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I always knew we would do it. This is one of the most solid squads I have ever had the pleasure to be with. We knew we were in this together and our backs were against the wall. What we had was belief and passion and importantly we did not want to let our fantastic fans down. I think we have shown what we knew we were capable of. The belief is still here and I feel this squad is more together than the one we had four years ago. I just can’t wait until Saturday.

I must say I loved being at the centre of controversy leading up to the England Australia match and I did not even open my mouth! We always knew their scrummaging was a weakness and we would be out to exploit it. When they started bleating about my inclusion then we really knew we had them on the run. It was like we had put the fear of death into them before the game even started – what a position to be in!  They said my selection showed intent – what better way to give me fuel for the game and boost my confidence. We then went out there and scrummaged them back to Australia, what a feeling.

I must say they were a bit chirpy in the front row when they got the first two penalties following early scrums. I made them feel a little worse by telling them to calm down and reminding them they had another 75 minutes of hell to come.

The scrum will still be important on Saturday but we know the French are much better than the Aussies in this department. The French pulled off a great result at the weekend but then so did we and I really think we are getting better and better. We are battle hardened and have been in a knock-out tournament for three weeks. It has worked in our favour to be under pressure and the same will happen when we play the French on their own soil.

We had a debriefing today and one area we looked at is how we dominated but only won by two points. We highlighted that we have to take more advantage of the gaps and overlaps.

I have had more than 70 texts since the game, I did not realise I had so many friends and relatives, let’s hope I get the same again on Saturday.

I must admit to having a couple of drinks after the game. All the boys were invited to an amazing £6 million yacht, and I have no idea who it belonged to. We had to take our shoes off because it had a cream carpet, unfortunately some red wine found itself on the carpet. Mind you if you can afford £6 million for a yacht you can afford a cleaning bill!

After that I met up with Victor and some of the VU lot at a club in the town. Vic was looking bigger than ever. I am told he now has a bike – he just wants to get on it and do some training.

Nice to have some comments. I am a big fan of Spongebob (my kids watch it). I have just told Andy he looks like Patrick but he seems a bit confused. I don’t think I will bother telling Lawrence about the comments on him.

Keep supporting us and thanks for helping us through to this stage – there is more to come.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since I got involved in the hospitality business, it’s that preparation is all. You’ve got to do your homework to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

For sporting events, clients want you to do more than lay on tickets. If they’re not local, they want you to act as their guide to a strange, new environment. So, I’ve been taking the strain ahead of Saturday’s big kick-off. Well, kind of…

A couple of weeks ago, I headed off with my laptop to a wonderful coffee and cake shop in the centre of Lens to soak up the atmosphere in the town which will stage England’s opening match in the World Cup. 

The cafe was well worth a visit and absolutely knocks spots off Starbucks. The food was not only first-class but gave you a sense of what Lens is all about. It’s got real character, more so than parts of Paris which are better known but have less heart. 

Lens is really small and quite working class. All its history seems to revolve around the coal mines which still dominate the landscape and mentality. If you’ve never been there before, let me give you an idea of what I mean.  

The stadium where England will take on the USA this weekend is named after the guy who was commercial director of the local mine. Even in the coffee shops, you can’t escape coal. I ate a chocolate made with a plant which is grown on the slag heaps just outside of town! All in the name of research, you understand! 

There I was with chocolate all over my face in a town which was a sea of blood and orange– long before beered-up rugby fans arrived. They’re the colours of the local football team, Racing Club Lens, in whose Felix Bollaert Stadium England start their Rugby World Cup campaign. Let’s hope Lens’ early form isn’t a bad omen. They’re next to bottom of the First Division having played five games and lost three!

If you read some of the English press, of course, you’d believe the omens are not too good for England anyway. My old team-mate, Lawrence Dallaglio, is apparently saying that we’ve not prepared properly while Andy Robinson, who’s not necessarily the best judge of form, is predicting that we’ll only make the semis. 

I’ve always thought that preparation is key but luck also plays a big part in tournament and no-one really knows what’s going to happen. A fumbled pass, a drop goal or an injury can quickly change the outcome of matches. 

I suppose, however, that losing on Saturday wouldn’t bode well for our chances. We need to finish above South Africa in the group (a tough task in itself!) to avoid Australia in the quarters. 

Mind you, if England do get turned over, fans can learn from my favourite experience of Lens. I took a 10-minute walk from the coffee shop down the Boulevard Emile Basly and the Avenue Alfred Maes, hung a left onto the Route d’Arras and through the doors of the Brasserie Saint-Germain to try some of its fantastic beers. All in the name of research, you understand! 

Allez les blancs!!