RugbyWorldNovember2023

ISSUE NOVEMBER 2023 Atoneof thegreatRugbyWorldCups, wetalk exclusivelytostarplayers,coachesandreferees GarryRingrose The rise of Ireland’s influential centre MaroItoje Stuart Barnes analyses the feted England lock SamCane The openside on life as New Zealand captain AaronWainwright Why Wales’ coaches removed the shackles WELCOME TO THE EVERY WORLDCUP TEAM INSIDE

Bouncingin Bordeaux Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit jumps for joy as the final whistle signals a breathless 32-26 pool win over Fiji Pic Alex Livesey/Getty Images

“Let’s see emerging sides far more often” WHEN FRANCE and New Zealand got the World Cup under way in Paris, it began our sport’s grandest feast. Main courses included England’s monster clash with Argentina and Scotland’s meeting with South Africa, the games almost as significant as the curtain raiser in the capital. But while such fixtures take the limelight, there are a myriad of other nations to enjoy. This year already, the so-called Tier Two nations have made an impact and shown increasing signs of progression. Perhaps the most prominent of those is Fiji. Coached by Simon Raiwalui, the side arrived in Bordeaux fresh from beating England at Twickenham. To say that the Pacific Islanders just went toe-to-toe with Wales would do them a disservice. Waisea Nayacalevu got a mesmeric score in a match that the Fijians bossed, despite questionable refereeing. Their 32-26 defeat left fans the world over with their head in their hands. Then look to Namibia, Uruguay and Chile, who were seriously impressive in their opening encounters with Italy, France and Japan. These emerging teams aren’t scared of anyone. They don’t look at a clash with New Zealand with fear but instead want to test themselves against them. Everyone wants to see these sides be able to compete. In South America the creation of Super Rugby Americas has helped propel Chile to new heights but more assistance is needed, as coach Pablo Lemoine explains on page 29. When Wales met Fiji, they had played 42 games since RWC 2019 compared to Fiji’s 15 – a startling divide that’s not just down to restrictions imposed by Covid. Lower-tier teams need more exposure so they have a sense of expectation and greater support moving forward. And we want to be in a front-row seat for it. n “Players want fans being exposed to stats as much as possible. Why wouldn’t you? All the blocks come from coaching staff ” P98 HAVE YOUR SAY Email [email protected] Twitter @rugbyworldmag Facebook Rugby World Magazine Instagram @Rugbyworldmag SECRET PLAYER THIS MONTH Out of Africa Namibia’s Gerswin Mouton takes on Italy WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS MONTH… F r o n t R o w PIC AFP/Getty Images 5

CONTENTS Subscribe to Rugby World this month and you could get a FREE pass developer weighted ball from Ram Rugby worth £26 – and you get the mag delivered to your door! See page 30 or call 0330 333 1113 for more details now. SAVE THIS MONTH DON’T MISS THIS MONTH At his best, Maro Itoje can be devastating. Stuart Barnes asks if he can hit world class again on P36 COVER IMAGES Getty Images FRONT ROW 12 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi 16 Secret Ref 17 Ken Owens 20 Tackle school debate 22 Supporting Samoa 24 Japan rant 25 Nuno Sousa Guedes 26 Andrés Vilaseca 29 Pablo Lemoine CENTRES 32 Sam Cane 36 Maro Itoje 40 Top 12 RWC stars 46 Romania 50 Beka Gorgadze 52 Tom Hooper 56 Garry Ringrose 60 Rassie Erasmus 64 Rodrigo Isgro 66 Aaron Wainwright 70 World Cup picture special 76 Nika Amashukeli 80 Duhan van der Merwe 82 WXV explained 86 USA BACK ROW 90 Fiji analysed 92 Power training 94 Back-line defence 96 Letters 98 Secret Player

We’re enjoying the best of French rugby 7 International relations French fans in Toulouse show love for Japan IN THE first week of the World Cup, I enjoyed the hospitality of Saint-Étienne’s good citizens. In for the ride was ex-Wallaby Drew Mitchell and in his three World Cups he’s seen some stuff. So we pondered the global impact of this one. There have been things that aren’t good enough: fans forced into grim queues so close to kick-off in Marseille and Bordeaux. Consistency amongst officials and panels cops it. Even the anthems get a spray. But there has also been superb rugby and atmosphere. We should ask difficult questions – it’s vital. But as we went from Saint-Étienne to stunning Nice, we’ve also seen the best of this country. It’s just a snapshot and there’s more to come. It’s why we have made the global party the focus of this issue. It could all go down in history – so here’s to weeks of joy to come! n EDITOR’S LETTER Alan Dymock, Editor Email: [email protected] Twitter: @AlanDymock SCAN TO GET RUGBY W ORLD’S NE W SLETTER

25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 64 57 F r o n t R o w YOURRUGBYCALENDAR A look at the oval-ball events taking place in October 21st Try Tag Rugby’s London Autumn tournament will be at King’s House Sports Ground in Merton. A full day of tag rugby will be followed by the final official tournament after party until spring 2024. A popular event for teams formed over summer, capacity is at 72 teams across four divisions from beginner to elite. Ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals, MBN Events are gathering the pinnacle of rugby royalty for a once-in-a-lifetime event in London. World Cup-winning captains, including John Smit (below), will gather at The Brewery where individual seats cost £350 +VAT. 28th The Rugby World Cup final takes place at the Stade de France in Paris this Saturday night, kicking off at 8pm UK time. Whether you are lucky enough to be at the game itself or watching at your local rugby club, pub or at home, it’s one not to be missed. Who will follow South Africa by lifting the Webb Ellis trophy? This Thursday at 8.30pm at Cheltenham Literature Festival, Danny Cipriani (left) is in conversation at The Times and Sunday Times forum to discuss his headline-grabbing autobiography Who Am I? Tickets cost £14 and can be bought via a link on Cipriani’s Instagram page. The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast embarks on its second tour with The World Cup After Party. Join RWC 2003 winner Mike Tindall, ex-England back-row James Haskell and presenter Alex Payne for the opening night at G Live in Guildford. Tickets start at £44. MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 2 nd NEW ISSUE OUT 9 PICS Getty Images

F r o n t R o w T H E D I R E C T O RY All the fixture and TV details you need as the World Cup reaches its climax WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER Rugby World Cup Uruguay v Namibia (Pool A, 4.45pm, Lyon) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Rugby World Cup Japan v Samoa (Pool D, 8pm, Toulouse) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Rugby World Cup New Zealand v Italy (Pool A, 8pm, Lyon) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ Pre-season friendly Edinburgh v Connacht (7.30pm) Premiership Rugby Cup Doncaster v Bristol (7.30pm) Cornish Pirates v Jersey (7.45pm) Hartpury v Gloucester (7.45pm) SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Rugby World Cup Argentina v Chile (Pool D, 2pm, Nantes) Fiji v Georgia (Pool C, 4.45pm, Bordeaux) Scotland v Romania (Pool B, 8pm, Lille) TV All live on ITV & RTÉ Women’s Internationals New Zealand v Australia (5.35am, Waikato) Wales v Fiji (2.30pm, Colwyn Bay) England v Canada (3, Saracens) Italy v Japan (4.30pm, Parma) Scotland v Spain (5.45, The Hive) Women’s friendly Munster v Barbarians (2pm, Thomond Park) Men’s friendlies Glasgow v Zebre Parma (6pm) Gloucester v Barbarians (3pm) Munster v Barbarians (4.30pm, Thomond Park) Premiership Rugby Cup Ampthill v Bedford (3pm) Caldy v Sale Sharks (3pm) Cambridge v Ealing (3pm) Exeter v London Scottish (3pm) Leicester v Newcastle (3pm) Northampton v Bath (3pm) Coventry v Nottingham (4pm) SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup Australia v Portugal (Pool C, 4.45pm, Saint-Étienne) South Africa v Tonga (Pool B, 8pm, Marseille) TV Both live on ITV & RTÉ Premiership Rugby Cup Harlequins v Saracens (2.30pm) TV Live on TNT Sports THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup New Zealand v Uruguay (Pool A, 8pm, Lyon) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup France v Italy (Pool A, 8pm, Lyon) TV Live on ITV Pre-season friendly Edinburgh v Bath (7.30pm) Premiership Rugby Cup Jersey Reds v Ealing (7.30pm) Bristol v Cambridge (7.45pm) London Scottish v Pirates (7.45) Sale Sharks v Ampthill (7.45pm) SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup Wales v Georgia (Pool C, 2pm, Nantes) TV Live on ITV, S4C & RTÉ England v Samoa (Pool D, 4.45pm, Lille) Ireland v Scotland (Pool B, 8pm, Paris) TV Both live on ITV & RTÉ Women’s International South Africa v Samoa (2pm, Boland Stadium, Wellington) Premiership Rugby Cup Gloucester v Coventry (1pm) Bath v Exeter (2pm) Nottingham v Harlequins (2pm) Saracens v Hartpury (2pm) Northampton v Doncaster (2.45) Bedford v Leicester (3pm) SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup Japan v Argentina (Pool D, noon, Nantes) Tonga v Romania (Pool B, 4.45pm, Lille) Fiji v Portugal (Pool C, 8pm, Toulouse) TV All live on ITV & RTÉ Premiership Rugby Cup Newcastle v Caldy (2.15pm) THU 12-SUN 15 OCTOBER Tens Tournament Bali 10s, Indonesia FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER WXV2 Italy v Japan (1pm, Burgersdorp) Scotland v SA (3.30, Burgersdorp) WXV3 Fiji v Colombia (2pm, Dubai) Ireland v Kazakhstan (4.30, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Bristol v Leicester (7.45pm) TV Live on TNT Sports SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup QF1 Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D (4pm, Marseille) QF2 Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A (8pm, Paris) TV Both live on ITV & RTÉ WXV2 USA v Samoa (1pm, Burgersdorp) WXV3 Spain v Kenya (2pm, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Exeter v Saracens (1.30pm) TV Live on TNT Sports Bath v Newcastle (3pm) Gloucester v Harlequins (3pm) SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup QF3 Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C (4pm, Marseille) QF4 Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B (8pm, Paris) TV Both live on ITV & RTÉ Gallagher Premiership Sale v Northampton (1.30pm) TV Live on TNT Sports MON 16-TUE 17 OCTOBER Olympics Sevens Qualifier Africa Men’s Sevens, Zimbabwe FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup SF1 Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 (8pm, Paris) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ WXV1 England v Australia (7am, Wellington) WXV2 USA v Scotland (1pm, Cape Town) Italy v SA (3.30pm, Cape Town) WXV3 Kazakhstan v Kenya (2pm, Dubai) Spain v Fiji (4.30pm, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Newcastle v Gloucester (6pm) SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup SF2 Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 (8pm, Paris) TV Live on ITV & RTÉ WXV1 Canada v Wales(4am, Wellington) NZ v France (7am, Wellington) WXV2 Japan v Samoa (3pm, Cape Town) WXV3 Ireland v Colombia (2pm, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Northampton v Bristol (3pm) Saracens v Bath (3pm) Leicester v Sale (3.05pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Zebre Parma v Ulster (1pm) TV Live on Viaplay Connacht v Ospreys (3pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay Dragons v Edinburgh (3.05pm) Lions v Stormers (3.05pm) Munster v Sharks (5.15pm) TV All live on Viaplay Cardiff v Benetton (5.15pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER Gallagher Premiership Harlequins v Exeter (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Bulls v Scarlets (2pm) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay Glasgow v Leinster (4pm) TV Live on Viaplay FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup Bronze Final (8pm, Paris) TV Live on ITV, S4C & RTÉ WXV1 England v Canada (7am, Dunedin) WXV2 Scotland v Japan (1, Cape Town) SA v Samoa (3.30pm, Cape Town) WXV3 Kazakhstan v Fiji (2pm, Dubai) Kenya v Colombia (4.30, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Gloucester v Saracens (7.45pm) SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER Rugby World Cup Final (8pm, Stade de France) TV Live on ITV, S4C & RTÉ WXV1 NZ v Wales (4am, Dunedin) France v Australia (7am, Dunedin) WXV2 USA v Italy (4pm, Cape Town) WXV3 Ireland v Spain (2pm, Dubai) Gallagher Premiership Bristol v Harlequins (2.30pm) 10 PICSInpho 7 th FANCY A LIFT? Peter O’Mahony in lineout practice in Tours. Ireland complete their pool phase with a huge match v Scotland

