Rugby Comment: It doesn’t get better than playing at Wembley
YOU always want to play in front of big crowds and there is nowhere better than Wembley Stadium.
I’ve played in all nine of Saracens previous visits there and loved it. I can’t wait to go back for our Heineken Cup tie on Friday.
As an English guy it’s a dream to go to Wembley and be involved and we’re there just a few days after a massive game for the England football team.
While the Wembley experience means we will be playing in front of more supporters than we are used to at Allianz Park we cannot change how we prepare.
Toulouse have a top team, full of international players and they made a winning start to their Heineken Cup campaign, as we did, last Friday.
But we have confidence in ourselves. We’re a good side and back ourselves against anyone.
You have got to win the battle up front against the French teams. They have a big pack of forwards and it will be a great test for our defence. There can’t be any let up for 80 minutes.
They have world class individuals capable of striking from anywhere at any time. But one of our main strengths is the way we work together so well.
It’s exciting. Heineken Cup rugby is what we want to be playing. It’s the premier club competition in the world and we’re lucky to be playing in such a great tournament with plenty of great tests, as we found out against Connacht in our 23-17 win on Friday.
We played well but we let them into the game in the second half. They had the crowd behind them and put us under a lot of pressure and we had to really defend well.
MOTIVATION
Sarries have never won the Heineken Cup, but this group of guys have great quality throughout.
We got to the semi-finals last year and lost to Toulon in a game we could have won, but that gives us added motivation this year and pushes everyone on.
We know how hard the tournament is to win and how hard it is just to get out of the pool. But if we can do that and play good rugby along the way then you’ve always got a chance.
Come and watch Saracens play at Wembley on Friday 18 October in the “Battle of the Giants” against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup. Kick-off 7pm. To book tickets call 0844 847 2482 or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk