‘In 2015, I had to watch Wales beat us while in a Cardiff pub’
‘If you spend weeks stressing about selection or the pressure, what’s the point in being here?’
The indoor arena backdrop of the Sapporo Dome, where England embark on their World Cup odyssey on Sunday against Tonga, was far from Sam Underhill’s thoughts as he watched England’s woes against Wales in the 2015 tournament with several student fresher mates from Cardiff University, all suitably refreshed and most cheering for their local heroes.
Underhill, then only 19, had just embarked on a politics and economics degree. He did at least have the good sense not to be sporting white, only zipping up his Barbour over his black T-shirt once English fears were realised with the final whistle blowing on a damning 28-25 victory.
The most diverse squad that England have ever assembled is reflected also in the differing ways that many have taken to get to this point of departure. Underhill took the academic route, the path less travelled in these days of academy hothouses. It has given him a sense of perspective. As well as fun.
“At the time, it [playing for England] was pretty distant. I followed England as a fan but, as a player, I think I was a million miles away. So, I watched it as a fan in the pub. Obviously, I was thinking I would love to be there some day.
“I think if I’d have said I’d be here at the World Cup in 2019, people would certainly have laughed. I don’t think anyone else would have said it, or it depends how much I’d had to drink at the time! Certainly none of the young [England] lads would have thought they’d be here now. That’s why it’s important to enjoy it. If you spend however many weeks stressing about selection or the pressure, what’s the point in being here? You’ve got to enjoy it.”
The Eddie Jones radar for a promising player located Underhill, performing well for Ospreys as he did his studies in Cardiff. The England head coach came down to the Welsh capital to sound out Underhill a couple of years ago.
“I met him in the Hilton for a chat,” said Underhill, who was subsequently signed by Bath so as to be eligible and continued his studies there. “He gave me some insights into my game that I was pretty clueless about. So, I knew then he was a very good coach.”
Jones had been scathing as a newspaper columnist about the lack of balance in England’s back row during the last World Cup, although he subsequently came to review his classification of Chris Robshaw as a “6½”, rather than a genuine open side, when he came to work with him. Nonetheless, there was a lack of cut about England’s play at the breakdown.
From stretched resources, England now have an abundance of options, with Underhill vying with Tom Curry, of Sale Sharks, for the No7 shirt or working alongside him as they double-bank on the flank.
There is another face in the mix and, to judge from Mark Wilson’s typically craggy performance in the final warm-up game against Italy at St James’ Park, he has no intention of being eased from the equation. England can shuffle their options there as form, injury or the context of the situation dictates, although they would have to be mindful of their line-out options, were they to pair Curry and Underhill, even though the Sale player has enhanced his own repertoire in that regard.
Even though there is a keen sense of competition for places, the commitment to England’s World Cup cause overrides any jealousy or in-fighting.
“You compete up until the squad is announced and, when it is, if you’re not in, it’s your job to get the other guys ready,” Underhill said.
“And if you are in, it’s your job to perform. I don’t think anyone has reacted negatively to selection so far. You have four guaranteed games at least and we have all seen over the last few weeks how easy it is to get a knock, so you need your depth and the fact that we have that is quite reassuring.
“We have spoken about [back-row] selection. But it is not like a common conversation topic. Say me or Tom, or Lewis [Ludlam] or Mark – because any one of us would, or could and have played seven, for instance, there would be no awkwardness around it. If one of them is picked I would be chuffed for them because they get a chance to play for their country at a World Cup. That’s brilliant.
“You can choose to dwell on not being picked, and when you are not in the match-day squad, it can be hard to get perspective, but if you take a step back you say, ‘it’s brilliant for him’.
“If you’re not that close as a group, maybe you’re not that happy about it, but I think we’re in a place where, as a squad, we’re genuinely excited for each other. We trust that the selection is made to put the right team out at the right time.”