John McKee: Pressure on England against Fiji

“They’re not being arrogant, but it’s seven games – you’ve got to think you can win seven games or why are you even going?”

Toulon playmaker Matt Giteau, back in the Wallaby mix after Australian rugby chiefs relaxed eligibility rules on overseas-based players, said having Grey and fellow World Cup victor Stephen Larkham on board as assistants under head coach Michael Cheika was a real bonus.

Wherever Burgess features, though, the All Black sees him making an impact. But their 42-3-2 winloss- draw record says it all. “I’m sure, with the type of talent he is, that he will handle the midfield role easily “. Friday’s match will be anything but usual for Pacific Nations champions Fiji, a team with plenty of talented players but at the opposite end of the scale to England in terms of finance and infrastructure. They are playing a good style of rugby.

“We hope we have got it right and can play both games”.

The Fijians forwards Dominiko Waqaniburotu and Leone Nakarawa stated that their European experience has given them the confidence for this year’s RWC.

As well as being hosts, there is the added pressure for England of being drawn in the so-called “group of death” that also includes Australia and Wales.

Ford himself will be one of the less physically-imposing players on the pitch, possessing a slender frame of just over 5ft 8in. For some time in world rugby, it’s been easy to safely pick one of four teams: current holders New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and England.

With such a close competition, the World Cup will come down to the best team on the day.

Speaking to The Observer, Spencer believes his home country have the chance to retain the title and has tipped All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder to be one of the stars of the tournament.

I started looking into some of the controversies of the sport and the biggest one is who created the game. “The threat Anthony (Watson) and Jonny (May) bring with their speed, their footwork and their finishing… you’ve seen it in the last few matches”.

Well here we go then!

Qera is also calling on all Fijians to support the team tomorrow morning.

“It’s good for us to be out of the limelight but I don’t think any of these teams will under-estimate us”.

“We are not as front foot as we should be in our pride at being English”, he said.

England will open the World Cup at Twickenham against Fiji, with McKee’s men well aware of the challenge facing them.

Nathan White claims that Ireland will pay for a complacent approach in their World Cup opener against Canada. “There’s only so much prep we can do on them because they can do something out of nothing, that’s the type of player they have”, Youngs said.