O All kick-offs UK & Ireland. Fixtures subject to change. n Exeter Chiefs v Sale (3pm) Bath v Leicester (3.05pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Ospreys v Zebre Parma (1pm) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay Stormers v Scarlets (3pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay Connacht v Glasgow (3pm) Leinster v Sharks (4.55pm) Edinburgh v Lions (5pm) TV All live on Viaplay SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER Gallagher Premiership Newcastle v Northampton (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Benetton v Munster (2pm) Dragons v Cardiff (2.30pm) TV Both live on Viaplay Ulster v Bulls (5pm) TV Live on BBC NI & Viaplay Top 14 Bayonne v Stade Français La Rochelle v Castres Lyon v Clermont Auvergne Montpellier v Racing 92 Perpignan v Pau Toulon v Oyonnax Toulouse v Bordeaux-Bègles FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER WXV1 Australia v Wales (6am, Auckland) Gallagher Premiership Sale v Gloucester (7.45pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Glasgow v Stormers (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay Ospreys v Sharks (7.35pm, Twickenham Stoop) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER International Wales v Barbarians (2.30, Cardiff) WXV1 France v Canada (3am, Auckland) England v NZ (6am, Auckland) Gallagher Premiership Harlequins v Newcastle (3pm) Northampton v Bath (3pm) Saracens v Leicester (3.05pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Zebre Parma v Bulls (1pm) Leinster v Edinburgh (3.05pm) Scarlets v Cardiff (5.15pm) TV All live on Viaplay Munster v Dragons (5.15pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay Connacht v Ulster (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay SAT 4-SUN 5 NOV Top 14 Bordeaux-Bègles v Montpellier Clermont v Bayonne Oyonnax v La Rochelle Pau v Toulouse Perpignan v Toulon Racing 92 v Lyon Stade Français v Castres SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Exeter v Bristol (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Benetton v Lions (1.30pm) TV Live on Viaplay FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Gloucester v Bath (7.45pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Zebre Parma v Sharks (5.30pm) TV Live on Viaplay Cardiff v Bulls (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay Ulster v Munster (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC NI & Viaplay SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Bristol v Sale (2.30pm) Leicester v Harlequins (3.05pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Benetton v Stormers (3pm) Ospreys v Glasgow (5.15pm) TV Both live on Viaplay Scarlets v Lions (5.15pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay Edinburgh v Connacht (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay SAT 11-SUN 12 NOV Top 14 Castres v Oyonnax La Rochelle v Bayonne Lyon v Stade Français Montpellier v Clermont Pau v Bordeaux-Bègles Toulon v Racing 92 Toulouse v Perpignan SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Newcastle v Saracens (3pm) Northampton v Exeter (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Dragons v Leinster (1.15pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Bath v Bristol (7.45pm) TV Live on TNT Sports Sale v Newcastle (7.45pm) United Rugby Championship Edinburgh v Bulls (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay Ulster v Lions (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC NI & Viaplay Zebre Parma v Cardiff (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC Wales SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Leicester v Northampton (3.05) Harlequins v Saracens (5.30pm) TV Both live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Sharks v Connacht (3pm) Dragons v Ospreys (5.15pm) Munster v Stormers (5.15pm) Glasgow v Benetton (7.35pm) TV All live on Viaplay Leinster v Scarlets (7.35pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay SAT 18-SUN 19 NOV Allianz Women’s Premiership Bristol Bears v Sale Leicester Tigers v Exeter Saracens v Loughborough Trailfinders v Harlequins Warriors v Gloucester-Hartpury Top 14 Bayonne v Pau Castres v Toulouse Clermont v Toulon La Rochelle v Bordeaux-Bègles Oyonnax v Lyon Perpignan v Montpellier Stade Français v Racing 92 SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Exeter v Gloucester (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Northampton v Harlequins (7.45) TV Live on TNT Sports Sale Sharks v Bath (7.45pm) United Rugby Championship Cardiff v Stormers (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay Edinburgh v Benetton (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Saracens v Bristol (3pm) Gloucester v Leicester (3.05pm) TV Live on TNT Sports United Rugby Championship Ospreys v Scarlets (noon) Lions v Zebre Parma (12.55pm) Bulls v Connacht (3pm) TV All live on Viaplay Sharks v Dragons (5.05pm) TV Live on S4C & Viaplay Leinster v Munster (6.30pm) Glasgow v Ulster (7.35pm) TV Both live on Viaplay SAT 25-SUN 26 NOV Allianz Women’s Premiership Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears Gloucester-Hartpury v Leicester Loughborough v Warriors Sale Sharks v Harlequins Trailfinders v Saracens Top 14 Bordeaux-Bègles v Perpignan Lyon v Bayonne Montpellier v Oyonnax Pau v Stade Français Racing 92 v La Rochelle Toulon v Castres Toulouse v Clermont SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER Gallagher Premiership Newcastle v Exeter (3pm) TV Live on TNT Sports 22 nd IT’S BACK! Glasgow and Leinster clash on the first weekend of the URC at Scotstoun Stadium 11

12 DOWNTIME WITH… SIEGFRIED FISI’IHOI “I’d like to be a lion – the king of the jungle!” F r o n t R o w D O YOU have any nicknames, Siegfried? I have a few, yeah. Going back to when I was in New Zealand, sometimes they would call me ‘Ziggy’ for short. And there’s a team called East Coast who play in the Heartland Championship, and they called me ‘Freight Train’. Funniest team-mate? For Pau, there’s a prop called Nicolas Corato. He’s a good character. He’ll make a joke out of nowhere. It’s how he talks. And with Tonga, Paula Latu is quite funny. He is also a prop and this is his first time being in France. So we’re in La Rochelle and he asks me to take his bag for him to the team room. I said “Why?” “Oh, I have to go somewhere,” he said. Straight off the team bus, he hops off and disappears for two hours. He comes back and he knows every single shop and shopkeeper in the surrounding area. Any pranks? No, no pranks yet. But if we do any, we’ll do it to Paula! What’s your funniest on-pitch moment? In my first time with the team in 2017, we played Samoa and Fiji. And we have a call for someone to go down. So at one point we are under pressure and they have a lineout. But our other prop is coming from their side. We’re five metres out. We need to get together to stop Samoa’s maul. Someone from the sideline calls “Vaiola!” – that’s the name of the biggest hospital in Tonga. But the prop goes down right in front of the ref. He says, “Why did you go down?” Our prop says, “Ah, my ankle, my ankle.” “No, no, mate,” the referee says. He had to play on! What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought? Back home in Tonga there is a church and my mother is the chairman of it. Every year there is a fund-raiser for them. But never before had we reached 100,000 Tongan Pa’anga (around £33k). I helped them reach the number for the first time ever. It was a great feeling to help my mum. And your silliest purchase? I bought a PlayStation 5 without knowing how to play it. A month later I threw it away. Even my kids will never play it. What makes you angry? There’s a lot on the field! Like someone not doing their roles in the game, or missing a tackle. Or not The Tonga prop talks housekeeping, bad acting and leaving a legacy FACT FILE Age 36 (8 Jun 1987) Born Vava’u, Tonga Position Prop Club Pau Height 6ft Weight 19st 10lb Tonga caps 26 (4T) Instagram handle @fisiihoi08 Interview Alan Dymock // Pictures Getty Images Last person you phoned My wife Favourite social network I like Facebook and Insta Last app downloaded The Lime bike app Last picture you took I’m not a picture guy Last text you sent My wife to ask if I can ring!

taking a last opportunity to score or kick points to win the game. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? I would like to be a lion – the king of the jungle! If you could be one team-mate for a day, who’d it be? I would be Vaea Fifita. Since I’ve met him, he’s so professional, very straight with everyone, and he works hard every single time. On the field and off the field. He’s the best role model for the young players. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Coaching! I’ve done my Level 2 and I’m coaching a little team near us in Pau. If we have a day off, I’ll drive the 25 minutes there to help them. The best advice you’ve been given? To do what you love and train hard. What was your first-ever job? Painting. I went from that to a builder and then into reinforcing – tying the wires before they pour the concrete. I enjoyed that because I like to lift heavy stuff! And the worst job? Housekeeping. I was at a hotel back in New Zealand. It’s a hell of a job! I did that for almost a year. Yeah, I saw some stuff, a lot… What is your guilty pleasure? I’d say mine is chocolate. Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? I would choose Richie McCaw. I don’t know him personally. I’d ask him lots of questions. Best singer in the Tonga squad? Solomone Kata. He loves it. Always singing. And makes us do it with him. He’ll put a message in the group for us to meet five minutes before a meeting, and we’ll meet up and he’ll teach us a couple of songs. It’s pretty good. We know about four songs now. All of them Tongan songs. There’s no instruments with it, just people singing it. Are you much of a singer? Yeah, I love it. I would sing a Tongan song. Your dream dinner party guests? I’ll take my mum. Not my old man – he will be on his kava before I ask him to dinner! So Mum, then Michael Jordan and I’ll take Cristiano Ronaldo too. What do you want to achieve with your career? I want to leave a legacy with the team. Hopefully they can move forward from where we are at the moment. That’s the best thing to try. n 13 Stuck in a lift Richie McCaw “I was a housekeeper in New Zealand. It’s a hell of a job! Yeah, I saw some stuff…” Favourite Whatsapp group One called Brotherhood with Tongan players Guilty pleasure app YouTube or TikTok Last song you played A Tongan song called Ana Latu Hear him roar Fisi’ihoi is playing in his second World Cup STATSCorrecton15/9/23

Hong Kong Former Northampton and Sale player Andy Vilk has been named head coach of Hong Kong Women Sevens. He replaces Iain Monaghan, now with Rugby Canada. Vilk (below) dedicated almost a decade to the Italian Rugby Federation and says there is “huge potential” in Hong Kong rugby. South Africa Almost four years after his last match for the Blitzboks, Rosko Specman (above) returned for South Africa Sevens as they aimed to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. The one-cap Springbok helped the Blitzboks win a bronze medal at Rio 2016, and he travelled with the squad to Harare for the Rugby Africa Olympic Games qualifiers. China After a one-year postponement, the 19th Asian Games burst onto the scene this month, with the rugby sevens competition taking place in Hangzhou, 110 miles south-west of Shanghai, from 24-26 September. Twelve men’s teams and seven women’s teams compete for the gold medal in the final stage before the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers, due to be played next November. F r o n t R o w AROUND THE WORLD IN TEN STORIES The latest news from across the rugby planet 1 3 2 10 9 7 8 6 4 5 3 2 1 Words Francisco Isaac // Pics Bretagne 2023 & Getty Images 14

