Hertfordshire RFU captain and flanker David Archer will make his debut for the England Counties XV against Spain in Morlaas, South West France, in the second game of the FIRA/AER International Festival of Rugby.
The Henley player was one of four players in the 26-man squad that sat out the opening 76-10 win over Russia in Fleurance last night (September 6), but in line with the agreed selection process, he will start against Spain and win the international cap that persuaded him to forgo a four-figure sum in wages to make the trip.
And even before he runs out against Spain, there are no regrets about the decision to make himself available for the three-match, 12-day visit.
He is quick to express his thanks to his colleagues at Carter Hatch Primary School in Enfield, whose support enabled him to have time off and to Gwyn Williams, the Hertfordshire Chairman, who nominated him for the Counties squad and gave him the opportunity to experience international rugby for the first time.
“I was extremely excited about being selected,” he says: “I was asked whether I would be available for the Russia trip earlier this year, but didn’t make the final cut, so to be involved now is a big thrill, as I know it is for Henley club-mate Matt Payne, who is also here for the first time.
“It has probably cost me around £1,000, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I spoke to team-mate Liam Wordley about it and he said the look on his father’s face when he came home with an England shirt was something you can’t beat. Obviously the pride of playing for your country and your family takes the experience to a new level.”
And has the reality lived up to expectations?
“Definitely,” he says: “From the moment you arrive at the team hotel and are presented with your England Counties kit to starting training twice a day – it’s just a different approach to training Tuesday and Thursday nights.
“We have ice baths at Henley as part of the recuperation process, but here we are weighed every morning to see that we are hydrating and eating properly. That’s quite an interesting process. I’ve always wanted to see what the professional rugby lifestyle was like and while there is quite a bit of waiting around to make sure that food is properly digested and also the travel time, it's a very professional environment and you settle into it.
“The club cliques that are inevitable at the start when players don’t know each other quickly give way to bonding within the group and a good spirit has quickly developed. I know I’ll have some lasting friendships when it’s over and I’m already looking forward to meeting the lads again when we play them in the league.”
And the problems of welding a team together in a short time?
“Obviously rugby is a game for 15 men and you can only play well when the 15 play together as a team, with all 15 involved,” he says: “What the coaches have tried to instil in us is the confidence to trust our experience as players and play heads-up rugby and also trust in each other and believe that we’ll have support inside and outside whenever we have the ball.
“There’s also the interaction with some very good players and that provides and added dimension to the learning process and also encourages you to think outside the box.”
Archer and his team-mates are also facing the added challenge of trying to play a much more expansive game than is generally found in the often stodgy club game where fear of failure conspires against adventure.
“We’re being encouraged to play a very idealistic style of game. It’s a different approach, but it also depends on the people you are playing with and in this team we have backs who can score from their own line and break tackles.”
The challenge facing Archer on Monday against Spain was intensified by the romp against Russia, which completely went according to the manager’s vision of what should be possible in the Counties XV environment.
Twelve tries, some stunning handling and support play and a clear belief in the time-honoured ethos of making the ball do the work set the benchmark for the programme.
The Hertfordshire man now knows that the Counties’ philosophy is not simply a pipe dream, but rather an achievable goal for teams who have the bottle to set their sights high.
Which is exactly why he showed so much commitment in making the trip in the first place!
