World Cup is all about the squad so I’m ready to wait (From Worcester News)

World Cup is all about the squad so I’m ready to wait

6:50am Saturday 8th September 2007

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Worcester Warriors prop and Wales international Chris Horsman delivers his exclusive column for the Worcester News from the Rugby World Cup over in France.

THERE may be Euro 2008 qualifiers going on today, but over here in France you would hardly know about - it is all about the Rugby World Cup.

The people here have made everyone feel really at home and everywhere we go all you can see are Welsh flags.

It is nice to be out of the spotlight of the intensity of the Welsh public and media because it means that we can focus on doing what we have to do. And that is qualify for the quarter-finals at least.

It is what the Welsh public expect and what we as a squad expect.

I was disappointed not to be in the squad for tomorrow's game with Canada, but the games will come thick and fast in this tournament and the whole squad will be needed.

I played in the last warm-up match against France so now it is Adam Jones' turn and he will let no-one down.

People will have a misconception about Canada in this tournament, but I can assure you that it will be a tough, physical game. However, we expect to win and win well.

The most important thing about tomorrow is getting a win to take into the match with Australia back in Cardiff next Saturday.

The whole squad had a day off yesterday and myself, Alix Popham, Colin Charvis and a couple of the management team got up at seven o'clock in the morning to go deep-sea fishing.

It was a really enjoyable morning and I managed to catch the king of the sea - the mackerel!

But Shane Williams had the best catch of the day, he landed a four-foot conger eel.

I want to take this opportunity to send Tim Collier a message back at Sixways - I will return a better fisherman!

The resort that we are staying at here in south Brittany is a beautiful place and we are all staying in self-catering apartments with a big communal area.

The atmosphere among the squad is fantastic and we all can't wait for Sunday to come.

To be involved in a World Cup is what every sportsman strives for and with it being once every four years this might be the only chance that I get.

I feel that the squad we have is capable on their day of performing with the best - we have proved that against Australia and England recently.

I know the media have been giving us forwards plenty of criticism, but what is good is that we are now hitting the consistency levels needed in training.

We also have world-class players like Martyn Williams, one of the great number sevens, and then on the bench there is Charvis.

I feel that in the second row with the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, who can be the next Martin Johnson, there is a real cause for optimism.

I just want to wish all the boys back at Worcester luck for the first game of the season.

Having watched them against London Irish before coming out here, I believe that we have a real chance this season.

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