What position will you be playing today?
“Unfortunately, I’ll be playing the armchair role again. I’m pretty nervous in that position.”
Nervous for England against Italy?
“Yes, I’m not a very good watcher of England for starters. But it will be even harder today as I’ll have my mind on my own game. After another injury break, I’m named on the bench for Newcastle Falcons against London Irish tomorrow.”
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So it’s not the Italians that worry you?
“That too. I was really impressed with them last weekend. The physicality, so explosive in the loose, too. And that was at Lansdowne Road.”
Yeah, yeah, but we all know that England will cruise through.
“From the stands, this may be hard to believe, but I swear: no player thinks like that. I remember playing in Rome in 2000, when Austin Healey scored three tries in nine minutes. But midway through the second half of that game, we were well and truly under the cosh. When you are on the field and the game is still even, there’s no one thinking: oh, we’re going to run away with this. You don’t get to international level with a character trait like that, it’s not compatible with your winning mentality and ruthless killer instinct. Complacency doesn’t exist. Not even with Austin.”
Italian to watch?
“Mauro Bergamasco: he can play in a number of different positions, aggressive, good with ball in hand, lively, disruptive, great in the loose, terrific workrate.”
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Toughest Italian opponent?
“Diego Dominguez. He just scored so many points. He was so reliable, so clever in the way he played and the influence he had in every game. Teams would always pressure him yet he still kept on scoring points.”
Italian cliché?
“The Tuscan hills. Magnificent part of the world. Though I did get terrible hay fever last time I was there.”
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We’re talking rugby here.
“Ah yes. You used to be able to pigeonhole them as strong forward runners, but now they’ve got an all-round game.”
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What, for you, makes Italy different?
“Well, I could say the physicality, because that’s definitely one of their hallmarks. I should say the Colosseum, but in all the times I’ve played there I’ve never got to see it properly. What stands out for me is the ball they use. Everyone else uses the Gilbert. In Italy they always used the Mitre and they will use that again today. The different ball is always an issue for a goalkicker. I didn’t quite dread it but I was very aware of it. So I always associate playing in Italy with having to concentrate with practising kicking and always feeling a little unsure of myself.”
So that’s why you never got to the Colosseum?
“Sort of. Sounds like a good excuse. The truth is, wherever I’ve played rugby, my mentality was totally focused on getting through the game successfully. Some of the boys do get to look round town a bit sometimes, and good for them. I have a whole list of cities I’ve played in and where I have a mental note to come back one day and see them properly.”