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England prop Dan Cole opens up on his 2019 World Cup final scar

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dan Cole has spoken about his surprise return to the Rugby World Cup four years after the England scrum dramatically collapsed in the 2019 final, leaving Eddie Jones’ team comfortably beaten by the Springboks in Japan.

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The Leicester tighthead had played back-up to the first-choice Kyle Sinckler at that tournament, but he was rapidly ushered into the action in Yokohama just two minutes into the match when Sinckler was concussed and unable to continue.

That left Cole getting a call to play far earlier than envisaged and he couldn’t prevent the Springboks going to crucially dominate the set-piece and eventually win 32-12.

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      The consequence of that disappointing performance was that Cole was cut out of the international picture by head coach Jones in the following three years.

      However, with his Tigers club coach Steve Borthwick succeeding Jones last December as England boss, the door was suddenly open for a return from the international wilderness at the age of 36.

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      Seven caps later, the veteran is now with England at their Le Touquet-Paris-Plage base and, ahead of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup opener versus Argentina in Marseille, Cole’s last appearance at the finals was a talking point on Wednesday.

      “Yeah, I still remember what went on, I haven’t forgotten it,” he admitted about the terrible night he endured in the Far East four years ago. “But it is a different World Cup. No, there is plenty of memories of World Cups in general, not just specific games but just the feeling, things in the tournament, how it feels.

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      “It’s definitely been thought about this week and how you can use those previous memories, experiences to drive this team or help the team out moving forward because a lot of things go on and off field around the World Cup and we just have to focus on what we can focus on and keep doing what we do.”

      If you play against Argentina in Saturday’s opener, do you feel you have a point to prove given what happened against the Springboks at the scrum?

      “No, no. I am happy to be in the squad, I’m here to help the squad be the best that we can be. What has happened has happened. I have spent long enough thinking about it and moved on. I am more interest in what is about to happen than what has gone before.”

      Did he genuinely believe he would find himself in this position, getting an international recall at the start of his after so many years out of the loop? “For the past three of those four years I didn’t think that would happen but I am very happy and grateful to be part of it,” he explained.

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      “Yes, since 2019 I didn’t think I would be involved but the Six Nations, Steve gave me a call and again in the summer said, ‘Would you like to be part of it?’. I jumped at the chance and that is why I am here.

      “It was a surprise. I obviously worked with Steve at Leicester but he didn’t give anything away. Yeah, I didn’t think I would be, purely because I hadn’t played for three years, but he saw it differently and I am grateful he did.

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      “Steve took over at Leicester (in 2020) and we were given a task to do and we were driven hard every day and we achieved one of our goals [win the Gallagher Premiership]. There was no resting on my laurels at Leicester, we had a focus and a purpose to get on with things and we did.

      “After 2019 in some regards with what happened in the final, I won’t say it would have been easy to pack it in but it would have been easy to drift but with Steve coming to Leicester and then covid and everything else happening, you have to reassess what has happened previously in your life.

      “He came in with a purpose and a task and several of us, he gave us a purpose and a vision and we bought into it. We had a few tough years at Leicester and he had a vision to get us back to where we could be as a club and we did. It was an easy thing to buy into and get on with.”

      What about England’s form heading into the finals on the back of five defeats in their last six matches? “Results aren’t where we need them but there are elements of our game that have improved,” Cole reckoned.

      “Coming out here you definitely feel a different vibe in the camp, having people focus. There was always an air of selection or getting injured, there was always something holding you back whereas when you get here, everyone is focused on the Argentina game and what we need to do. Recent form hasn’t been brilliant but we are a team that is working hard and we need to turn that around.

      “You look at the team in the Championship, they are dangerous. If you have one scrum where you are not fully focused they can do damage, they can get stuck into you. They are a dangerous team and obviously, they have grown their game in other areas. We know what is coming up front.”

       

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      Comments

      4 Comments
      j
      john 539 days ago

      Still the best English tight head scrummager

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      claire forlani 1 hour ago
      Crusaders prepare for 'dangerous in all elements' Chiefs game-breaker

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      J
      JW 1 hour ago
      Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

      These kids have been playing in leagues comparable to SR, not the NPC

      The likes of games these guys get introduced to are closer to NPC than SR.


      This is the team Sam played with in his first Leinster game;

      Ed BYRNE

      Tadgh MCELROY

      Tom CLARKSON

      Alex SOROKA

      Brian DEENY

      James CULHANE

      Will CONNORSE

      Max DEEGAN

      Nick MCCARTHY

      Sam PRENDERGAST

      Dave KEARNEY

      Ben BROWNLEE

      Liam TURNER

      Tommy O'BRIEN

      Chris COSGRAVE

      It’s too short, not as competitive and there are (usually) no test players in that comp.

      You’re talking about something else altogether, sure, I’m not saying people around the world want to watch the NPC, but locally its just the same with a large amount of internationals playing, even All Blacks.

      The evidence the NPC is not on par is in the U20 WC. SH sides haven’t won it since 2017

      You obviously have had very little exposure to New Zealand rugby. The NPC is made up all the Super Rugby players, plus the club battlers trying to get a gig. Far above u20 rugby level.

      Guys like Attisogbe, Gazzotti and Louis BB were in those sides. They were Top14 regulars at the time and are test players now.

      What you need to understand is that NZ rugby is not like France, basically the complete opposite. AB jerseys are not just handed out like that and there is very little room for u20 as every player in these squads is battling for an AB jersey basically. Super Rugby only has 5 teams, not 14. Sure, you can argue more exposure is better, but season length is not going to do that, you just have to get onboard with how NZ does it. They are the best after all.

      NZ used to chuck talented youngsters in at the deep end in SR. Carter, McCaw and quite a few others from the 2011 and 2015 WC winning teams were in SR at 20, 21 and ABs a year later.

      You are definitely star struck. I like it, reminds me of playing Championship Manager. It’s no different now, heard of Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Noah Hotham? NZ was one of the youngest squads going around and a good number of 20/21 yo’s coming into SR each year.


      You don’t want players under pressure at that age, hence what teams do in those comps I mentioned. NZ definitely takes that to a different level for 17/18 yo, and even younger, but when you hear what happens to them when you don’t, I think that’s the right path.

      150 Go to comments
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