Courtney Lawes: 'It wasn't nice... but it paid off in the end'
Courtney Lawes was like a boxer post-training on Monday at the England training facility in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a rolled towel around his neck while he rolled with verbal punches from the media to tee up his team’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
Only the fanatics would have given the English hope in hell in August on the back of three defeats in four Summer Nations Series matches, two campaign-ending injuries for two of their chosen 33, and red cards and suspensions for two more.
That calamity carried over into the opening salvo in Marseille on September 9, the naughty Tom Curry exiled less than three minutes into his team’s tournament opener.
And yet here was Lawes 23 days later, sitting in northern French coastal sunshine and shooting the breeze regarding a progress that qualified England with a game to spare for the quarter-finals and now has them believing that rugby is potentially coming home 20 years after they last conquered the world.
He didn’t specifically say England can definitely win this World Cup. Having “a good shot at that cup at the end of it” was as inspiring as it got in that sense. But it’s October, September has been safely negotiated with three pool wins and the knockout stage road ahead is alive with possibilities once next Saturday’s group game versus Samoa in Lille is taken care of.
How has it come to this just weeks after the Steve Borthwick blueprint was widely ridiculed as his country’s worst-ever preparation for the tournament? Lawes himself consecutively started three of those warm-up four matches, staying the course against Wales, Ireland and Fiji for all but six minutes in Dublin.
The since-revealed secret, of course, was that England were purposely over-flogging themselves on the training ground, not specifically gearing up to be at their energetic best on those August Saturdays. Performance suffered but Lawes and co refused to blink despite the acrimonious outside noise.
“I wouldn’t say it was worrying because we had done all the hard yakka,” he reckoned, sharing his views from a first-floor deck at the Hauts-de-France facility that has been a home from home for England since they first trained there on September 1. “To be honest we went into most of those games pretty tired but we had put in a really good foundation, we had worked really hard in pre-season.
“We knew that and we knew that it would come right, it would start to click for us. We said it after every game, every loss, that we were going to do everything we could to make sure when the World Cup kicks off we’re firing and we did that and we just stuck to it, to be honest. We never gave up and we have given ourselves a really good shot to tip on and do something really great.”
What was the ordeal like, though, having to play Test match rugby with energy levels drained by midweek capers such as having a full-on 15-versus-15 training ground match on the Tuesday before the Ireland defeat?
“It’s tough. You understand it’s not the World Cup so we were still training, preparing for the World Cup in those games. The S&C team were trying to understand how far they could push the boys to still get them to a certain place per the game.
“It was all a bit of trying to find the right balance… because essentially it was pre-season. They were warm-up games, not World Cup games. But yeah, it was tough and it wasn’t nice having slightly heavy legs at the start of the games, but you understand why you are doing it and it paid off in the end so fair play.”
Fair play, indeed. Along the way, England have stuck to their blunt tactics and that’s an approach which Lawes, skipper versus Argentina and Japan while Owen Farrell was suspended, is not for turning on. “I like that it is now really obvious every team’s DNA and what they are trying to do,” he said, reflecting on the past four weekends of action across the pools in France.
“All the top teams have got a really different kind of genetics as a team, team strategy and stuff like that, how when they play each other how that is going to play off. That is really good for us as players to see and be a part of and it’s really good for the fanbase to see as a spectacle as well.
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“You know, the Ireland-South Africa game, stuff like that, France-New Zealand first night of the World Cup. Things like that are huge for the game and, like I said, every team has got a little bit different strategy, DNA, a different way of playing and that is really good to see.”
So what is the England DNA? “We’re a really strong defensive team. That is probably our backbone; we have conceded one try in the last three games, so that is great, and obviously an aerial kicking team. We are very good at getting the ball back and we’re looking to build attack off that. Hopefully, by the time we get a bit later on in the tournament, that is where we want to be and show people a bit of a different side to us.”
The criticism has continued along the way, however, with England even booed loudly by their own fans in Nice after one feeble kick too many riled them versus the Japanese. “There is not a lot of patience,” he suggested about the ways of the modern world where perfection is immediately demanded.
“New coaching team, first time we had everyone together, completely new team strategy and foundation that we had to build. Stuff like that does take time and we’re fast-tracking as quickly as we can. This weekend is another opportunity to go out there and get better,” he said, going on to share his perspective on social media and the England team.
“Even the young lads understand nowadays social media is what it is. It can be so negative and we are always a team that is always not interested in what other people are saying outside of our group. We knew what we were here to do and what we wanted to achieve. Because we were so focused on that we said there is going to be people saying a lot of different stuff, let them do what they want to do but we’re going to get to work and I guess prove them wrong in a lot of ways.
“We don’t tell anybody what they can and can’t do after a game. It’s up to you and as a young player, you have got to learn to navigate social media and understand what is feedback and what is just people being people on social media now. You have got to be able to roll with the punches. You can’t just say, ‘Don’t look at it, lads’ because it’s everywhere. You have got to learn to deal with it in your own way however that is and everyone is a bit different.”
Lawes certainly is different in what is the 34-year-old’s fourth World Cup. He finds it hard to compare tournaments. “It’s so different apart from Steve. 2011, 2015 and 2019, the coaching team and actually the main team is so different, so it’s quite hard to compare and contrast and know what you do differently because the team was so different.”
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Another difference is the family experience this time around. “It’s the first time they really understand because the last World Cup was Japan, so we didn’t get any kids out to that and the one before that (England 2015) my eldest was only about one. They have been all out to watch Argentina and the watch the Japan games, so that’s really quite special for me. To be part of good stadiums as well, everyone loves rugby in France, it’s such a good experience for them.”
Do they know specifically what Dad is trying to do in a match? “Probably not. They know if you make a good carry or if you make a good tackle. My eldest boy loves tackling so he will know what is going on there but he wouldn’t have a clue what is happening at breakdowns. No idea.”
One perspective on England is that they have hidden themselves away from the World Cup, hunkering down in the most English of French towns. The Lawes verdict, though, is that it has the perfect place to plot for October glory. “Le Touquet has been amazing,” he insisted.
“Japan was really good as well. I really enjoyed Japan but this town is actually really, really nice to be a part of. They have made all of us so welcome and there is so much to do, like so many boys playing loads of padel, playing golf, I was playing tennis with David Ribbans on Sunday. We have been able to be able to do loads of really cool stuff.
“There is a crepe place just up the road that is closed now, everyone is a bit gutted the next few weeks. We have been hammering that, and there is the beach and all that stuff. This town has honestly made the World Cup really quite special for us and we have had a really good time here. It has been a really cool spot to come and have as a base camp. The games on top of that, starting off beating Argentina with 14 men was special for us and being able to carry on, be a bit better every game.”
That process will continue in Lille with England set to exit their seaside base on Thursday to head north for their Saturday clash with Samoa and they will then fly south on Sunday for a week in Marseille before their October 15 quarter-final versus the Pool C runner-up. That opposition is currently Australia but is expected to be Fiji, who need just a point more to clinch qualification.
“It’s about us taking steps forward to be the team we want to be because it’s great we are through to the quarter-finals, but that is not the place we want to be. We came here to be the best team we can be and have a good shot at that cup at the end of it. We know it is great to get to the quarter-final. It’s an objective we wanted to achieve but it’s not why we came here. It’s another stepping stone on the path to getting where we want to get to.
“We will leave no stone unturned to get as far as we can in this competition and to push ourselves to win that cup at the end of it. We are going to do everything we can. That’s all we can do and hopefully we can bring the nation along with us.”
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Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments