With less than a month to go until the mounting Rugby World Cup 2015 tidal wave breaks across the world, there is a feverish anticipation in the host nation. Although England and Northampton Saints centre Luther Burrell’s role in the tournament is a little more hands-on than the vast majority of people’s, he can’t help but share the public’s excitement.
“We’re all hugely excited for the challenge, and for me, it really is what dreams are made of. I went back home three weeks ago and my mum pulled out the photo album and there was a photograph of me in 2003, at my local rugby club, stood next to the World Cup. A few years down the line, and I’m potentially going to be involved in one. It’s exciting. It’s very, very exciting.”
Make no mistake either, the England players are considering the same questions as the fans and supporters: what does it mean to have England at home? How will they deal with the pressure? Has Stuart Lancaster created an identity for his team?
“Obviously the first thing is that we are going to be familiar with our surroundings, it’s our home and we want to do it justice. All these other teams are coming to our home to win on our turf and obviously as a squad we don’t want that to happen!”
Regarding the question of Stuart Lancaster, Burrell has more insight than most into the workings of the oft enigmatic England head coach. The two have, in rugby terms, grown alongside each other and Burrell values Lancaster’s impact on his career above all. He also appreciates how Lancaster has put together his coaching staff and united the team under their leadership.
“[Stuart] has been a fantastic bloke and unbelievable for my career. I’m just chuffed to bits that he’s managed to do what he’s done with this England squad, we’re all playing for the jersey, and the direction he has this England squad going in is fantastic. He massively has us and the coaches singing off the same hymn sheet.
“[As for] Andy Farrell, if you’re feeling a bit down or a bit fatigued before training he’ll get you exactly where you need to be. He’s passionate about the team and he focuses our aggression and allows us to dominate sides with our physicality, and I thrive off that. Mike Catt has developed the ability of the forwards to play with the ball in hand, and I must mention Graham Rowntree and his work at the breakdown, because he’s ferocious!”
Things change quickly – often mercilessly – in professional sport, and rugby union is no exception. 18 months ago, Burrell was making his debut against France, scoring a try, and watching his star rise and rise and rise.
Despite this, and with just two fixtures left before England trot out at Twickenham to face Fiji, he finds himself facing some of the closest scrutiny in the entire squad after strong outings from Henry Slade and Sam Burgess, on their debuts, mind you. If you care to throw into the mix Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees and Jonathan Joseph, you could understand if the spotlight was beginning to feel a little hot on Burrell’s broad shoulders.
“[The competition] is definitely a good thing, 100%. In the centre position, we’re all players who thrive off competition. We do have the utmost respect for each other, but when it comes to the training field, it is all about that competition. We have to put our hands up in front of the coaches, but we all know it’s for the end goal and it is all about the team.
I know that if Brad [Barritt] gets selected ahead of me, I’ll shake his hand and I’ll congratulate him because that’s what team is about. It’s about respect. My opportunity might come the week after, and I know he’d do the same for me.”
It is a symptom of the fleeting nature of professional sport, that Burrell, with his 12 caps, seems like one of the ‘old boys’ in the England set-up. He’s already struggled with injury and missed out on last year’s Autumn internationals (an experience he describes as ‘gut-wrenching’) and requires a commanding performance on Saturday against France to secure a place in England’s final squad. Yet, through all the talk of the World Cup and the accompanying pressure, Burrell can’t keep a smile from his face. There may not be another player in the England squad who is receiving more column inches in the run-up to England’s second warm-up match and still the excitement in Luther Burrell is palpable.
Don’t get me wrong, he is undoubtedly on message. He bats a question about players holding back in the warm-up games, in order to preserve themselves for the World Cup, with a laugh, and emphasises that ‘it’s all about the team’. If his attitude is anything to go by, there is no doubt that Stuart Lancaster has moulded his side into one being, with a single goal but many legs to carry them towards it. However we must not forget that, with the offensive calibre of England’s back-line, and with a forward pack that relishes every tackle, every breakdown and every scrum, the most dangerous England side is one that is enjoying itself. One thing is for sure, come September, if Luther Burrell has nailed down a spot in the centre, he’s going to be having a ball.
By Fraser Kay (@fraserkay)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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If Barritt turns out to be injured then Burrell will certainly go. Hope hes not but i would be happy if space could be found for Luther.
All the positive rhetoric in the world does not take away the fact that he has not grown into the position ( like JJ- who 15 months ago was not overly imposing himself ). I think you have to go with current form . Barrett ,who I’m not a huge fan of, showed real steel in the end of season final. I think Luther has to have a big game, not only physically but his his guile and distribution has to stand out. When push comes to shove, you need players, that when the pressure really ramps up ( I.e we are 15 points down to Wales or OZ at 60 mins. How and who is going to manufacture a win) can bring us home. My crystal ball says JJ, Barrett, Slade and Burgess, with Farrell being a centre option.
Think he may be bit further away after last night????