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It is obviously a different sort of build up for me this week as I am not in the squad for Friday’s game against Tonga. Of course I would like to be involved but I am confidet that we will get through the game and I will be back for the quarters.

Brian Ashton took me to one side before the squad was announced and said he was going to bring Lee Mears onto the bench. He said Lee was the only member of the squad not to have been involved so far and he was coming in. It was also clear that it was not the end of the tournament for me and I am looking forward to seeing more action in this World Cup.

Dropping out means extra training and it has been a lot of hard work. My least favourite piece of gym equipment is the rowing machine – it makes me feel sea sick just looking at it – so I will be glad when I am back in the 22.

Matt Stevens has been playing really well at prop but like many people I did expect Phil to get back into the team as captain. However I am sure he will still get on the pitch and he will be eased back into the tournament gradually.

We are still very positive after the win against Samoa and feel like we have turned a corner but you are only as good as your last game, and we don’t want the match with Tonga to be that. The Tongans have been the surprise package in this tournament. They beat Samoa so we know we have got to raise our game again.

Paul Sackey did brilliantly and showed his club form at international level for the first time. His finishing was excellent; everyone else will do the hard work for him! Although Sackey looks like he has an appetite for rugby his appetite for French food is not so good. We all went out for a meal the other night and Sackey avoided all the beautiful fish and chicken dishes and asked for a burger instead. He really is the fussiest eater I know. When I heard what he was asking for I also arranged for the waiters to get him some crayons and paper to go with his kids meal. They even managed to find him some ketchup – I bet the French chef wanted to throw knives at him. Yesterday we went out for lunch and before our flying winger had a chance to get his order in I had got the waiters to get him a kid’s meal of alphabetti spaghetti. Of course he really enjoyed it.

Time to answer a few of the questions on the last blog. I don’t mind other teams doing the Haka. Rugby is a spectator sport and I am sure those coming to the games love to see the Haka. I actually use the power of what they are doing as a focus for my own energy. The whole routine actually gives me a boost.

I have only just read that Latham is meant to be coming to the Memorial Stadium. I suspect it is just a rumour and the same story could have been written about any number of clubs. I have heard enough rumours to know that you should never bank on a player coming to a particular team until they have pulled on the jersey for the first time.

I have just had a game of pool with Phil Vickery. I won’t tell you the result but I am Premiership quality and he is Vauxhall Conference. Enjoy the game on Friday.