USA The USA women’s squad is in the UK and Ireland this month as they prepare for the launch of WXV2. After a one-week camp in Ireland, USA play Wales on 30 September at Colwyn Bay. They’ll then have another training week in the UK before heading to South Africa, where they face Samoa, Scotland and Italy. See our WXV feature on P82. Ukraine Ukraine’s women’s XV played their first-ever match when helping to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Catalonian rugby in Barcelona. Yelyzaveta Havrylova scored an historic try with a brilliant solo run as Ukraine went down 15-7, captain Anna Puig scoring Catalonia’s clinching try. France After les Bleus started their World Cup campaign with a bang, their military team (below) went a step further by winning the Forces Rugby World Cup in Brittany. France defeated Fiji in an exhilarating final to conclude a tournament that also featured the UK, Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Tonga, Georgia, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand and Uzbekistan. The UK team lost in the semi-finals to Fiji but beat New Zealand Defence Forces in the third-place play-off. Argentina Gabriel Travaglini, president of the Argentina union, has revealed to Argentinian newspaper La Nación that they have been invited to rejoin Super Rugby (Pacific) for the season starting in 2026. The article also mentioned that the franchise will host a set number of matches, with everything already set in motion. The Jaguares ‘left’ the competition when Covid struck and played in what is now called Super Rugby Americas until 2022. In 2019 the Jaguares (left) lost to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final. New Zealand Julian Savea’s second spell for the Hurricanes has ended. The wing will now join Moana Pasifika. “Savea’s pace, strength and ability to finish out wide will be a tremendous asset,” the club said in a statement. Brazil Brazil’s men secured the South American Four Nations Championship for a second time, defeating Colombia, Paraguay and a Chile XV on their way to the title. The competition was held throughout August. Japan Former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac (above) will take charge of Japanese second-tier side NEC Green Rockets in the 2023-24 season. Pivac, 61, has been out of work since leaving his Wales post last December. 4 7 6 5 LAST STOPS 8 9 10 15

OAKHAM SCHOOL has appointed former Gloucester and Benetton prop Rupert Harden as director of rugby. He succeeds Andrew Rice, who remains part of the coaching team. Harden joins from Denstone College in Staffordshire, where he was their DoR while also working as head coach at Staffordshire County RFU and Cheltenham Saracens RFC. New Zealand’s Condor Sevens beat Brisbane’s Iona College 40-20 in the final of the Rugby Heritage Cup in Pontlevoy. It was the first global schools sevens competition celebrating 200 years of rugby and served as a warm-up for France 2023. On the eve of Ireland’s opening match at the World Cup, players Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Finlay Bealham and Stuart McCloskey, along with team manager Mick Kearney, paid a visit to Saint Médard Elementary School in Bordeaux to meet the pupils there. The dreaded territory occupied by a side repeatedly getting pinned down near their line and unable to get out. Inconsistency drives us mad T HE OPENING weekend of the World Cup highlighted one of the real issues in officiating: consistency. Whether officials are good, bad or ugly, consistency is the one thing players, coaches and spectators want. And it’s one thing they didn’t get because head-to-head tackle contacts by Tom Curry, Martin Sìgren, Jesse Kriel and Dan Biggar were dealt with in totally different ways, from a red card to yellow to not even taking a look at a replay. Matt Carley, in charge of Wales v Fiji, also incurred criticism for his lenient approach to a series of Welsh offences, whilst coming down hard on Fiji. Consistency requires coherence among officials so that matches are refereed in the same way. Whether it’s the Premiership, European competitions or the World Cup, all stakeholders want to know that Wayne Barnes will make the same decision as Jaco Peyper. This doesn’t stop there. It needs to be the same from a judicial point of view where citing officers and disciplinary panels reach the same outcomes. Referees spend hours watching incidents and discussing the outcomes they’d like to agree on and how that incident, if repeated, should be refereed in the future. This ‘picture’ forms a model for them to use in their decision-making process, so that all officials will see the ‘same thing in the same way’ and hopefully arrive at the same outcome. Generally, referees get it right but sometimes it goes wrong in a big way and leads to the sort of outcry we saw at the start of the World Cup. When you add assistants, TMOs, bunkers, citing and judiciary, getting a level of consistency there takes the challenge to a whole new level. n SCHOOLS ROUND UP JARGON BUSTER Coffin corner THE SECRET REFEREE F r o n t R o w Our former elite official pleads for more uniformity from referees Would he do it the same? Matt Carley referees Wales-Fiji PICSAFP& Getty Images 16

R UGBY IN France is different. It’s hostile, supporters love it, and if you’re the opposition – be it a club, age-grade or an International – they love to hate the opposition. That’s why not many teams win away from home. I love playing over there. But while for 80 minutes on the pitch they hate you, every game is an event and you will be looked after before and after the match. It’s so different to what we’re used to in the UK. And there’s huge tradition, huge history. They do the game different. It’s like France still has the proper traditions of rugby, which is brilliant. And because it’s such a big country, not every town gets to experience an age-grade International or a women’s Test – those things don’t come around too often. So when they do, they make the most of it. That’s why you’ll get a huge crowd for England women versus France. They show up for their rugby in large numbers. Some boys don’t like going to France but I love going out there. And I have good and bad memories out there. I remember we played France U19 and I thought Rhys Gill almost murdered one of their players. Before all this, one of the centres went off early with a bad one – a torn ACL or something. But after the Gill incident, it turns into an all-inner. A brawl; spilling into the dugout, the lot. And this player who went off was whacking our physio with his crutch! But I’ve had some really good wins in France. We went to Castres with Scarlets and won, which put us into the European quarter-finals. We had a huge fightback against Toulouse, coming back from over 20 points down to win it. I also remember playing Toulon back in 2010. A ball goes up and David Lyons catches it. I ran back to support and he passes to me. I got snipered by something and I get up holding my eye. My dad is in the crowd and he begins shouting, “They’ve gouged him, they’ve gouged him!” After the game he steams over, asking who gouged me. No one had – some mud from Lyons’s boot had flicked up and hit me in the eye! In French rugby the money has been attractive in the past, but I think what attracts UK and other players from abroad – and Welsh players in particular – is how different the culture is there. In Wales, you can get caught in the goldfish bowl. In France, you’re relieved of that. And guys can go out there, do well, but also come back as better players. Welsh guys have been at some big clubs. Gareth Thomas was at Toulouse. Stephen Jones was at Clermont. They came back better players. It was the same for Luke Charteris and James Hook at Perpignan. There’s also a lot of Welsh guys floating around ProD2 and Fédérale 1 who have made a good career for themselves. It’s the draw of something different but not actually being too far away. All this makes France ideal to host a Rugby World Cup. Because they love the sport and it’s a big country, from a player’s point of view you get to see a lot of it. In 2015 we played all our games in Cardiff or at Twickenham. There are more different venues this time. You also get the neutral fans getting behind it. The French people love rugby and will watch. There’s atmosphere. In France it’s easy to travel everywhere as well. Even for the British fans it’s accessible – you can get in and out pretty easily, or you can have a great eight-week trip. For British and Irish supporters that is so much more likely than, say, a Japan or New Zealand. When I first played France, they were all talented players but the league felt cumbersome and slow. You would hear of money being thrown at players but not facilities. Attitudes have changed and it’s now much more professional. They still have big men but they are athletes. And they still retain that flair – as we are seeing at this World Cup. n “France still has the proper traditions of rugby” Crowd favourite Damian Penaud 17 KEN OWENS The Wales great who has represented the Lions and Scarlets with distinction

18 F r o n t R o w Age 22 (12 June 2001) Born Namibia Position Second-row Club Mogliano, Italy Country Namibia W hen and where did you start playing rugby? I started in the U7 team at Laerskool Walvis Bay in the west of Namibia. Who got you into the game? My brother introduced me to the game. He is four years older than me and I always watched him play as a youngster. What first attracted you to rugby? I loved the team spirit and always meeting new friends. Did you play other sports growing up? Yes, tennis and athletics. I used to compete and was quite successful in high jump (he stands at a very tall 6ft 8in). What positions have you played? Loose forward, centre, fly-half. I’ve had a go at almost all of them but I’ve found my best play and best position at lock. Any childhood heroes in rugby or from outside the game? My father used to play for Namibia in 1994 and 1995, but it is not just because of his rugby, he has always been my hero. The way he looks after his family and always puts my mom and us as kids first is something I look up to. When did you first represent your country? In 2017, for the U16s at Grant Khomo week (Tournament for best U16s) in Bloemfontein. Then I got a school bursary to attend Menlopark (Pretoria) and Monument (Krugersdorp). How would you describe your playing style? I’m a good support runner, always mobile on my feet and very calculated. What are your strengths? My lineouts and the ability to recover quite quickly. What are your work-ons? Just to stay a bit calmer if small things happen and believe that the team will bounce back. Biggest influence in your career? South Africa second-row RG Snyman. Are you studying? No, but next year I want to start studying strength and conditioning coaching. Outside of rugby? I love the outdoors and being in nature, where I can always calm my mind. I also love playing E-Sports with my friends. What does it mean to be at your first World Cup? It’s a big privilege to represent my country as well as make friends and family proud who have always believed in me and supported me. This is the ultimate reward to give back to my parents for everything they have sacrificed for me. RW VERDICT A towering presence, de Klerk clearly has the raw ingredients to go further in the sport with refinement. He needs to lock down a starting spot for his country, but games on the world stage could well help him progress beyond the Italian Top 10 league. 1 TIAAN DE KLERK Interviews Josh Graham // Pictures Getty Images & Namibia Rugby Strong tackle Halting a Chile attack

19 Age 21 (4 July 2002) Born Florence Position Full-back Club Zebre Parma Country Italy W hen and where did you start playing rugby? I started playing at seven in sixth-grade rugby at Sesto Rugby in Florence. Who got you into the game? I started a little randomly after I couldn’t find a sport that made me fall in love. Then with rugby it was love at first sight. What first attracted you to rugby? The bond between companions, which I think is something very special. Did you play other sports growing up? Before starting rugby, I did many like swimming, basketball, tennis and karate. What positions have you played? I did all the back roles except scrum-half, then in the academy I focused on full-back. Did you have any childhood heroes? My hero has always been Cristiano Ronaldo. I love his mentality and perseverance. He is my inspiration in the sports world. Then from the world of rugby I have an idol that is England’s Freddie Steward, who in my opinion is the best full-back in the world. When did you first represent your country? The first time was in the U20s against France. It was incredibly emotional to wear the blue shirt that I dreamed of wearing as a child. How would you describe your playing style? My style of play is very instinctive. During the week I really like to perfect all the technical aspects, so that when I’m in the game I’m sure of my qualities. In games, I also really like seeing what is in front of me and then solving it. What are your strengths? I’d say my footwork, speed and ball-carrying. Biggest influence in your career? Definitely my family. Outside of rugby? I love watching football matches, going out with friends and reading sportsmen’s autobiographies. What does it mean to be at your first World Cup? A lot. When you’re little the dream is to represent your country and to do it at a Rugby World Cup is something fantastic. 2LORENZO PANI RW VERDICT The full-back has the misfortune of being behind the electric Ange Capuozzo in the pecking order. But he has shown more than enough to suggest they will soon be dovetailing together in the back three on a regular basis for Italy. Best foot forward Pani carries against Scotland

