Scrums, rucks and mauls are the trademarks of every professional prop; however, this month World Cup winner Phil Vickery is swapping the gum shield and shoulder pads for an apron and knife as he helps support Team GB in a butchery Test match.
England, Australia and New Zealand will continue their rivalry in the kitchen, rather than on the field, in the Tri-Nations Butchers’ Challenge on July 10 where Phil, as an ambassador for English Beef and Lamb, will give advice to the English team.
Phil joined the six-strong team of top butchers from around the country for a training session in the Midlands this week and gave them some top tips on dealing with the Kiwis and the Aussies.
The ‘Cornish Rock’, who won Celebrity Masterchef in 2011, is no stranger from the kitchen or competing against the southern hemisphere, having recorded a number of crucial Test victories over Australia and New Zealand.
Aside from that fateful night in 2003 against Australia, one of Phil’s England side’s greatest victories was over New Zealand, away from home, earlier that same year.
The two countries first met on the field in 1905 and since then England have only won twice on All Black soil, with the most recent being a perilously close 13-15 victory in Wellington.
With the current England side still licking their wounds after a disappointing 3-0 whitewash in the land of the silver fern, Talking Rugby Union’s Austin Halewood spoke to the ‘Raging Bull’ about the tour itself and how badly the three losses will effect England’s moral ahead of next year’s World Cup.
It was short periods in each of the three games that let Chris Robshaw’s side down, as they feel to a 20-15 defeat in Auckland, after leading the World Champions for most of the game; followed by a 28-27 defeat in Dunedin and finally a 36-13 drubbing last weekend in Hamilton.
However, as mentioned, it was only parts of each game where England let themselves down, with a number of positives still emerging from the difficult tour.
“I think the England team as a whole is very positive,” Phil began, “I think what Stuart has done for the team has been a real breath of fresh air and one thing that I think the guys have now done is that they have got the entire nation behind them.
“From the way they have spoken, the way they have conducted themselves and ultimately, from the way they have shown what they can do on a rugby field.
“Though, at the same time, we mustn’t get away from the fact that we have just lost a Test series to the All blacks 3-0. But I’m really excited about this England team and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they progress.”
Interestingly, though, Phil explained how one problem in the future for Stuart Lancaster and his side is not necessarily a lack of skills or players, as they have all of that, but rather there is just too much choice.
“I think it’s possible for England to bridge the gap between them and the All Blacks, but the reason they have been the best team in the world for many years is their consistency. They have performed at a better level than anyone else in the world for a longer period of time.
“The one thing that gives me real hope for this England team, though, is that they have shown they can really compete under that pressure and dominate the All Blacks in places.
“Now the issue is how can they keep that pressure and intensity going for a longer period of time.
“However, I think Stuart Lancaster’s biggest problem at the moment is that he’s got too many options.”
Throughout the series in New Zealand it was evident that England tried to employ a number of different tactics and game plans, with some working a great deal better than others.
“They have proven they can play a bit, they have proven they can scrummage, they have proven they can drive from a lineout and they have proven they have got a reasonably good kicking game, but then sometimes all of these options can actually be a bit of a hindrance.
“One of the things that really helped us achieve in our great England team was that we stuck to having a good forward pack, somebody who can kick a rugby ball with the accuracy of a sniper rifle and a little bit of sparkle as well.
“We played very much to our strengths and yes we were a rounded team but, you know, we were predominantly a forward pack with a number 10 who could drive that team and who had enough experience to win games.
“For me it is solidifying a game-plan, consistency and doing the basics well that England need to improve on going into the World Cup next year.”
To listen the full interview with Phil and hear his thoughts on the future of the England front row, this season’s changes in scrum laws and what it felt like the moment Jonny Wilkinson kicked the drop-goal that sent English rugby into the history books, then click on the player above.
Phil Vickery was speaking on behalf of English Beef and Lamb and for any more information on the Tri-Nations Butchers Challenge, visit www.eblex.org.uk
