World Cup winner backs Genge's us-against-the-world stance as it worked for him
World Cup winner Mark Regan has backed Ellis Genge's us-against-the-world stance - as it is mirrors the one he adopted to get to the 2007 final.
Steve Borthwick and team have circled the wagons ahead of Saturday’s semi-final against holders South Africa at Stade de France with Genge insisting "everyone" wants them to lose.
It is a spiky move which has not won universal approval with one national newspaper calling on them to ditch the siege mentality act and England great Will Greenwood saying there is a "very fine line" between that approach and "alienating your own fans".
Regan, the England hooker who lifted the trophy in 2003 and came within 80 minutes of doing so again four years later, takes a different view.
“I think a big part of what Ellis says is correct,” he said of his fellow Bristolian. “All the other countries want to see England lose for sure. Let’s be honest, we’re not a very well loved country when it comes to sport, are we?
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“The English mentality against adversity is to come out fighting, give a good account of yourself.
Ellis Genge in quarter-final action against Fiji (SEBASTIEN NOGIER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)“I can remember my mother, my grandfather too, would always say the English are strong, we’re a very resilient country. It’s us against the world.”
England’s rugby team needed that backbone when they were hammered 36-0 by South Africa in the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup. The tournament holders humiliated, as never before.
“Did we build a siege mentality, absolutely right we did,” said Regan. “Backs against the wall, what do you do? Fight or flight isn’t it. You come out of that cage fighting.
Regan (2nd right) with fellow 2003 World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson, Richard Hill and Kyran Bracken (Press Association)“We knew what was being said, and yeah it did feel like us against the world, but we took strength from one another and won our next couple of games.
“Then we went to Marseille and shocked the world, didn’t we, in that quarter-final against Australia.”
Regan’s take on what happened next is interesting, given this England side are following the same Marseille-Paris route map towards the prize.
Regan: “That quarter-final transformed our whole thought process about the tournament” (Getty Images)“That quarter-final transformed our whole thought process about the tournament,” he said. “We went in with nobody giving us a chance and came away with enough belief to beat France in Paris a week later.
“I remember the feeling, that inner strength and will to succeed we took from being away from home knowing we had each other’s backs. You could see it in the boys' eyes.
“Through the tough times, the 36-0 and the fall-out from that, we became battle hardened. Sure there was a bit of siege mentality, but it paid off.”
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Jamie George (above) and Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly (below) celebrate last weekend's quarter-final win over Fiji in Marseille (Getty Images)
(PA Wire)Regan says the memories of 16 years ago came flooding back when the camera panned around Stade Velodrome on Sunday and picked out “tears of joy” in England supporters.
“Same ground, same stage of the tournament, wonderful,” he said. “Whatever happens Saturday we’re there to the end now, living the dream.”
Beat the Springboks and England are into their fourth final in 20 years, lose and they get to play for the bronze medal on Friday week against the loser of New Zealand and Argentina.
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