Does Tackle School work? F r o n t R o w WHAT DO YOU THINK? Send your views to rugbyworldletters @futurenet.com NICK PUREWAL PHIL DAVIES “NOBODY REALLY liked school, not even the geeks. Rugby’s top players and coaches would have been the cool kids in their younger years anyway, so expecting them to sit up straight in class might be a big ask. “World Rugby’s Tackle School initiative to stop players making the same errors in terms of high shots must rate as one of the noblest ideas this sport has had in a long time. Let’s not blast World Rugby for trying to make a change. It’s vital that head injuries are reduced and that rugby is safeguarded for future generations. “But the current system doesn’t account for players and coaches going through the motions when they attend the well-organised, and by all accounts, well-run sessions. Recalibrating after 20-odd years of muscle memory will always be a tall order for players bidding to rid themselves of, especially, the stand-up tackle. “Rugby was born out of a desire to break the rules and disregard authority in any case. So it’s not in the nature of the sport to condemn those that prefer to sneak a mile rather than take an inch. “The concern will be well-founded that players and coaches will just start to see Tackle School as a means to reducing any suspension by a week. The old early guilty plea and full remorse is easy enough to pull off, so why not flam up interest in Tackle School too? The cynics in World Rugby’s corridors of power might just look at the frayed edges of their plan and cut away a few threads.” “WE WANT to change players’ behaviour and ultimately reduce the risk of injury. The tackle accounts for 73% of HIA events in the elite game, of which 76% occur to the tackler. The risk of concussion is more than four times greater when the tackler is upright. “The Coaching Intervention Programme (Tackle School) is overseen by an independent expert coaching review group and can only be undertaken once per player. Of the 100-plus players who have been through the programme, eight have had further red cards. Those players can’t apply twice, and they will generally then receive longer suspensions from the judicial process as a repeat offender. “What we have seen to date is a huge amount of transformative work being undertaken by participants and a genuine openness to change technique, because of the performance and welfare benefits of keeping players fit and on the field. “The intervention is not a tick-box exercise. To benefit from a shorter suspension, the intervention must be a targeted measure, designed to analyse tackle or contact technique and identify and implement positive modifications. “From a coaching perspective, the tackle is fundamental to successful outcomes and practising good tackle technique can have welfare and performance benefits. The programme has enormous education and behaviour benefits which are as important to the coach as they are to the player.” The Evening Standard’s rugby correspondent The director of rugby for World Rugby 20 Illegal tackle Wellington’s Drenna Falaniko is caught high PICS Getty Images

T HE MAIN pranksters in Italy’s squad are me and Luca Bigi, writes Seb Negri. There is always a war between us. For a long time now it has been hiding boots and things like that. The other week I found a pile of rubbish and empty boxes outside my room. For our last week in Rome before heading to France, I couldn’t resist leaving the cleaning trolley in Bigi’s room. The most annoying prank ever was at the last World Cup in Japan when Bigi and Tiziano Pasquali bought locks and padlocked mine and Jake Polledri’s bags shut – every single one. We had to find bolt cutters to open them. So for this camp I ordered some fart bombs. I thought it would be a good idea to prank Bigi and his room-mate Simone Ferrari while they were at dinner. As they were eating, myself and my accomplice Stephen Varney got a room key of theirs from reception. We went into their bathroom so it wouldn’t be obvious and popped a fart bomb in the bathroom bin. The hope was they would shout at each other over who used the bathroom last – which is exactly what happened! The smell was horrific. It smelt like rotten eggs and at the same time a massive plumbing issue. We waited for them to get back from dinner, with a camera outside the room, to hear them arguing. Bigi was screaming at Ferrari, asking why he ate so much protein and “What’s wrong with your stomach?” They opened the windows and the arguing went on and on. They didn’t find the hidden bomb for over an hour. When they finally found it, they knew right away it was me. n We love hearing your stories and want to celebrate the characters of our great game in What Goes On Tour… If you have an amusing tale to tell, drop us a line. Mark your email ‘Tour Tale’ and send it to [email protected] WE WON’T TELL , PROMISE … [ Goes in Rugby World ] F r o n t R o w ILLUSTRATION DavidLyttleton

22 Pure theatre Michael Ala’alatoa leads the Siva Tau in Bayonne W H A T I T ’ S L I K E T O … H E L P P R E P A R E T H E S A M O A S Q U A D F r o n t R o w Words Alan Dymock // Pictures AFP, Getty Images & Inpho P ERPIGNAN MAY not have been an official Rugby World Cup host city, but it did stage an intriguing – you could even say ‘off-books’ – Test. With no game in the first round of matches, Samoa and Portugal held a training match to keep themselves ready for rugby. And in the middle of it was former Test official Johnny Lacey. The reason? Because Samoa is one of four of the emerging nations at this World Cup that the former Munster and Ireland A back-three player has been helping with their discipline. “I work with Samoa, Fiji, Uruguay and Romania, though I delayed working with Romania until after the Ireland game for obvious reasons,” Lacey tells Rugby World. “I was with them last November, and after the Ireland game I’ll spend some more time with them. “This all started when I retired from refereeing in 2019. Peter Horne, who’s the head of high performance at World Rugby, and probably has the toughest job in world rugby as he’s trying to manage and support the emerging unions, brought me to Japan with Chris Pollock and the two of us looked after five emerging teams first. “Our job is to support them, to try to get their (number of infringements) down, to avoid cards and penalties within a game. Because there is a direct correlation between giving away penalties and that ending up as points. So we managed to do that and get them down by 21% in 2019. Former Test referee Johnny Lacey is working with Samoa at the World Cup

“We were quite happy with that but now we need to continue that work. Chris isn’t doing it anymore but Alain Rolland is doing the other five teams. He looks after Chile, Namibia, Tonga, Georgia and Portugal. I have the other four – Japan look after themselves, they don’t take it up. But we’re just a few of the extra supports that go in when people qualify.” Lacey was particularly pleased with how Samoa handled their discipline prior to the World Cup. And he could see the efforts the team was putting in. He sees what he does as auxiliary help. For example, while Fiji have a former referee on their coaching staff in Glen Jackson, Lacey focuses on the discipline. He will look at their last five games to analyse where penalties were given away. He’ll referee training sessions and do a profile for the team of the referee for the next game. And he can also pick up the phone to the next referee and, he says, simply ask: “What do you need me to fix?” He then feeds those messages back to the coaches and players. Lacey is also good on the discourse around stereotyping and assumptions about certain teams. Because he has seen first-hand the quality coaches addressing issues, working diligently on coaching tackle technique, maintaining communication and being welcoming. He is also full of praise for the diversity of people pulling together to make this World Cup a success for all teams. On Samoa specifically, Lacey praises the coaches: “You have the head coach Seilala Mapusua, then there’s Tom Coventry and Tana Umaga who are working in Super Rugby – top-level coaches. Then there’s Andrew Goodman, who’s in charge of attack at Leinster. You go ‘Whoah!’ “Then there’s Mahonri Schwalger, who is a top, top guy with huge Super Rugby playing experience and obviously he’s Samoan as well. They really have that Samoan connection, first and foremost. And topped up by class support staff, including the S&C guys. Excellent – really, really excellent. Then there are a couple of add-ons, which is me and a few others. “I don’t think I’d be out of line by saying this is the best Samoa team I’ve ever seen. I’ve reffed Samoa in my own career. And in fact I was there when Kane Thompson, the former Samoa second-row, was welcomed into camp by Mapusua – I actually sent him off in 2015 in a World Cup warm-up and we had a good laugh about that! But he’s coaching New Orleans in the MLR now and it was good to see him welcomed in for the week. Is that possibly a coach for the future? That’s good to see.” On the privilege of being able to see Samoa’s unique culture close up, Lacey describes it as “wonderful”. There’s prayer in the evening, and hymns in the morning and evening, as well as the jersey presentations. But what shines through for the former match official is the respect all of the players have for one another. “I must say, when they go to work they go to work,” Lacey starts. “But there’s a great team atmosphere. They just want to enjoy the way they play and represent their country. It’s huge for them. “And you look at Paul Alo-Emile at tighthead prop, Steven Luatua, Fritz Lee, two half-backs who are excellent, UJ Seuteni from La Rochelle. There’s Duncan Paia’aua the 12 – my God, I’ve been so impressed with him. It’s incredible how talented they are. “I think the Drua and Moana Pasifika have also given professionalism to another batch of players that would normally be at home. Forget the ones we all know from the Top 14, Premiership and the URC – you can see everyone is a level up. And then you add in the extra players (previously capped by other nations, now eligible). “It’s totally understandable to me that they feel they can knock over whatever teams are there. I hope that they do! Because when you’re welcomed in like that, you feel attached.” Lacey began refereeing late, after playing. So hanging up the boots in 2019 felt like the right time. He now has a job looking after elite referees for the IRFU. He says he feels fortunate that Ireland’s performance chief David Nucifora allows him time to work with the emerging nations in the Test windows. The day job continues via Zoom and run-ins with Irish officials in France. But he is definitely buzzed to be at another Rugby World Cup. n 23 Bending an ear Chatting to coach Mahonri Schwalger Fine talent Theo McFarland “This is the best Samoa team I’ve seen. They feel they can knock over whatever teams are there” DID YOU KNOW? Some Test nations now have referees as full-time coaches. For example, France have Jérôme Garcès on their staff to look after discipline. On the field Lacey refereeing

OLLOWING THE conclusion of the 2019 World Cup, the then president of the Japan RFU, Shigetaka Mori, publicly said: “This marks a new start for the Japanese rugby community and the path is not easy.” He went on: “How do we make sure the energy in the past months translates into the growth of our rugby community? This is the question the JRFU must address going forward.” Sadly, that question goes unanswered. The Covid outbreak obviously didn’t help matters, both on and off the field, as it stopped much of the momentum generated by the tournament. But the truth is that any growth – other than support for the Brave Blossoms – was stifled from the get-go because of a total lack of long-term planning. Rather than launching the new professional Japan Rugby League One straight after the tournament, local fans had to wait until 2022 for the new competition as the corporate sides and the organisers were at loggerheads as to how the new league should be run. For many, the change from corporate to professional league has been minimal and that has been reflected by the relative lack of growth in attendances, the big games aside. Even worse was the lack of planning for developing grass-roots rugby. Time and time again, officials at the JRFU and World Rugby were asked STORMER BEN Former London Irish wing Ben Loader has joined the Stormers. CENTRE STAYS Cardiff have re-signed centre Rey Lee-Lo after the club initially released him at the season’s conclusion. FEATHER IN HIS CAP Ex-England fly-half Rob Andrew has become honorary president of Newcastle Falcons. SAD LOSS Former Wales and GB league captain David ‘Dai’ Watkins has died, aged 81. NEW SPONSOR Investec have become the new title sponsor of the Champions Cup. ISLAND JOB Kyle Eastmond has joined the coaching team at Jersey. BACK TO XVS Jasmine Joyce (left) and Kayleigh Powell have signed hybrid contracts with Wales and Team GB Sevens. EXILES REUNION Reds boss Les Kiss has brought in former London Irish coaching colleagues Brad Davis and Jonathan Fisher. TUI RETURN The Black Ferns have recalled star Ruby Tui for the WXV campaign. RUGBY RANT Japan-based writer Rich Freeman laments the Brave Blossoms’ false dawn F what plans were in place to ensure the large number of elementary school students playing tag rugby would be able to continue the sport as they got older. No real answer was ever given and it’s no surprise the number of players at high school continues to fall. Upon entering junior high school, Japanese kids become part of the Bukatsu system. This sees them join a club (be it rugby or judo or brass band) that they then attend all year round. ‘Practices’ often last two or three hours and they can go on for even longer during the school holidays. With no thought of trying to expand the number of coaches and therefore schools that had a rugby club, many tag rugby players have had no option but to give up the sport as children are discouraged or prevented from playing for an ‘outside club’ – not that any really exist as most rugby schools (mini-rugby clubs) only cater for those players up to 12 years old. With a rapidly ageing society and falling birth rate, the question Japan faces is how many supporters will rugby have in 2035 when the JRFU hopes to host the Rugby World Cup again? n F r o n t R o w Trudging off Brave Blossoms SHORT PASS 24 HAVE YOUR SAY What gets your goat? Let us know on Facebook or tweet @Rugbyworldmag PICSAFP& Getty Images Dual deal Jasmine Joyce “Any growth was stifled from the get-go because of a lack of long-term planning”

