{"id":293749,"date":"2023-10-20T17:08:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T17:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=293749"},"modified":"2023-10-20T17:08:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T17:08:58","slug":"england-ready-to-find-their-bark-at-rugby-world-cup-as-locals-carry-fluffy-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-league\/england-ready-to-find-their-bark-at-rugby-world-cup-as-locals-carry-fluffy-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"England ready to find their bark at Rugby World Cup as locals carry fluffy dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rugby World Cup: Semi-final previews<\/h3>\n

The fashion in Paris is to carry small, fluffy dogs around rather in the manner of a handbag that pants when it is too warm. There does not seem to be a great deal of point to the exercise, or lack of it, but the French capital always has lived by its own rules. For the underdogs of England, their first Parisian assignment six weeks into this Rugby World Cup arrives tomorrow night. This is the time and place to find their bark.<\/p>\n

It is a long time since an England versus South Africa clash has been teed up as so one-sided and at a tournament where Steve Borthwick\u2019s side are the only unbeaten side left to boot. If they believed the bookies it would hardly be worth their while turning up at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n

But past experience counts for something and there are plenty in their ranks who know South Africa are beatable because they have savoured the feeling of beating the Boks themselves. Tom Curry who has done so four times already in his career, three times with England and once with the Lions.<\/p>\n

“I understand what it takes and it’s going to be a lot so I can’t wait to go after it this weekend,” said Curry. “We are here, having a great time and we can’t wait to get stuck in tomorrow. Playing against sides like that is exciting. You know what you need to do, it is about doing it and getting the job done on Saturday.<\/p>\n

“For me there’s no better place you’d rather be than in a semi-final against South Africa. If that’s not enough to get you up for a game then I don’t know what will.”<\/p>\n

JUST IN: <\/strong> Maro Itoje demands England ‘seize the moment’ in Rugby World Cup rallying cry<\/strong><\/p>\n

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For Curry, it has been a rollercoaster tournament having been red-carded against Argentina for a head-on-head contact with Juan Cruz Mallia in the opening game and banned for two matches.<\/p>\n

“It has been different to say the least,” said Curry. “Obviously, I’d like to have played a few more minutes, who wouldn’t? He went up, I tried to tackle him, mistimed it and we clashed heads. You usually don\u2019t get up from a tackle with your head bleeding and think: \u2018That\u2019s the one\u2019, do you? There was obviously a point where I thought: \u2018This could be touch and go\u2019.<\/p>\n

“But a ban is not like an injury that holds you back. Apart from 80 minutes on a Saturday you\u2019re able to rip in during training. That helped me a lot.”<\/p>\n