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For a few days only I am going to become an Ireland fan. I have dug out any green clothing I can find and even tried out my Irish accent, although I don’t think I will be using that in public.

The reason is that my next trip is to Paris this week for the Ireland/France game. The Irish were really poor against Georgia and I think it was their traditional luck which helped them avoid the greatest ever World Cup shock.

I will be in Paris with a group of VU rugby fans. Joining us at the game will be a couple of Irish legends. The first is Mike Gibson – who toured five times with the Lions and is one of the few people over here who knows how to beat the Kiwis having been a key member of the victorious 1971 Lions team. The other former Irish star joining me in Paris is Paul Wallace another fantastic Lions player who was a key to the Lions triumph in 1997 and a fellow member of the front row union.

France will be feeling better after their clinical performance against Namibia, but both France and Ireland are teams under pressure. I predict that there could be a number of mistakes in the game caused by that tension which will decide the game.

After the Ireland/France match I am travelling to Nantes for the England game, and going there purely as a fan. I suppose it can’t be avoided so we’d better talk on the blog about England.

There is no getting away from the fact that they were just terrible last week. Even though Samoa have suffered their own defeat to Tonga they must really believe they can beat our boys. England are now in a knock-out situation there is no more room for errors.

England will be lifted with the return of Olly and Jonny and I really hope this will get our back line moving – something that just has not happened so far. I am surprised that Lawrence is still not involved having not even made the bench. I would certainly want him as an option in this sort of situation. The back row is certainly up to taking on the physical power of the Samoa team but I think Lawrence would have brought something extra.

 Josh will be great at full back. He is an experienced player and a cool head. It is a shame for Ronnie that he is not starting as hooker but I am sure he will come on from the bench. The lineout did not really function on Friday but it was the same when Chuter came on to replace Ronnie. The third hooker – Lee Mears – will be disappointed that he is still not included. I think the pace he could bring would be useful.

Everyone was down after the defeat on Friday but we still managed to have a great time in Paris. I just wanted to go back on some of the comments Andy Robinson, Phil De Glanville, Scott Hastings and Matt Perry made whilst we were over for the England/South Africa game.

Robbo said that a South Africa win against England would really lift Samoa for the game coming up this weekend. I agree with that, but after Samoa lost to Tonga I think they will be feeling just as disappointed. It is now down to which team reacts in the best way to their defeats.

Matt Perry felt that a major problem for England had been the pace they were playing at. With Gomarsall now in at scrum half from the start England might well have quicker ball and ultimately more pace.

Phil felt that on Friday we would miss Olly Barkley as much as anyone and I think he was right. Now that Olly is back and alongside Wilkinson I think that we will see a different England. He still believes in Corry’s captaincy and he will have to lead from the front to see us through on Saturday.

So come on Ireland and come on England. Let’s all have a bit of the luck of the Irish this weekend and I hope my green pullover still fits me.

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!!