“Moving to Australia for one year was one of the most special and fun periods of my life. Playing in the same team as some of the guys who make a life in Super Rugby, to see them up close, was an experience that everyone should have.” “I didn’t see the kick that Samuel Marques converted to get us into the World Cup. I was subbed off three minutes before, went to the stands and didn’t want to see it. When I heard the commotion I couldn’t even stand as my legs gave up. I was left there in agony but with a very happy face.” “When I was 17, I gave professional football a chance. But it was one of the hardest years of my life, as I missed rugby and every second away from friends was gruelling. Going back to rugby was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” “If I could have a magic wish, I’d ask for bigger hands! I’d be able to pick up the ball with more ease and run it with just one hand. It would make my life easier!” “I had a memorable night out in Las Vegas when I was playing sevens. There wasn’t anything saucy about it, but hanging out with Pedro Leal, Gonçalo Foro and other Portuguese legends in the city that never stops was the definition of camaraderie.” “Playing in the World Cup is a dream I had many times. That it’s come true is unfathomable. To think I’m living the same dream as the class of 2007 is something else.” “When things get hard, I remember a match I played for Direito. Raining to the point that I couldn’t see in front of me, I kicked a drop-goal to qualify us for the Portuguese Premiership semi-final. Nothing is impossible.” “The run that I did against Spain at home in 2021 still sends shivers down my spine. I didn’t even score the try, as it was Jerónimo Portela, but everything was perfect from the first sidestep to the last two-on-one.” “My parents helped me have a healthy relationship with rugby. Never pressured me and only gave some special ‘adult’ advice that in the long run was game-changing.” “We have a team meeting every week and it is serious. Once, Manuel Cardoso Pinto walked to the middle and said, ‘Hi, my name is Manuel and I’m an alcoholic.’ Not even the staff could contain their laughter.” “Give me all the broncos and shuttles that you want, but to run 300m x 10 under 50 seconds, with just 15 seconds of rest in-between, makes any pre-season look like climbing Everest with your teeth.” F r o n t R o w INSIDETHE MINDOF... NUNOSOUSAGUEDES Hear from the elusive CDUP and Portugal full-back 25 Words Francisco Isaac // Picture Pedro Pinheiro

“He is a leader that will speak with a look, with an action” 26

STATSCorrecton19/9/23 U RUGUAY HAVE achieved a first as never before have two brothers led their country in the Rugby World Cup. Second-row Santiago Vilaseca was captain for England 2015 while his younger brother Andrés, a centre, led Los Teros against Australia at Japan 2019, when the tournament captain was Juan Gaminara. Andrés, who plays for Vannes in France’s ProD2, handles his leadership role with great commitment in a squad that has many positive leaders. “It is a pleasure seeing him as captain of Los Teros,” says Gaminara, who hails from the same British Schools Old Boys Club in Montevideo. “He leads with example and works hard to ensure everybody is united and working together.” Nicknamed Fatiga (Lazy) because of his idleness as a young boy, Andrés is far from that. “He works very hard, is very humble and has grown every year in his game – not physically as he was always a big bear.” He has proved his resilience. A shoulder injury against USA in 2014 required surgery. After working hard in his recovery, he broke it again during a sevens game. A second operation ensued and he only made it to the first of his three World Cups because of sheer hunger. “He has always been very resilient,” says Santiago Vilaseca, at 39 seven years older than his brother. “The hardest injury was that double shoulder operation before England. He put 100% effort into his recovery and within four months he was on a training field again. Playing with him was already great; doing it in a Rugby World Cup was a great memory.” After 2015, with Santiago retired from Test rugby, Andrés became first-choice centre, a member of the leadership group on the road to Japan, and took over as captain from Gaminara in Oita against the Wallabies. He was then appointed team captain in 2020. Former international Gustavo Zerbino, a good friend of Vilaseca’s late father Gonzalo, is an expert on leadership. One of 16 members of the Old Christians Club that survived the Andes disaster in 1972, he has spoken about leadership all around the world. “Andrés was always one of the most committed players; in doing the extra mile he would get the whole team to do it,” he says from Montevideo. “Very respectful, he always understood the value of working hard.” Gonzalo Vilaseca, who only played rugby in his early years, was a huge supporter of his three boys – a third son played college football. “When he was in hospital in Buenos Aires, we took him to a game Santiago was playing in,” recalls Zerbino. His oldest son remembers that game very well as it was the only time his father watched him in an International. “The boys took the very good examples of his father and Verónica, who as mother became a wonderful matriarch. For a family to have two Rugby World Cup captains is a huge honour.” Santiago is in France supporting his brother, along with his pregnant wife and two children, his brother and his girlfriend, and Andrés’ wife and son, Rocco. “I’m proud of the man he is; as captain he is a great leader. As a family we’re delighted to be there to see him.” Watch Uruguay and you won’t see Andrés trying to motivate players with loud gestures. Behind the scenes, it will be the same. “He is a leader that will speak with a look, with an action. Do what I do, not what I ask,” says Zerbino. “He is there to help team-mates get to their feet. That kind of positive leadership is very important when you go into a massive tournament like the World Cup. “I’d say he could walk in Montevideo’s CBD and not be much recognised. From experience, returning from a World Cup, he will soon be much better known.” n Labelled ‘Lazy’ as a boy, the Uruguay captain is now a national linchpin Andrés Vilaseca FACT FILE Age 32 (8 May 1991) Born Montevideo Height 6ft 1in Weight 15st 2lb Position Centre Test caps 76 Instagram @fatigavila 27 Positive Against Japan Words Frankie Deges // Pictures AFP & Getty Images F r o n t R o w HERO NAT IONA L

UGE STRIDES were evident in August, when Fiji beat England for the first time in their history – at Twickenham no less. However, the 30-22 win, and the so-close performance against Wales in the Rugby World Cup, hints at more. “As a developing nation, you’re always trying to catch up, get onto the same stature as the developed nations,” says head coach Simon Raiwalui. “We’ve obviously had success with the sevens. We’ve had some success with 15s but it’s more about building consistency. “We have our boys playing overseas, getting that experience at the highest level. And the Drua has been huge for us. We’ve been able to expose 40 or 50 players to playing at the highest level in Super Rugby. And that shows with the amount of players that we’ve selected in this World Cup squad. “We’ve got a good balance, real good connection between the players. And there’s been a huge benefit for us. And I think you’ll see those benefits grow within the next (World Cup) cycle.” Raiwalui also points to how much of an impact it has having Tests against established top-level sides – something of a running theme in this issue – and having run-outs against France and ORIOL RIPOL Age 48 Position Wing Teams Barcelona, Northampton, Sale, Worcester & Spain “I’VE BEEN at the Swedish Rugby Union as head of performance since last October, helping with the player development path from youth level up to seniors and assisting elite coaches. I also coach the women’s sevens team. “There has been steady improvement but we need more players, and we are fighting ice hockey, football and the weather. We play during the summer. “My wife is Swedish and we moved here in 2012 a year after I retired with Worcester. I met her during the 1999 World Cup when Spain were based in Edinburgh. My rugby career wasn’t well known but luckily I coached a Swedish side for five years and that helped my networking. I worked as an instructor at a performance centre for four years in Uppsala, but I still miss playing. “I’m in touch with some of the Sale players who won the Premiership back in 2006, especially Jason Robinson and Richard Wigglesworth.” MORE TO COME FROM FIJI Fiji and their exceptional Drua Super Rugby side have made incredible strides H WHERE ARE THEY NOW? England pre-World Cup helps them. As he adds on these Tests: “It’s something that we traditionally don’t have. So when you get to play the best in the world, you get to measure where you really are at.” Boasting some of the most respectful and positive fans in the game, Fiji are a big hit wherever they go. And their rugby deserves huge respect. So with that in mind, and considering the Drua have hosted Super Rugby Pacific games with success on home shores, is it time for a Rugby Championship berth? “Oh, that’s above my pay grade!” Raiwalui begins. “I would hope so. But if we keep on doing the right things, if we’re putting ourselves in the right place, results keep on growing, our infrastructure back in Fiji too, then if a new competition comes into place we’d hope we can put ourselves into a space where we hopefully get a position.” In terms of preparation leading into the World Cup period, Raiwalui has praise for sponsor Fiji Water, as well as World Rugby and the Fiji Rugby Union. He does say that in terms of prep every team will always want more, but concludes of this journey: “We’ve had a good preparation and we have gone back to our roots, going back to what’s important to us. And in terms of how we are as a group and some of the results, I think it has shown.” n Q The Flying Fijians analysed, page 90. F r o n t R o w Bringing power Meli Derenalagi 28 PICSAFP& Getty Images Happy bunny Simione Kuruvoli

