Since opening the O2 Arena has hosted countless events and has been filled by many different audiences from screaming teenagers almost self combusting over One Direction to the more experienced lady or gentlemen enjoying The Royal Ballet. Last night it was the turn of English rugby fans to fill the spectacular venue as our national side's title sponsor, O2, sent off the England Rugby players in style with #WearTheRose live.
For the last twelve weeks this England Rugby side has been training, in relative isolation, focused on the task at hand either at altitude in Denver or in the leafy surroundings of Pennyhill Park in Surrey. The two Twickenham match days will have undoubtedly provided a taster of the support surrounding them however last night's event will certainly have brought home the full magnitude of what is to come. The evening was a huge celebration and whilst there will be some that say it is premature as England haven’t done or won anything yet, I believe it was a great way to salute the team and coaching staff and wish them well for what will be a monumental challenge ahead.
As Stuart Lancaster addressed the 14,000 strong audience he was phenomenally composed and as eloquent as ever. As an individual Stuart himself has been on quite the journey to get to this point after being handed the role on an interim basis in 2012 and has always impressed me. Without a doubt Stuart and his coaching team have galvanised this England side and he spoke openly about his desire for all to be ‘more front footed’ about being English. In his first week with the players back in Leeds he wrote to all of the players’ parents and ask them to write back with what it means to see their sons playing for England and to get three or four other people that had influenced that players’ career to do so too. He did this unbeknown to the players and at the end of their first block of training shared the notes with them, something many have never forgotten. Last night, he openly explained how this idea came about;
As Stuart Lancaster addressed the 14,000 strong audience he was phenomenally composed and as eloquent as ever. As an individual Stuart himself has been on quite the journey to get to this point after being handed the role on an interim basis in 2012 and has always impressed me. Without a doubt Stuart and his coaching team have galvanised this England side and he spoke openly about his desire for all to be ‘more front footed’ about being English. In his first week with the players back in Leeds he wrote to all of the players’ parents and ask them to write back with what it means to see their sons playing for England and to get three or four other people that had influenced that players’ career to do so too. He did this unbeknown to the players and at the end of their first block of training shared the notes with them, something many have never forgotten. Last night, he openly explained how this idea came about;
“Everyone asks me where that idea came from and I’ll tell you, I’ve not told this story before but I’ll tell you now anyway, it comes from a player who is sat over there and when he was 15 I started coaching him and he left the club that I was at and went onto make his England debut in his 20s. I sent him a text on the day of the game, I was so proud and so chuffed to have been a small part of his journey to becoming this England player. He text me back on the day of the game and say ‘Thanks Lanny I can’t wait to be playing’ and that made me feel so special to be a very small part of his journey. I thought to myself can you imagine being his parents, or his grand father, or his primary school teacher or his girlfriend or whatever and how proud they would feel.”
Stuart spoke about the honour that is bestowed on the members of his team, since 1871 only 1,392 people have represented England Rugby. 1,392 people have known what it is like to run out at Twickenham Stadium in front of a packed house and represent their country playing the game that they love and that is some honour. The philosophy that this England side have openly articulated in recent years is about being ‘custodians of their shirts’ and ensuring that 'every time you wear it and when you finally pass it on you have taken it to a better place'. Of course triumphing in a home World Cup would certainly fall into that category and in order to try and achieve this Stuart articulated his viewpoint on the importance of playing at home;
“Let’s make sure that home advantage counts, let’s make sure that there are no regrets because we don’t want the fear of failure to kill any of the dreams that we have got, we’ve got to let the boys go out and express themselves. But, there is one final thing and it is an intangible but it is point of difference and it is called heart. If we play with our heart, and you guys get behind the team, the boys will play with their heart on their sleeves, on their shirts for you I can absolutely guarantee it.”
This World Cup will not be easy, England do not have the luxury of a favourable or kind Pool draw instead they must feel the full force of the World's best from the offset. The phrase 'to be the best you have the beat the best' applies for this tournament and to have to do so on home soil means that the pressure on their shoulders is immense. Months, and indeed years, of training are complete and now it is time for the players to deliver and as Stuart Lancaster says for supporters too - home advantage must count.
