Lewis Ludlam: How Courtney and captaincy taught me to stay calm in the storm
Lewis Ludlam was so excited for his first Six Nations start he played the game three days early.
He spoke of an impending rugby war, warned England would be brutal and that opponents Scotland would not be given an inch to breathe.
It was good tub-thumping stuff, only come game day the flanker was knackered. He had rather shot his bolt.
England are today in Cardiff where Wales come together as a nation to roar on players who stood up for their rights by threatening to strike.
Factor in the opposition and you can bank on fire and brimstone. Even without Delilah.
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That Ludlam cut a chilled figure as he strode towards this melting pot of emotion speaks volumes for the environment Steve Borthwick is creating.
Maro Itoje and Ludlam contest a maul during England's win over Italy (Getty Images)It says even more for the personal journey made by Northampton’s captain.
“I used to think emotion is something you can bring every single day,” he said. “I now know differently.
“That Scotland week I’d go to bed thinking about playing the game, wake up and be watching old fixtures and get excited about wanting to tear in.
Ludlam on charge against Italy earlier this month (Getty Images)“I wound myself up more and more thinking how it would feel in such a historic fixture, singing the anthem in front of family and friends.
“Come the end of the week I literally hadn’t thought of anything else. I was tense and tight. It taught me we have an emotional battery and you can drain it.
“I lost sight of what was important for us as a team to win the game. All I was thinking about was turning up for a scrap.”
Ludlam and Alex Dombrandt celebrate England's fourth try against Italy a fortnight ago (Getty Images)Ludlam played his first two Tests against Wales. On his debut he saw dad Arron belting out the anthem in the crowd and both men cried.
So powerful a moment was it the 27-year old admits he went searching for that emotional surge in subsequent games.
Only when he lost his England place and went back to his club did he discover it was holding him back.
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Courtney Lawes returns to England squad after injury for first time since last summer (Getty Images)He observed Courtney Lawes and how he was able to stay chilled until a minute before kick off. How he then flicked a switch, his batteries fully charged.
Then Ludlam was made Saints skipper and had to put the team first. He learned to control the tone of his voice to get his message across, worked out how to set up the week emotionally - not for himself but everyone else.
He returned to the England set-up a wiser person.
Dombrandt evades tackle of Alex Cuthbert to score for England against Wales a year ago (Getty Images)“By taking my foot off the emotional energy in the week I turn up at games not having to force it,” he said.
“Not having to pump myself up, bash my head against a wall, hiss or foam at the mouth.
“I walk out onto the pitch, remembering when I was a young fan in the crowd and I feel emotional. I look out from the team bus, see everyone clapping, and feel the same.”
Josh Adams fields a high ball to score when Wales last played England in Principality Stadium two years ago (Getty Images)Not in Cardiff he won’t. Stories are told and retold of fans headbutting the England bus - of grandmothers giving it the middle finger.
England should expect no different today. At the end of a week in which Wales’ players found their voice, it’s the turn of their public.
Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, Grady, Hawkins, Rees-Zammit; O Williams, T Williams; Thomas, Owens (capt), Francis, Beard, Jones, Tshiunza, Tipuric, Faletau.
Replacements: Roberts, Carre, Lewis, Jenkins, Reffell, Hardy, Biggar, Tompkins.
England: Steward, Malins, Slade, Lawrence, Watson; Farrell (capt), Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Walker, Mako Vunipola, Cole, Lawes, B Curry, Mitchell, Smith, Arundell.
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