PABLO LEMOINE PLAYING JAPAN in Chile’s Rugby World Cup debut was emotionally draining but a wonderful lesson for everyone. New teams such as ours, with no experience at this level, need to build many things from scratch and it’s not easy to perform on the way to high performance. Next year, when the dust has settled, these players will understand what we had told them before about standards and setting the bar high. Until you live all of this, you think you understand, but in reality you are only imagining. And once you’ve lived it, it takes a new meaning, a new dimension, and then you understand. With experience, growth will follow. Despite losing 42-12, the performance was reaffirmation. The boys now know that they can play, which is a big thing. The knowledge that you are in a World Cup and you have the ability validates the huge effort made to get here. South America is far from the world – geographically, financially, in terms of competition. So when you get closer to this standard and realise you can play some rugby and show your standard, it is very good. They also understand that if you give an inch it is costly. That is the cruel reality of playing at this level. In saying this, one of the best things to come out of the first game is that taking away the emotional side of things, players were not happy with the loss. They know they didn’t win, the goal wasn’t completed and they want to do it. There was no celebration. That they have the ambition demonstrates to us how much they’ve grown. These are players that maybe two years ago would play in front of 50 fans at club level and in Toulouse they played in a full stadium, and, someone said, 10,000 Chile fans. We had more than a thousand supporters at our training in Perros-Guirec after the Japan game. It’s something they’ve never seen before. One of many new things. There has been a lot of work done to reach this place and players deserve what they are living. I told them they should forever remember the moment they walked onto the field. The support of the fans was incredible. Many players had their families, friends and club mates in the stands, but it has been very big back in Chile. I would say the success was in that ability to control those intangibles. No one hid and that was also something I liked. Ours is a brave group. They have also given their country a team to follow and hope for the future. I would expect the 15 starting players against Japan to be available for the qualifying rounds for Rugby World Cup 2027. What Chile achieved is part of a process. One that needs funding to grow. Funding and competition. For developing teams, it comes down to lack of competition. And it is long term. Japan conceded 145 points against the All Blacks in 1995 and 20 years later they beat the Springboks, then they beat Ireland and Scotland four years ago. Uruguay, Chile and Georgia are all on long-term plans. But in order to continue growing we need World Rugby to fund us year to year. Because getting the big funding in just the fourth year of a World Cup cycle, after qualifying, is too late. I would like the Rugby World Cup to expand to 24 teams as it would generate stability for a number of the countries involved, allowing us all to work longer term going forward. With the world as it is now, there are fewer opportunities for developing teams to compete at the highest level. After 1999, with Uruguay, we got some fixtures. Now it is more difficult. But by Australia 2027, we hope to be performing, fully understanding the magnitude of a Rugby World Cup, with players that have been in France and new players that will come through better prepared thanks to the experiences we’ve had here. n “The Chile players deserve what they are living” The former Uruguay prop who is coaching Chile at their first Rugby World Cup Reaching new heights Chile win a lineout v Japan 29

33 IDE-EYED. THAT’S how Sam Cane describes his first Rugby World Cup experience. Considering he got on the field with one minute left to play in the 2015 World Cup final, replacing the great Richie McCaw, it’s no surprise. It would be wide eyes and a slack jaw all round for most of us out there. Seven times he played for the All Blacks in that victorious tournament run, twice starting. Then in 2019 he played five games, with one of those appearances off the bench – in the match that ultimately decided their fate, against England in the semi-final, when Eddie Jones’s team cut loose. Today, though, Cane is captain of New Zealand. So how does it feel this time around in France? “It’s different! I think it does become a little bit more normal over the years. In my first World Cup I was 23 years old, so I was just stoked to be there. I was real wide-eyed. It was a whole new experience. But also just a real buzz to be part of. And as I’ve progressed, now there’s certainly a buzz to be part of it but you feel more responsibility, having a leadership role and being captain. I suppose I’m just a lot more focused on driving the team as a whole and more He’s captain of the All Blacks on a Rugby World Cup odyssey. Do jobs come with greater pressure? S A M C A N E Wo r d s Al a n D y m o c k O M a i n P i c H a n n a h Pe t e r s / G e tt y I m a g e s

so (on myself) as an individual, to make sure we come home with the cup rather than (at previous World Cups) when I was just there to play my part in the team. “When you’re younger, you only know what you know. You make sure you’re training hard, eating well, making sure you’re doing all the small things with your recovery and playing well. And as you progress through the years, there are a lot more things on your mind. It becomes harder to switch off. Because you’re constantly reviewing and evaluating and having a lot of those small conversations behind the scenes. I suppose now you’ve got to remind yourself to enjoy it a little bit more. “In this World Cup there will be plenty of moments – we’ll have been away two-and-a-half months in total. You’ve got to try and find times to enjoy it and take it in and get that balance right.” There are few jobs in rugby as heavily scrutinised as the All Blacks captain. England head coach Steve Borthwick might want to argue the toss on that, but in New Zealand the captain lives an on-field life with a spotlight permanently on them. And that’s before you discuss the number on Cane’s back – the same digit that was owned by the great McCaw for so many years, sporting it through the back-to-back World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015. In that leadership position in a famous team, some of us might be overwhelmed with what might be. Does Cane, living in his high-pressure world, and as he puts more miles on the clock, find himself having to work to remain present? “You know you’re just a lot more aware, aren’t you,” he replies. “You understand how your mind works a little bit better. And often in rugby you are always looking towards the next thing. Whether it’s finishing your game and then looking to nail your recovery so that you’re right for the next weekend. There are certainly times when you’ve been working hard towards a good performance and then you’ve just got to sit in the changing room and – as you say – be present for the next half an hour or so, and enjoy having a beer with team-mates. Looking across and hopefully with a smile on your face saying, ‘That was a good week, we can be proud of that.’ And enjoying that. “Then we switch back in shortly after that. But even on the days off during the week (at the World Cup), it would be silly not to enjoy being in France with a great group of mates, getting out for a game of golf. There are a few good wineries, a few tours. We’ve got a bye week. We’re very focused without a doubt but it’s a big trip, so an important component of that would be the balance.” The Big Interview Leading the charge Cane performing the haka with team-mates All about precision The TUDOR Black Bay Pro, £3,520. See tudorwatch.com

35 Asked what has changed for Cane in the last year and there are two tentpole issues you could lash yourself to. One is a real positive one for the athlete, and the other you could call (in the most modern sporting parlance) fuel. As a player, he talks of going about his business on the park with a lot more confidence in his body in the last year. We know about his career-threatening neck fracture almost four years ago, and there have been smaller complaints like the back spasms that saw him withdraw from the opener against France. He also suffered a facial fracture in October last year that meant missing the northern tour. Today he feels like he is playing more freely out there, not forcing things too much. He feels more enjoyment. But what coincided with that is that the team have “been through a little hardship, been put under a little bit of pressure”. Because 2022 wasn’t a vintage year in black. Ireland won a summer series in New Zealand. Argentina beat New Zealand in New Zealand. South Africa beat them in that 2022 Rugby Championship too. But the All Blacks, who have a long-standing partnership with Swiss watch brand Tudor, made a timely return to form in 2023. They won all three Tests in a truncated Rugby Championship. They looked supreme. However, there have been setbacks. The Springboks beat them 35-7 in the final warm-up before hosts France inflicted their first-ever pool-stage loss at a World Cup. But going through that has bound the team together, Cane says. Ask the player what his greatest strengths are and he’ll talk about off-the-ball impacts. Teams need so many little interventions and it’s not always glamorous. The ugly defensive stuff is where peers rave about Cane too. For one former coach, though, there is something else elite about Cane. Which makes him perfect for a leadership role. “He’s really impressive around how he addresses the team,” explains Dave Rennie, Cane’s former boss at the Chiefs and the ex-Wallabies head coach. “He’s got a really strong knowledge of the game and he has this ability to get up in front of a group and summarise, or set expectations, that is just so impressive for a young man. “The better players we have, the better coaches we are, eh? At the Chiefs we were lucky enough to have a lot of high-quality men and I think some of that would have rubbed off on Sam. We had Craig Clarke and Liam Messam and they were quite different captains, but they learnt a lot off each other and shared the lead and it was also similar with Sam and Aaron (Cruden). “Sam is not a rah-rah, yell and scream type of captain. He’ll articulate really effectively around what’s needed from the team. I remember looking at a young player one time, when Sam was addressing the group, and this guy was nodding his head and he had a big smile on his face. “I then went over to that kid afterwards and I said to him, ‘I was watching you listen to Sam…’ And he just says right away, ‘Aw, I just love hearing him talk.’ “It’s just his way of articulating a key message (to the group). That doesn’t change for him when you get into the play-offs. He’s a pretty experienced player by this stage, so he understands the pressure, but he also understands this is where we want to be. We’ve talked about being in play-offs, finals, winning finals, that sort of thing, throughout the years. You’re excited by that fact and you’re also excited about getting an opportunity to realise your dreams. “I think that is a real strength of Sam’s. It’s not that all of a sudden you’re in big games and he changes. And I think that consistency is important.” Having allies in your squad is also important. Particularly as teams live out of each other’s pockets. And particularly if you want to conquer the world starting on the toughest side of the draw the Rugby World Cup has ever seen. “I like getting around the boys and playing a bit of cards,” says Cane of pulling people together, away from the analysis and match chat and training. “We’ve got a good 500 crew.” Hold on a second, can you explain what 500 is? “It’s one of the great card games! It’s played with four players but you’ve got a partner. So it’d be you and me versus two others. It’s not explained in two minutes but it’s good. Me and Damian McKenzie, we’ve carried on our partnership from the Chiefs. It’s important you trust your partner and they’ll know the subtleties of your ploy!” The smiling assassin, backing up one of the game’s key messages as he tries to keep what he’s up to under wraps. It feels like the life of an openside, All Black and captain. Don’t let them see you coming. n FACT FILE Age 31 (13 Jan 1992) Born Rotorua Franchise Chiefs Position Back-row Height 6ft 2in Weight 17st Test caps 90 (16T) Debut v Ireland, 2012 Instagram @samcane7 “It’s important you trust your partner and they’ll know the subleties of your ploy!” Hail the Chief Running out in Super Rugby Playing provider Preparing to pass to Beauden Barrett PICS Getty Images.STATSCorrecton14/9/23

STUART BARNES The former England and Lions fly-half turned analyst 36 NGLAND ARE not going to win the Rugby World Cup. That is my contender for State the Bleeding Obvious. It was obvious during the last year of the increasingly awful Eddie Jones tenure and it became even more obvious as his replacement, Steve Borthwick, and his information-obsessed processes, forgot about ‘feel’ in the quest for the ultimate game plan. It’s been killing England for a long time. Not just the team but any players who could once have laid claim to being described as ‘world class’. How I hate that description. Two tries for Bristol in the local derby game against Bath and the scorer might easily be called that. What is world class? It’s indefinable. It’s whatever you want it to be. If you’re a Bristol fan it might be your man scoring his brace. Here’s my definition. One of the best two or three players in your position or role on the planet. If the world is meeting Mars in the big one, he’s got to be a contender for Earth. So who in England fits that bill? Hard to believe there was a time when Jonny May was in that category. Owen Farrell and George Ford (in the 2019 World Cup) were contenders. Courtney Lawes has been on the periphery but injuries have stopped him ever quite making the match-day squad to face Mars. Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler have their supporters. One is a magnificent carrier, the other a subtle handler, but it’s not rugby league and you can’t get away without strength in the scrum... I’m left with two Saracens. Jamie George, like May, once teetered on the brink of world class but age has If he is at his world-class best, England can fly. But Maro Itoje needs to climb back up to heights he has been short of in recent times, writes Stuart Barnes “It’s a while since Itoje has soared. Now is the time” Main Image Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Stormy skies Itoje during England’s defeat to Fiji last month

