A nation expects: England hope to deliver as Rugby World Cup kicks off

The wait is over. Chris Robshaw leads hosts England out at Twickenham against Fiji on Friday to kick off a Rugby World Cup that promises six weeks of no-holds-barred action. More than 2.3 million tickets, 94% of capacity, have been sold. Trains and buses to carry the record crowds are standing by, the London Eye has been decked out with the flags of all 20 teams and the opening ceremony celebrating rugby’s birth in England has been rehearsed. The hosts have a nation behind them amid mounting rugby fever, with World Cup beach parties, beer festivals and bake-offs have been held the length and breadth of the country. It’s finally time to play.

I remember watching Jonny Wilkinson kick the winning drop-goal (in 2003) and I was probably out in the street trying to copy it afterwards. As sportsmen and as a team you want to inspire that next generation to start playing.

Chris Robshaw

The 203 different nationalities watching on television are a new record. And on the pitch New Zealand hope they will become the first team to win back-to-back titles. Bookmakers are backing Richie McCaw’s All Blacks, just ahead of England. But the tournament’s history is littered with the wrecked hopes of favourites, something which the Kiwis are painfully aware of from previous experience. And Robshaw – along with his Australia, South Africa and France counterparts – is among rivals hoping they can pull off an upset in the pressure cooker atmosphere.

Definitely the All Blacks are a good enough side to do it. But whether you do it or not is a different story…It is a beast of a thing to try and win. It is one of the most difficult things to win back-to-back and no one has ever done it.

Jonah Lomu

Sport Rugby World Cup