworked and not been able to gain any momentum in his form to earn a call up or sustain a challenge.
Chris Robshaw comes in for a lot of unfair criticism as he has become a great captain and a fantastic leader but as he wearing the 7 shirt people expect a type of game from him that perhaps he hasn’t been instructed to undertake. It goes back to the coaches wanting a certain balance in their back row.
AD: So to put you on the spot, and to put you in Stuart Lancaster’s shoes; who would you pick to start in the back row against Wales?
NB: I don’t think you can read too much into the starting line-ups of teams in the modern game. The impact from the bench is just as key now. How many games are now won and lost in the last twenty minutes? That’s where it counts the most. The impact from the bench. Chris Robshaw definitely starts and then whether it’s Ben Morgan or Billy Vunipola at number eight and whether James Haskell or Tom Wood get picked at blindside, it doesn’t really have a massive bearing on the result because whoever is on the bench and comes on with 20 minutes to go will potentially have the bigger impact on the game and the outcome. Does answer your question? Probably not!
AD: Are there any teams that may just spring a surprise and go further than expected?
Argentina. And maybe France. Outside of the big three from the Southern Hemisphere, you have England, Ireland and Wales. Then you have France and Argentina making up the top eight. These are the eight that could win the World Cup.
Argentina are serious contenders, they could win it. They will get out of their group and face either Ireland or France. Both are beatable if they hit the same levels that they did against South Africa two weeks ago. They have a big pack, strong in the scrum and the breakdown and some exciting backs so they may just be the team to watch.
Neil Back was speaking at the SSE #soundsofvictory pop-up shop in London. SSE is proud joint sponsor of ITV’s coverage of Rugby World Cup 2015. Visit ssereward.com
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