Cohen flattered to be Springboks' top target

13 April 2012

Appropriately, Ben Cohen was sitting in a hospital waiting room when he discovered the South African rugby team had been preparing for the World Cup clash with England by pulverising a tackle bag dressed in a white jersey with his name on the back.

Cohen was one of the five Englishmen the Springboks felt would bring the best out of their players during extended tackling practice for Saturday's critical pool match in Perth.

Cohen said: "I laughed out loud when I read about it because I was sitting in a hospital at the time waiting to visit my brother after he had a foot operation. What an appropriate place to discover that!

"You have to look at it as a compliment if a side like South Africa is singling you out - that's how I take it. I did have to wonder what was going to be coming my way in Perth."

South Africa know what's coming their way on Saturday because Cohen has a remarkable try-scoring record at Test level that marks him out as a real danger man in this World Cup. Two tries against Georgia took him to a staggering 25 in just 30 Tests and half way to breaking Rory Underwood's England record of 49 tries in 85 matches.

"You look at the try-scoring record and think 'that's fantastic' but I will only really think about what I have been fortunate to achieve, in terms of tries, when my career is over," added Cohen, who is hoping to match the achievement of his uncle George, a member of the England 1966 World Cup winning team.

"When it's in your face, game by game, you can't sit and reflect on it because you will be caught out. I don't want that to happen. The last thing I want is to take a step back from my rugby when I am right in the middle of everything. You would find yourself on the replacements' bench very quickly.

"I can't take anything for granted in this England squad. Getting man of the match against France was great, but I wasn't then expecting to get picked for the Georgia game because this is a hugely talented squad, particularly in the back three positions. The reason we keep going on about taking things game by game is because it is effective - it works for us.

"By doing that we don't trip over anything or get ahead of ourselves. We can't afford to do that in a World Cup because every game is like a final. We don't want to lose momentum at any point and one thing we thrive on is the pressure we put on ourselves.

"We enjoy that situation and some people consider us arrogant but we are humble. No matter how well or bad critics and fans say we have played, it doesn't compare to the team meeting after a match, when we pick holes in everything because we are striving to be even better."

The Northampton wing is hoping to make more of an impression than in 2001 with the ill-fated Lions tour under coach Graham Henry. The New Zealander managed to alienate whole sections of the squad, with Cohen and England team-mate Iain Balshaw reduced to also-rans.

It was a period Cohen will never forget and he said: "The Lions tour wasn't enjoyable and it did ruin a lot of players who are only now - two years later - starting to hit form again. It doesn't take a million guesses to say who I mean in the England squad, and it was mismanaged.

"I cannot remember anything about the Lions tour in 2001 - it's a blur. It's like that back-to-school feeling on a Monday morning when you haven't done your homework. I can't stand thinking about it and so I won't start. That's how bad it was. Don't get me wrong, I met a lot of great people, but as a rugby experience it was shocking.

"I had to go through that and come back. That next Six Nations (2002) was my best. I couldn't go on the summer tour because of a groin injury and the rest was a huge help and, as a result, I went into the autumn internationals feeling really good.

"We have come to this World Cup with no stone left unturned and at our physical peak."

As South Africa will discover on Saturday, if Cohen & Co get their way.

Cohen flattered to be Springboks' top target

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