38 taken some of the snap out of his game in the broken field and breakdown. A brilliant rugby player – and crucial to England in this World Cup – but not one of the global elite. This leaves us with one man: Maro Itoje. Yes, the same Itoje whose frustrated face was front page of the Sunday Times sports section the day after Fiji beat England at Twickenham. Hands on hips, the rain falling in giant globules, the caption read Absolute Shower. The photograph wasn’t a coincidence. Stephen Jones, my old mate and Rugby World regular, gave him a player rating of 4/10. It was there with the forlorn Freddie Steward and Ben Earl as the lowest ratings. Once upon a time rugby writers would give him a seven just for striding onto the various playing surfaces. He was the golden child. At 22, he was selected as the youngest Lion for the 2017 tour to New Zealand, the reigning world champions who were playing some of the greatest rugby the world had seen. Itoje played all three Tests, the first from the bench. But it was in the second Test, which the Lions won 24-21 in Wellington, that he transmogrified from outstanding England international to ‘world class’. Partnering the great Alun Wyn Jones, the Welshman generously bowed to the Saracen as the victorious Lions trooped around the field to the roar of “Oh, Maro Itoje”. Here was a modern-day England lock to set alongside Martin Johnson. Contrasting styles but both great in their own way. Johnson had an aura that Itoje does not. At 6ft 5in and 18st, he is no physical match for the majestic Eben Etzebeth. What a tussle these two had on the otherwise tepid 2021 Lions series in South Africa. The fact that his peers voted him the Lion of the Series was another huge statement. He has gone toe to toe with the best of the best and emerged with credit. He was simply off the scale in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand before playing 80 minutes in retreat against the South Africans in the final. 2019 was the year in which he was voted European Player of the Season. His big hands were all over the European Cup. His influence was overwhelming in the northern hemisphere. Johnson had the aura but Itoje possessed the athleticism. He was a fourth back-row with a capacity to win staggering turnovers, albeit with a tendency to concede penalties. At the lineout, his relatively light frame has enabled him to shift fast across the ground. It makes him one of the world’s best jumpers, especially on opposition England “That’s a player of great stature. A real testament to his character, to his desire to be a good team-mate” EDDIE JONES, 2021 Taking control Itoje in England’s lneout

39 throws. England, if they are to make the latter stages, will undoubtedly place great store by Borthwick’s speciality – the lineout. It hasn’t helped him to be part of an England pack that lacks the balance, the ballast, in the second row. At Saracens he once merged seamlessly with George Kruis. As he did with England. And then there was Jones as a legendary partner for the Lions. Form fell away when the excellent Exeter (now Sale) lock Jonny Hill was his partner. There was a lack of grunt. Ollie Chessum is the brightest of young talents but there appears more pressure than ever on Itoje in the set-piece. Over the last few seasons, he has been more ragged than in his early twenties. Physically, he looks undercooked next to someone like Etzebeth, so it is vital he maximises the rest of his game. The Springbok continues to mature. His previously non-existent running game has flowered into impressive, beefy ball-carrying. Itoje isn’t the quickest but his rapid rugby brain allows him to see spaces around the fringes before defences close them down. It’s that break around the melee which opens up space for his smart offloading game. England will require front-foot ball from their first line of carriers to create sufficient mayhem for him to re-establish his running game. And there’s little doubt, he is a man in need of a boost. The day I wrote this column, The Times asked me to write about one aspect that could improve England ahead of the World Cup. “Such as?” I asked. “Well, there’s one of you who thinks the first thing England should do is drop Itoje.” His has been a career in which nobody suggests he should be dropped. Whether the unnamed writer was right or wrong, it emphasised the downward trend in form. Going into the World Cup, he was anything but world class. There was a time when he soared like a salmon at the restart. It was a thing of almost physical beauty. Now he’s just one of many trying to dominate the kick-off. Opponents think they have a chance to reclaim a good kick-off in a way that never occurred during his Lions series and his high point of 2019. Teams require leaders who lead through example. Itoje, regarded as quiet in his younger days, is now one of the world’s most demonstrative players. The ground gets a proper good thumping as he whoops if England are awarded a penalty. Maybe it is a Saracens thing because the equally articulate Earl is even more expressive. The magic of Itoje seems to have dissipated somewhat as he whoops and hollers his way through games. Much of it is designed to wind up the opposition. However, the net result is a distracted second-row. Can you imagine Johnson doing anything other than give a shrug of those foreboding eyebrows of his? There have been too many theatrics of late. England have to focus all their forces on every game. The England management should tell him to save the fist pumps for moments that win matches and send them onwards to the latter stages of this competition. It won’t be easy. Like conceding silly penalties, it is a negative side to his game that deflects from the other Itoje. The one who had tens of thousands of British & Irish Lions fans singing his name as he trotted around the ground, face wreathed in smiles, the job – to coin an American phrase – ‘done’. Owen Farrell is England’s headline act but in a team where guts, graft and the forwards’ sweat and toil is likely to be the difference between a good or bad campaign, the totemic second-row is the man with the proven world class to lift England from their August shambles to a creditable autumn. And Itoje showed signs of his old self in adversity when beating Argentina. England are desperate for someone to stand head and shoulders above most players on the planet. If he clicks, England can save face. If he struggles, humiliation is waiting to mug them. n “There is a growing suspicion this freak athlete is actually a cyborg assassin sent back from 2029 to alter the All Black monopoly of rugby” JOURNALIST GAVIN CUMMISKEY, 2017 “Martin Johnson was the king of the locks – but Maro is right up there. He’s still young and the world is his oyster” MIKE BROWN, 2020 League champion With Saracens

H OW DO you measure greatness? Some players, such as Jonah Lomu, would walk into any person’s list of all-time World Cup icons. Other choices here are more contentious. When you consider that the likes of David Campese, Ma’a Nonu, Frans Steyn and Sam Whitelock don’t get a look-in, you appreciate what a distinguished group of men feature over these six pages. Who would make your top 12? Email [email protected] with your thoughts on the greatest ever. 1 Bryan Habana 18 matches, 2007-2015 Finishers don’t come better than Habana, whose 15 tries put him top of the all-time RWC list. It’s a record he shares with Jonah Lomu, who said of the Bok: “You know the guy’s got speed, so you cut off his space, but Bryan has ways of beating people no matter what’s in front of him.” Inspired to play rugby by seeing RWC 1995, when he sat on his dad’s knee at the final, he was a wing in the classic jet-heeled mould. He could chip at pace over rush defences and regather; he also read the game astutely, plucking many an opposition pass out of the air. His interception against Argentina in the 2007 semi-final brought his 30th try in 34 Tests and his eight scores at the tournament – including four v Samoa – powered South Africa to the title and Habana to World Player of the Year. 40 Elegant finish Habana scores at RWC 2011 RWC PLAYERS TOP Who has stamped their greatness on the World Cup? We’ve picked a delectable dozen from the tournament’s history Words ALAN PEAREY // Main Pic PHIL WALTER/ETTY MAGES

41 World Cup Greats 2 Richie McCaw 22 matches, 2003-2015 One of McCaw’s many records is set to go at this World Cup as Sam Whitelock passes the appearance figure the great back-row shares with Jason Leonard. McCaw won’t bat an eyelid. A tougher hombre you’ll never find and his capacity to endure pain was illustrated in 2011 when, after a failed operation, he played through the tournament with a broken foot. “After games he couldn’t walk for three days. We wondered how he did it but it inspired us all,” said Dan Carter. McCaw led the All Blacks to glory in 2011 and 2015, atoning for the previous defeats by Australia and France – his only hiccups in those 22 RWC matches. Indestructible at the breakdown, it was not just his ability to boss games; he was the team’s conscious and driving force in an era of history-defining supremacy. The Terminator McCaw does the haka before his 100th Test, against France in 2011

42 The grin and gold Eales and the Wallabies celebrate in 1999 Ox power Handing off George Gregan in the 1999 semi-final World Cup Greats PICSAFP,Corbis/VCG, Getty Images&Inpho 3 Os du Randt 16 matches, 1995-2007 Plenty of men have won the World Cup twice but only two, du Randt and Frans Steyn, have done it 12 years apart. As a young man, du Randt broke the mould for Bok props with his dynamic carrying and tackle rate – he was quick enough to match wing James Small over 50 metres. At 22, he was hurling himself at Jonah Lomu as part of the South Africa side that won the 1995 World Cup. Although he helped the Boks finish third in 1999, by the next year he had retired to his farm, worn down by knee injuries and so tired of rugby that he would change channels if it popped up on his telly. A phone call from Rassie Erasmus, then coaching the Cheetahs Vodacom Cup side, lured him back to action and Jake White picked him for the Boks in 2004 – his first Test for four-and-a-half years. White wanted to restore pride to the jersey after the dire 2003 campaign and saw du Randt as a mentor and inspiration to the younger Boks. Shedding weight but still nigh-on 20st, the man they called ‘The Ox’ hauled South Africa to the 2007 title, playing all of the final at the age of 35. Comebacks don’t come any better. 4 John Eales 15 matches, 1991-1999 Such is Eales’s stature that there is a giant statue of him at Suncorp Stadium and Australia’s best player each year is awarded the John Eales Medal. And why not, because the Queenslander was at the heart of both of his country’s World Cup triumphs in the Nineties. As a 21-year-old rookie, his remarkable cover tackle on Rob Andrew was instrumental in winning the 1991 final. Eight years later, he captained the Aussies to glory. He finished with 13 wins in his 15 RWC matches and retired as the most capped lock in history. Mobile, shrewd and with a complete skill-set – he kicked 163 Test points – Eales dominated his era and he’s still involved today, chairing the players’ committee for France 2023.

7 Dan Carter 16 matches, 2003-2015 He was a broken man in 2011, distraught at the groin injury that curtailed his tournament. He’d suffered despair too in 2007 and when Carter could hardly walk after the 2015 quarter-final he feared the RWC curse had struck again. Instead he steered the Kiwis home, his 19-point valedictory heroics v Australia the finest display by a player in a final. Pop passes, long passes, raking kicks, deadeye goal kicks, a killer drop-goal, even 11 tackles – Carter did it all that day. “I prepared like I’d never prepared in my life for that moment,” he said. “All the setbacks I’d had, 03, 07, the injury in 2011, made sense at this moment, 2015.” 6 Agustín Pichot 14 matches, 1999-2007 Proud, arrogant, hot-tempered. Not our words but Pichot’s, describing in his book the time when he erupted after learning that Richmond were trying to sell him to Leicester behind his back. Pichot refused to go, and he put that truculence into his performances across three World Cups. As a feisty, sniping scrum-half, he was a terror to play against. As a captain, he inspired others with Churchillian rhetoric. He led Argentina, 66-1 outsiders, to bronze in 2007 and dragged them into the pro era. In 2011 he was inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame for “leaving an indelible mark on Rugby World Cup”. 8 Brian Lima 18 matches, 1991-2007 It was Gordon Hunter who dubbed Lima ‘The Chiropractor’, the Otago coach saying that every time the Samoan wing made a tackle there was a clicking noise of a bone slipping out of place. The moniker stuck and in 2003 he produced one of RWC’s signature moments with a flying hit on Springbok Derick Hougaard. That was Lima’s fourth tournament and in 2007 he became the first man to play in five World Cups, a feat since matched by Italians Mauro Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse, and referee Wayne Barnes. The youngest player at RWC 1991, when his country stunned Wales, Lima helped Samoa reach the knockout stage in three successive tournaments. 5 Jonny Wilkinson 19 matches, 1999-2011 “The most awesome human being ever,” says Will Greenwood of the man who achieved sporting immortality with his winning drop-goal against the Aussies in 2003. Wilkinson accrued 113 points in that tournament, part of a record 277-point haul at World Cups. He also has the most penalties (58) and drop-goals (14). If he could score points, he could also prevent them; he made 15 tackles in that 2003 final, his perfect hit on Matt Giteau later being used in school presentations by the Brumbies’ defence coach. Today he’s at peace with the world but his excellence across a 97-cap career masked fear and anxiety. “A lot of what I achieved was done through my passion for the game,” he says, “but a lot of it was also done to stave off darkness.” 43 English icon Wilkinson takes on Samoa in 2003 World Cup Greats

World Cup Greats 44 The prototype Lomu gave new meaning to the term ‘power athlete’ 9 Jonah Lomu 11 matches, 1995-1999 Lomu transformed rugby with his startling domination of RWC 1995. It wasn’t just the number of tries he scored, it was his impervious progress through would-be tacklers. At 6ft 5in and 19st, the 20-year-old wing could run 100m in under 11 secs and he combined pace and power to devastating effect when trampling over England in the semi-final. He got four tries that day but it wasn’t only England that suffered; Ireland prop Gary Halpin said he sidestepped Lomu three times during a pool match – the snag was Lomu had the ball in his hands each time! “He did for rugby what Jerry Lewis or Elvis did for rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. Lomu’s 15 tries across two tournaments remains a record. His feats came despite a rare kidney disorder that ultimately led to a tragically premature death at just 40.

