INTERVIEW: Mike Tindall hopeful for England at #RWC2015

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  • Powering on: Tindall.

    Consistency is the most underrated commodity in sport, but it is one of the most valuable. Mike Tindall built a fine rugby union career on this virtue, providing the bed rock of centre pairings with England, Bath and Gloucester prior to his 2014 retirement.

    The Yorkshireman’s boxer’s nose tells the tale of how he played the game, never fearing any contact or opposing number. To concentrate solely on his physical attributes discredits him, he marked his international debut with a try against Ireland at Twickenham in the 2000 Six Nations.

    Yet this did not stop barbs being sent his way, regularly comparing him unfavourably to preceeding midfield entertainers such as Jeremy Guscott and Will Carling. Through hard work and unheralded skill, he was chosen as a key player in the Red Rose side which swept to the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

    With this outstanding achievement in mind, the 36-year-old is well placed to discuss the autumn running of the sport’s most-prestigious tournament in his homeland.

    Stuart Lancaster’s hosts built up momentum during an incredible 2015 Six Nations, decided in Ireland’s favour on a high-scoring final day. Back-line showmen George Ford and Jonathan Joseph have made timely breakthroughs, while a dominant pack led by skiper Chris Robshaw is emerging.

    “I am really happy with where England are at,” Tindall told Sport360. “They are in a great place. I think they have two forward packs who could take on any pack in the world.

    “They are just settling into a backline which is an exciting one, going forward in the right direction. They have to address a few things. But if there was anyone you wanted to be on board with at the moment, I think England are one of the best teams in terms of youth, looking forward and going in the right direction.

    “They could surprise New Zealand, who are still the team to beat. They are in a good situation.”

    Tindall has eased into post-playing life, a contributor to British radio station talkSPORT and a regular presence on the horseracing scene thanks to his high-profile marriage to Zara Phillips – the second-eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

    His media work ensures he remains a keen watcher of rugby. This position has seen him witness England’s ever-increasing strength in the centres, an area considered a real weakness prior to the recent Six Nations.

    In tandem with Northampton’s Luther Burrell, Bath flyer Joseph emerged in the tournament as he scored three often-mesmeric tries.

    Disciplinary issues have sidelined Leicester tyro Manu Tuilagi, but the improvement of Bath’s rugby league-convert Kyle Eastmond, continued reliability of Saracen’s Brad Barritt and physicality of Gloucester’s Billy Twelvetrees has eased any of Tindall’s concerns.

    He said: “It is funny, as people used to say we have no options in the midfield. Suddenly, it’s ‘look at how many options we have’.

    “Luther Burrell has done a fantastic job when he has been there and Kyle Eastmond has had a great season. Finally, he has settled fully into rugby union and he gets it – he is flourishing at Bath with the way they play.

    “Then there is JJ [Jonathan Joseph]. He fits in there and is just doing what he knows he can do, exploding onto the scene after finally getting his chance. If you put me on the spot and I had to pick two people, I would go for the Bath pairing of Eastmond and Joseph.”

    Tindall was graced by timing his international career with a golden spell for England, gaining 75 caps from 2000 until misbehaviour at the 2011 World Cup brought his involvement to an unseemly ending.

    Under head coach Sir Clive Woodward, they usurped the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights as the dominant force in the global game during the early 2000s.

    This reached its zenith with the 2003 World Cup triumph, with Tindall providing the physical force alongside the elegant Will Greenwood. This pairing took the Red Rose all the way to the final, Tindall watching on from the bench after his 79th-minute exit as Jonny Wilkinson famously slotted over the winning penalty in extra time against hosts Australia.

    Success at club level was much rarer. He was on the outskirts of the Bath side which closed a glorious chapter with the 1997/98 Heinken Cup, subsequently establishing himself when the good times were over.

    His switch to Gloucester in 2005 failed to bring much silverware, a nine-year attachment prior to retirement seeing just the 2005/06 European Challenge Cup and 2010/11 Anglo-Welsh Cup gained.

    “World Cups are standout moments in your career,” he said. “But if you spoke to most rugby players, I am sure they would say your club career is the thing you cherish most.

    “That is your day in, day out – your bread and butter. It is where most of your mates are. I was very lucky internationally to win a lot of things. But I didn’t win many things with my club and that is one of the things I will always regret.

    “I would loved to have won things with the guys who I played day in, day out with. You cherish those special club memories. We won the European Challenge Cup in 2006, and it is still one of my best memories.”

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