Extraordinary Joe Launchbury looking like a Martin Johnson replica

So the notion that he might be daunted, like some others, by these apparent rugby super humans is flawed on a number of levels.

“I know it’s not the same, but I have played against the Junior All Blacks, seen the haka and the black shirt and had respect for it as I’ve grown up,” he said. “We went very close to them in that 2011 Junior World Cup final, should have won, and it still bugs me that we didn’t. They are human and make mistakes like other human beings.

“This New Zealand team are rightly No1 in the world, but to be daunted by that would be entirely the wrong attitude. I truly believe that if we get everything we need and want to do right, we stand ourselves in great stead.”

By the end of last season with Wasps, Launchbury had looked tired out. He came to this season recovering from a shoulder injury, so though deprived of a proper pre-season, all the staleness enveloping him last May had been dissipated by the time he got going again.

Keeping Geoff Parling, an illustrious Lion, out of the XV is an achievement in itself.

“The England coaches had a word with me about various things in my game, but specifically I had only just signalled that I regarded second row as my position and that I no longer saw myself as playing in the back row,” said Launchbury.

“I really enjoyed playing with Geoff last season. He was the one who instituted me into international rugby. Courtney Lawes is a different player. What you see is big hits and big carries, but he is calm and composed in calling the lineouts as well. Geoff went to Australia with the Lions and had a fine tour.

“Dave Attwood and also Courtney have been in great form at the start of our season, and I’d like to think I’ve had quite a bit of form that I’ve brought here.

“The pressure is on in second-row selection. the competition is fierce, with a lot of guys playing well.

“But that’s the challenge of being an international player and it couldn’t be any other way.”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24859463

Extraordinary Joe Launchbury looking like a Martin Johnson replica