World Cup Greats 10 Mamuka Gorgodze 15 matches, 2007-2019 Georgia’s rise is synonymous with Gorgodze, particularly at the World Cup. Namibia 2007, Romania 2011, Tonga and Namibia 2015, Uruguay 2019 – all five of Georgia’s World Cup wins (ahead of France 2023) involved the giant back-row who went by the name of ‘Gorgodzilla’ and played like that too. Man of the Match against England and New Zealand, Gorgodze was the rock on which many an opposition attack foundered. As a ball-carrier, he was formidable. “Everybody must do their all for their country, do more than their maximum,” this proud Georgian said. Australia Rugby once ran a fans’ poll for Team of the Decade and Gorgodze won the No 8 spot by a landslide. No other European featured. Enough said. 11 Martin Johnson 18 matches, 1995-2003 How today’s England would love a force like Johnson, with his imposing frame, death stare and no-nonsense leadership. He could always gauge the mood, knew when words were unnecessary. “Boys, we win games. That’s what we do. So let’s do what we do,” was his pithy pre-match speech when England won the 2003 final. Johnson was an enforcer, the sort of figure the NZ press had in mind when describing England as “white orcs on steroids”. Yet the lock also had a brilliant rugby brain and was able to adapt to the demands wrought by professionalism. As England or Lions captain, he attained a 82% win rate and it’s unlikely that his country could have won ‘Bill’ without him. 45 Georgian goliath Celebrating the 2015 win v Tonga at Kingsholm Thundering typhoon Horan in 1999 v Wales 12 Tim Horan 14 matches, 1991-1999 Three World Cups, two winner’s medals. Not a bad return for the centre who was just 21 when helping Australia triumph in 1991, engineering the position for the final’s only try with a brilliant high-ball take and counter-attack against England. An horrific knee injury undermined his efforts in 1995, but in 1999 we saw the full package: impeccable defence, searing acceleration, faultless execution. After winning a year’s supply of booze for a try v Romania, Horan climbed off his sickbed to give a masterclass in the semi-final v the Boks. He won Player of the Tournament – and another gold.

“Romania is a fine rugby nation but it has been al lowed to rot away” WHAT DO YOU THINK? S T E P H E N J O N E S Rugby’s most outspoken and influential journalist Email rugbyworld [email protected] Facebook Rugby World Magazine Twitter @Rugbyworldmag or @stephenjones9 VERY SELF-RESPECTING sporting event that is played in pools always has a ‘Pool of Death’. If you are a follower of Romania, or especially a member of their squad at this Rugby World Cup, you will be in no doubt as to the unlucky team forced to exist in so forbidding an environment. Poor Romania. When the 2023 World Cup began, Pool B had lined up South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania, and you really did fear that the Eastern Europeans would suffer terrible damage with that kind of fixture list – their opening fixture against Ireland in Bordeaux ended 82-8 to the Irish. Yet perhaps younger readers of Rugby World might have no idea as to the celebrated history of Romanian rugby, and some of us are absolutely mortified that potentially such a great rugby nation has fallen on such hard times. It may be difficult to believe but there was a time not so long ago when Romanian rugby was hardly ever out of the news. They were for years the best team in Europe outside the Five Nations. They lost to the All Blacks in a controversial match when they had two tries disallowed and they also beat Scotland. They were effectively professional players before the game went pro as the state funded two clubs in Bucharest, Steaua and Dinamo, and most of the squads came from those clubs, with a leavening of E A once-mighty rugby nation has fallen on hard times. Stephen Jones says we must remember Romania’s proud history and hope for a revival one day 46

47 Emotional leader Hari Dumitraş after the epic victory in Auch, 1990

players who had established themselves in French rugby. But before the revolution in the country in 1989, Romanian rugby had already been in the news. On an amazing day in Bucharest in 1983, they thrashed the Welsh team under the late Eddie Butler by 24-6, one of the most sensational results for decades, and six months later they saw off Scotland. In 1988, Romania went to Cardiff and beat Wales in an away leg. It was one of the worst results in Welsh rugby history and contributed mightily to the decision of Jonathan Davies to depart for league. Yet more memories. On a burning-hot day in 1989 before the revolution, England sent their top team and their U20s to Bucharest to play their Romanian counterparts. Romania were still a reasonable combination, but that day a young Bath centre called Jeremy Guscott took them to the cleaners. He simply dazzled his way through midfield and England won by a massive margin. And yet we were already rubbing our eyes before Guscott took the field. In the U20 match, we had watched in awe as a relatively tiny young flanker, with blond foppish hair, had played astonishingly in the heat. Neil Back was introduced to a wider audience. Then came the Romanian Revolution (or Christmas Revolution) in 1989 that led to the fall of the bonkers dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, and brought the death of two well-known Romania players in Florică Murariu and Radu Durbac, in those bewildering days after the downfall. There were many pictures of Romanian rugby figures gathering at barricades to honour friends. The revolution itself has given rise to a good number of books and a lot of speculation. Pictures reaching the UK appeared to show heavy fighting, thought at the time to be between the army and the people on one side and the hated Securitate – effectively the secret police – on the other. There were various rumours and counter-rumours until some sort of peace returned to the streets of Bucharest with Ceaușescu and all his crazy schemes gone. But you find relatively distinguished historians on the subject denying that there was much of a revolution at all, that hardly anyone was shot or killed. Who knows, but the truth is that Romanian rugby changed forever as a result and for several key reasons, one of which, as ever in rugby, was lack of finance. Central funding was slashed. Somehow, Romania battled on. One of the most emotional rugby matches I have ever seen was also, technically, one of the worst. It was in 1990 in Auch, France, when Romania played their first game after the revolution, against France. Potential rugby followers had no rights to travel out of Romania during the paranoid era of Ceaușescu, but with freedoms gradually being available, around 40 Romanian fans travelled overland to Auch in one of the most ancient buses you have ever seen. It was like something from a film of a past era and it’s quite astonishing that it chugged all the way from Bucharest. The Romanian team, still of a certain quality but with no preparation whatsoever, seemed to be on a thrashing to nothing against a star-packed side. Astonishingly, staggeringly, they won 12-6, with their points coming from the hefty boot of Gelu Ignat, their fly-half. You have never seen celebrations like it and they were led by one of the greatest players, the back-row forward Hari Dumitraș. Tears fell like rain amongst the Romanians and all neutrals. It was a significant defeat for France because not long afterwards the autocratic French Federation president, Albert Ferrasse, finally stepped down. Romania became shambolic after that, so too the rugby with the main clubs now unable to pay their players. Over the years, the country has still produced reasonable performances in World Cups and fielded outstanding players. But whereas they were for a long time the team which put most pressure on the Six Nations to allow promotion and relegation, they’ve now been superseded by Georgia and have gradually regressed in Rugby Europe. One statistic produced by The Guardian is ample evidence as to the adverse effect of the impoverished and amateurish state of Romania: not so long ago, official figures claimed that 326 players of Romanian birth or qualification were playing away in French rugby at all levels. And when Romania arrived in Paris for this tournament, they already appeared to be in bad shape. Several months before the tournament, the noted former England coach Andy Robinson departed his role as national coach to be replaced by Eugen Apjok. Stephen Jones 48 “Staggeringly, they won 12-6. Tears fell like rain amongst the Romanians and all neutrals”

Close observers of the Romanian scene declare that the players were behind Robinson, once described by Sir Clive Woodward as “a great coach”. And there seems to be a lot of political shenanigans. Apparently, observers believe that the new coach unfairly favours the Baia Mare club with his selections, and that the training before the World Cup was not of sufficient standard to improve the team. Youth rugby is also believed to be in a significant decline in the country and the old days, when Romanian players could earn a good living in France to help them when they returned to their national side, are over. Former captain Mihai Macovei missed out through injury but Florin Surugiu has made it to his last World Cup, but there is little evidence of a new wave coming through. They have players who have qualified from other nations, such as Jason Tomane, Tevita Manumua and Hinckley Vaovasa, but one expert predicted before the RWC that “Romania could be one of the most fragile teams ever seen in a World Cup”. That would be desperately sad. There is no doubt that Romania have natural barriers to progress and that the scent of political manoeuvring amongst their rugby fraternity is strong. But also the lack of real urgent support from the central coffers in rugby, or from other nations, is aggravating. Teams so rarely now go to play in Romania, so rarely invite their emerging players or coaches over to look and learn. And again, at the end of this tournament we will be bemoaning the fact that so much of the profit goes to the major unions and so little to a country like Romania, which basically is a fine rugby nation but which has been allowed to rot away. Anyone who has followed their fortunes over the years, enjoyed their hospitality, observed at a distance the revolution and has seen the possibilities will be as sad as anyone. There was the time when the influence of the Securitate was felt most strongly. On one trip out there, us journalists were told that they would be monitoring phone calls we made at our hotel. It seemed fanciful and alarmist. At least, it did until Chris Rea, the Scotland centre turned journalist, opened a door somewhere in the Bucharest hotel and encountered a line of five or six people with their headphones on clearly monitoring the calls. Also on that trip, the drinks ran out spectacularly early because there was absolutely no funding to treat their guests as royally as they wanted to treat them. One of the most famous Romanian players was in the room and in those pre-revolution days it was something of an open secret that he was a member of the Securitate. As we all sat there glumly, hosts and visitors together, contemplating an abstemious night, our man entered the room again carrying crates of wine which turned out to be of the finest calibre. It was not what you know, it was who you knew, as the old adage goes. There is nothing I would like better than to witness a Romanian rugby revival, to see them rediscover their force of old. They are a most valiant rugby people. However, in France this autumn, they will need to be. n Stephen Jones Pass it on Half-back Alin Conache prepares to move the ball during a 57-7 drubbing by Italy in August Pulling together The Romania squad DID YOU KNOW? Romania No 9 Gabriel Rupanu scored against Ireland in Bordeaux after 2min 11sec. Only Shane Williams, 2min 10sec in 2011, has got a quicker try against the Irish in RWC history. PICS Getty Images&Inpho Fervent support The faith of Romania fans has been tested to the limit

Age 27 (8 Feb 1996) Born Tbilisi, Georgia Club Pau Position No 8 Height 6ft 2in Weight 17st 5lb Test caps 41 (11T) Instagram handle @bekagorgadze S P O T LIG H T O N 50 BEK A GORGADZE The Georgian has battled back from injury to make his second World Cup Back on the horse Taking on Australia in Georgia’s World Cup opener Words Josh Graham // Main Picture Levan Verdzeuli/Getty Images PICS Getty Images&IconSport.STATSCorrecton22/9/23