The players of the England team have voluntarily decided to avoid eating cakes while they are in their Rugby World Cup training camp. Lewis Ludlam believes that this sacrifice will prove beneficial during the tournament in France. After enduring a challenging week of heat training in Verona with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F), Steve Borthwick’s squad has returned to their usual Bagshot base to further refine their preparations.
Before the Rugby World Cup tournament, Borthwick plans to reduce the current 39-man squad to 33 members by August 7th, just two days after England‘s first warm-up match against Wales.
While Eddie Jones used to run a notoriously tight ship, Ludlam revealed that under Borthwick it is the players keeping each other on the straight and narrow. “The regime has changed in that it is not as much forced upon you but you have got the trust to do everything the right way so we are in the best position to go and put ourselves in the best spot come this World Cup,” said Ludlam, who is bidding to reach his second World Cup having been a surprise uncapped member of the 2019 squad.
“There is a general feeling among the squad we have got to be on the money and making sure we are making decisions so we are better rugby players the next week and the next month. It is a good group of lads so we keep each other in check.
“There might be a birthday cake here and there but the lads are pretty understanding of what is ahead of us. In the grand scheme of things it is a short time in our career when we can be really on it to give ourselves the chance of creating some really special memories.”