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Have you recovered? I won’t deny that Saturday was the most emotional I have been at the end of a game. To beat France in the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final at the Stade de France was incredible. Everything that has gone on in the build up to the tournament and in the group stages just made this win even sweeter. It might have looked like I was crying at the end, but I think I just had something in my eye. Emotion can be a good thing and I think we have used it as a squad all the way. Of course I was part of the squad in 2003 but I have played a much more active role in this campaign making it extra special.

People have been talking about the moments of the game. Josh’s early try, Joe’s tap tackle or Jonny’s kicks. Of course the true rugby expert will see my charge down as the moment that changed the game! It hit me square in the belly. I have had a few people say they have never seen me run so fast and I really did enjoy that moment.

A lot of people ask me what I say during the game, and I can assure you that I have not stopped talking to the opposition. However I think a few of the French front row were finding it hard to understand me at the weekend.

I knew we had won it when we went four points ahead. Our defence has been so solid and there was no way we were going to let them over for a try in those last few minutes. Defence wins games and a lot of credit must go to our coach Mike Ford for the way we are keeping the tries out.

When we got back to the changing room it was time for a bit of Kenny Rogers, line dancing and karaoke. Talking of changing rooms another great move for us was winning the toss which gave us the home changing room at the Stade de France. When we walked past the away team’s changing room I knew that the French would not enjoy being in there away from their comfort zone. It gave us another edge along with the fantastic support both within the stadium and throughout the whole city.

We have always believed we will do well in the Rugby World Cup even when everyone else has doubted us. Our mottos are ‘Not Without a Fight’ and ‘Shock The World’. Right now we are doing both – and more. A strong motivation was that we did not want to be playing on Friday for a bronze medal. Some might have seen that as a successful tournament but we are defending champions and success for us will be to win it.

This England squad has become like a club team. There are no cliques, no them and us and no back biting. We have bonded like a club team and I suppose a lot of that is down to the criticism we have faced. We have faced that head on as a team and so far we have come out on top.

There is no need for really hard training now. Today is a day off, tomorrow will be some walkthroughs and lineout work, Wednesday is some more physical work including scrummaging, Thursday is another day off, Friday is a bit more light work and then it is time for THE game on Saturday.

I will talk a bit more about the Springboks in a post later this week but one thing is for sure this is not the same England team they played a month ago.

I caught up with Victor and the VU lot for lunch on Sunday in Paris and it was great to have a chat will real rugby fans. It was fantastic to see so many of his clients were really having the trip of a lifetime. People like Victor should be paying us more to keep winning which is keeping their clients happy.

Thanks again for all your support – and sorry I can’t get you extra tickets for the Rugby World Cup Final, I only get four myself!

I would put down tomorrow’s game as the biggest of my career. Despite last week’s performance I would say we were still underdogs. However, even though the French have got home advantage that brings with it extra pressure. As we do with all opponents we have spotted a few weaknesses but I am not going to let you know what those are the day before the game. It was hardly a secret last week that we knew the Aussies would struggle in the scrum but with the French it is not quite so obvious.

It is great to have an unchanged team, the first time for a long time. Fantastic for me to be starting again and I really can’t wait to get stuck into the game. This season it is 2-1 to the French so let’s see if we can even it up on Saturday night in Paris.

A lot of the publicity appears to be around Chabal and there is no doubt he is a good player. However all of us have come up against him both on the international circuit and in the league and we feel that we can more than match the danger. It is great for his profile to have long hair and a big beard. In fact I would consider growing my hair and facial hair if there was a contract on offer from a razor company. Around £1 million would do it for me.

The atmosphere is going to be fantastic and the noise will be amazing. I have heard that there will be as many as 40,000 English fans in the stadium which is going to mean a hell of a lot to us. I know we have got the performance inside us and we are just two games away from remaining World Champions.

I thought I would bore you today with a few things I do on the day of a game. I get up about 10am when it is an evening kick-off. Breakfast is the big meal of the day for me and is likely to be a bit of salmon some eggs and beans. I will then go and chill out for a bit in my room and maybe catch a DVD with The Dominator (see previous posts). There has been a lot of talk about the team listening to Kenny Rogers and a few have been singing his songs during training. However I build up to the game with a bit of gangster rap – as many of you will know I am a very ‘street’ person. I will nibble on a bit of pasta for lunch and then at about 6.30ish we will leave for the stadium. There will be a bit of work out on the pitch with Graham Rowntree our forwards coach, particularly on the lineout. Then it is into the changing room put on the England jersey and start to cherish the moment. I will try and get a bit more of my gangster rap going and then it is out onto the pitch. I am one for singing the National Anthem, although probably not in tune. I hope that gives you a little idea about what I will be up to tomorrow.

Vic has invited me over to join the VU lot for a bit of Sunday lunch so I probably will do that, as long as it is not burgers and chips – you can have too much of a good thing.

Well, we’ve had a good couple of days since the win over Tonga on Friday night. That’s eight tries in two games against good quality opposition. We know that there’s still plenty to work on, but we are improving all the time and are relishing the prospect of playing Australia in Marseille on Saturday. 

We’ve had a really good open team meeting that gave everyone the opportunity to give their thoughts on what was working well and where we could improve. It was a very positive get together, and so much better to have these sessions when things are on the up rather than a crisis meeting when things are not going so well. 

Two areas we need to improve on are our defence and our work at the breakdown. In terms of defence, we are going to have to be much more aggressive and increase our line speed in getting up to the tackle area. It is going to be crucial to stop the Aussies crossing the gain line. 

We will also have to compete better at the breakdown. In George Smith and Phil Waugh Australia possess two of the best in this phase of the game. Again we are going to have to be quicker and more aggressive than we have been to stop them having a big influence on the game. 

The forward battle, as always, is going to be key. If we can dominate up front it will give us a real edge. But we will have to be clinical and make sure that we take the chances that come our way. 

We have clean bill of health for the squad with the big bonus that Jason Robinson is fit and raring to go; one of the best finishers in the game. 

It’s 2-2 overall in terms of England / Australia games in the World Cup. And while the Aussies will no doubt be looking for revenge after 2003, we are quietly confident that we can get the job done. We have effectively played two knock out rounds against Samoa and Tonga, so we are used to the pressures that that brings. 

There will no doubt be a lot said in the media this week in the build up to the game, but I have to say that we are a pretty experienced bunch and I can’t see anything affecting our preparations. 

Personally, I have been given no indication from Brian Ashton as to whether I will be in the 22 come Saturday. I’d obviously love to be involved, but if I’m not I’ll be right behind the boys, just as will be all those that don’t make the final squad. 

We have had some time to relax following the Tonga game, although for those, me included, who didn’t play on Friday there’s still been training sessions to put in. A number of the squad went to Euro Disney with their families and, from what I hear, had the full red carpet VIP treatment.

As for me, I was with a group that went off shooting. We went with our security guys to a range and were able to blast away with all sorts of weapons, from hand guns, shotguns through to machine guns. I’m not sure anyone was in the Clint Eastwood category, but there was certainly The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – although I won’t say who was who! 

Before I sign off, I must say that I’m genuinely disappointed to see Wales and Ireland get knocked out. I was really hoping that the six nations would be pushing right to the end of the competition. So I suppose it’s up to Scotland, France and ourselves to take it forward. 

Finally, congratulations to the boys at Bristol. I’ve kept in good contact with them while I’ve been with the England squad and it was great to see them notch the first win yesterday.