When you beat your main rival you feel a couple of inches taller, especially when you meet up in the England camp. You feel as if you can go in there with your head held high. The rivalry is very much alive. |
When you lose to someone you know so well it is like losing to your brother in the back garden . . . there are bragging rights at stake. |
With Lawrence, it's not just a playing issue. Because of the character he is, it would change the dynamics and the leadership. |
You can't be on the receiving end of rugby like that without falling off a few tackles, because you're utterly exhausted by the end. It was such a quick game. They weren't fitter than us. They just executed things more accurately than we did and seemed to have more direction. |
You can't just switch on wide, expansive rugby overnight, |