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Bit of a different offering today – I am going to include a few VU clients on the posting. Last weekend was probably the busiest ever for us. Not only THE match of the tournament, but we also had a large group on a classic train from London to Cardiff for that other big match – New Zealand v France.

Marseille was just incredible; I am still trying to get over it. England were better than their two point win – I just don’t know where that performance came from. It is a result that has transformed this Rugby World Cup. I thought the forwards were just a different class. My mate and fellow blogger Ronnie Regan put in a fantastic performance and I am glad so many of you are enjoying his postings.

On Sunday Ronnie and his fellow hooker Lee Mears came to our beautiful villa in Marseille to join the VU lot for a bit of a celebration. It was great hearing from the boys and you can tell that this is a tight squad. I don’t think Ronnie had any right to criticise my lack of training in his last blog. I can’t wait to see what he looks like seven years after retiring.

Just gearing up now for the semi final weekend and another big one for me and the VU team. This has been an incredible tournament and just keeps getting better. I can’t decide if the French victory was more surprising that the English one but it sets up a classic for Paris.

As I said at the start this is going to be a bit of a different blog. Because even I could not be in two places at once I could not join the trip on the Northern Belle from London to Cardiff. What I did was get some of the comments from those on the train and they are bellow.

We had arranged for All Black legend Justin Marshall to be on board and I suspect it was a very long journey home for him. So here are some of the comments and let’s hope the game on Saturday is half as good as the quarters. France v England, Rugby World Cup 2007 – who would have thought it.

The first quote has to be from Mr Marshall. Wisely we spoke to him before the games had kicked off and it looks like he should have put his money where his mouth is as far as England are concerned. I don’t think he was up for going on the record after the defeat!

 ‘Everyone is on England’s case at the moment but at the end of the day, people love the underdogs to do well so the support is still great for the England team.  If England go on and win today, the match tonight between France and the All Blacks will have so much more bearing for all the people on the trip as England will play them next. England has some fantastic players in the team despite the negative comments and I fancy them to do well but let’s hope not too well!’ 

 Here are some more thoughts from those on the trip:

Louis Jones – ‘It was really good fun being on the train with people listening to the England versus Australia match on their portable radios and cheers going up and down the carriages. Arrived in plenty of time to have a few drinks in Cardiff and everyone was well looked after.’

Ben – ‘As a Munster supporter I have come here to really enjoy the whole package even if Ireland are not around.  It’s a great way to meet people on the train and chat to fellow rugby fans in some really flashy surroundings. There was a great atmosphere on the train on the way and back which may have been to do with the fine wine and champagne on offer!’

James – ‘I just hope that it is a repeat of the 1999 semi final! Shame not to meet Victor but I assume he is away sunning himself in Marseilles and I don’t blame him!’

Bill – ‘The match was great, really physical but at the end of the day, I was sad not to see Ireland in there with the other northern hemisphere teams that are left in the competition. 

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.

A quick posting today as we are just a couple of hours away from what could well be the game of the tournament. The only comment I will pass about the match is on the controversy surrounding my mate and fellow blogger Mark Ronnie Regan. I know he has purposely not posted anything up about it pre match because he doesn’t want to cause any trouble before the game. I must say that it is amazing that the opposition should complain about who the other team has picked. Ronnie is no angel but then who is when the play in the front row! All this would have done was motivate him even more, although I am sure he is aware that the ref will be keeping a close eye on him.

It is fantastic to be out in Marseille for this England Australia quarter final. Last night was a great way to warm up with a fantastic dinner at the beautiful Petit Nice right in the heart of Marseille and overlooking the Med.

David Campese is out her with the VU party and was a fantastic dinner companion for us last night, even if he is Australian. One of the moments of the night was when a young kid came up to me and said “excuse me Mr Campese can I have your authograph.” Last time I looked in the mirror I did not think I looked that Australian!

There has been good news for me recently when I won a battle with the great British train authorities which has allowed a classic train I chartered to travel back to London from the quarter final in Cardiff tonight. At one stage the people who were once called British Rail said that no trains would be running from Cardiff to London after the match because of engineering work. That left my group on the classic train with the prospect of a bus journey home. However after a letter writing and media campaign in Wales I got the decision reversed something I never managed as a player. Even the Daily Mail did an article about my triumph. I suppose it will make some of the Irish fans on that trip a bit happier!

Finally I have heard that some guys blogging on the BBC website have started a game called Ubogu where they try to say my name as many times as they can without taking a breath. I think this is taking BBC journalism to new heights. Anyway the record is 72. See if you can beat it and come on England!  

I had to keep it under my hat for a day but I am pleased to say I will be starting against Australia in Marseille on Saturday, I hope you have all got tickets.

This Rugby World Cup has been a knockout situation for us for the last two games and I looking forward to getting back out on the pitch for this massive game.

I have just been at a press conference and a lot of the talk was about the inclusion of Andy Farrell and Phil Vickery. Both will offer the experience and physical side of the game we need against the Australians. Andy has really grown as a player during this World Cup and he is a great team man.

I spoke about the Aussies in my last blog, however one thing I want to reiterate is the need to win this game up front. We have picked a big pack out of respect for Australia. There was a time when it could be said they were weak in the pack but that is not the case now. Mike Foley is their forwards coach. He was forwards coach at Bath and I also played against him at international level so I know that he will have left no stone unturned in getting together a world beating pack.

This contest is going to be a bruiser and we all know the Aussies will be out of revenge. Take my word for it that we will be throwing the kitchen sink and all the cutlery at this one.

I found out I was in the team yesterday when Brian pulled the flip chart down. It is always a great moment when you see your name up there. I know one of the questions on the blog is how I get on with the other hookers and I must say that is all good. Lee Mears was again the first to congratulate me, mind you I did teach him everything he knows! We all know it is going to take the whole squad to win this tournament not just a handful of players.

One of the other questions is who was the best at shooting. Put it this way the forwards were good and the backs average.

We are off out for a meal tonight and before that I am going to watch a bit of TV with The Dominator (see previous posts). I wonder if he will pretend to be some sort of action hero jumping over the sofa.

I thought I would let you know who I thought was the player of the tournament so far – but excluding the England team. I must admit that we have not watched all the games as it is important to concentrate on ourselves. However what I have seen I must say Hernandez from Argentina has been fantastic. They have got to start as favourites against the Scots.

Time for a bit of TV with The Dominator and then I had better ring ahead to the restaurant to order Sackey his burger and chips.