I’m not arrogant...I just strongly believe I’ll deliver for England
WHEN I met Stuart Lancaster at 9am on Thursday, to find out if I was in the World Cup squad, I told him that I hadn’t slept much. I’d even had a dream about not being picked.
It had been a restless night. I was tossing and turning a lot. I knew the decision had been made, so I knew that, either way, in the morning I was going to find out my destiny.
I was sharing a room with Ben Morgan and we were in the same boat. We both woke up at about six in the morning and the first thing I said to him was: ‘Mate, I slept pretty poorly.’ He said: ‘Me too.’
I said: ‘I dreamt about selection’ and he said: ‘Me too!’
We had both dreamt about not getting in, but both of our dreams went off in different directions. It was quite funny. I got up quite early because I couldn’t sleep, so I wrote an email to my fiancee Phoebe’s dad, Mitch, in Australia. I’d got a lovely email from him, so I got back to him and a few other people, then I went down for a bit of physio, then it was time for the big meeting.
Thankfully, it didn’t go how I’d dreamed it! Stuart told me I was in and in a way it was a bit of a relief, but I was also absolutely thrilled and proud. I felt excited like a little kid again! We had a good handshake and I tried to keep it cool, but your emotions show quite obviously at a time like that. It was a nice moment to share with Stuart. Final squad selection was a tough situation for him but it is one of those jobs that has to be done and I thought he dealt with it really well. He’s a very straight-up guy, he was very open and honest the whole way through the process and I had a lot of respect for him for that. Now I want to repay him by doing a good job.
Before finding out about selection, I felt at peace because I believed that I’d done my best. I was very comfortable within my skin — I knew that every opportunity I’d had, I had put my hand up. I feel like I’ve grown immensely in union and I’m ready to play. I was comfortable with what I had done; I felt like I’d given it my best shot.
Phoebe was the first person I told, but everyone’s reaction has been amazing — all my family and friends are very happy and proud of me. The support I have had has been absolutely overwhelming.
On the same day, my mum got a job as head of the language department at Scots College, a top school out in Australia — so it was a great day for the family.
Since getting home for the weekend, I’ve had time to reflect on what I’ve done since coming into union and I’m really pleased with how it has gone. I’ve got a lot of people to thank for that. The list is massive. At Bath, Mike Ford, Toby Booth, Neal Hatley and Darren Edwards have been amazing for my development. All my team-mates have been great too; guys like Kyle Eastmond, George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Francois Louw. They are amazing players and have been willing to help p me out. In the England d environment, I havee related a lot to Andy y Farrell, I’ve also had d Stuart and the other r coaches backing me and d the players have beenn wonderful too.
But I don’t get specialal treatment — no-one does es — I go and get what I need, which is how it was as in rugby league.
I am proud of what I’ve achievedhi d so far, but the job is not finished yet. I’m not arrogant but I’ve got strong belief in myself and I know what I can offer. I believe I am ready to add something and help this England team. I’ve made the 31 but I want to go on from that now. I don’t want to just make up the numbers at the World Cup. Whether you are selected or not,not you have to be a professional, to make sure the team perform as well as possible and credit should go to all the lads who have been in camp. But I feel comfortable and I believe that if I get a chance to play, I can do the job.
I enjoy every second of training and I’ve got a smile on my face the whole time. But I’m not in the squad on my personality.
The coaches certainly believe in me and so do I. I’m ready to play and make a difference on the field.
Sam Burgess is a Canterbury ambassador for rugby & training products. Sam is the face of the new ‘Since 1904’ fashion range. For more information visit www.canterbury.com
I hadn’t slept. I’d even had a dream that I wasn’t picked