Tuesday 1 September 2015 13:30, UK
Sky Sports' Stuart Barnes reveals his rugby-themed to-do list as we inch towards the World Cup kicking off...
World Cup fever is awash in Chez Barnes. Life is busy; it is a life of lists, and will be so until November.
You are welcome to read the Barnes list of 10 rugby-related essentials that will be scrawled in my office. Some will get done, a few will inevitably not.
1. Head to Fiji as fast as possible if you are suffering from a fractured fibula, as was the case with the All Black winger Waisake Naholo. After making his debut against Argentina, here is what Steve Hansen had to say: "He will be out for three months which means he is going to miss the World Cup, which is pretty disappointing for him and us."
The All Blacks medical team must be hiding their embarrassment that he is miraculously fit, ready and selected for the tour. The wonder winger headed home to Fiji for some traditional treatment and with the help of God, according to Naholo, he made this amazing recovery.
Wellington orthopaedic surgeon, Nigel Willis, is sceptical, but don't let that stop you booking a trip to Fiji on the medical insurance to sort out your broken legs.
2. Get to see Fiji play on Sunday. Their match with Canada at The Stoop (2.30pm) might not be the biggest draw in south-west London this weekend but there are tickets available, which should prove an irresistible allure for English and Irish fans. England's first match is against Fiji, Ireland's is Canada. Take your autograph book, you might just bump into Joe Schmidt and Stuart Lancaster sharing their thoughts.
Fiji play it fast and fabulous, Canada hard. Even if it wasn't pre-World Cup it would be a treat not to be avoided. This is a Fijian squad that left out one of the best wingers in Europe for the last few years in Napolioni Nalaga, once of Clermont, now of Lyon. I'll see you there.
3. It goes without saying that if you don't have a ticket for England versus Ireland, you'll be readying yourself for an afternoon with us on Sky Sports. Both teams are coming off the back of defeats. England were away but it was a near full-strength team. Ireland were at home, but I reckon shorn of eight starters.
Defeat will not destroy either team's chances but it will damage them. England have to turn Twickenham into a fortress and Ireland can't afford to lose their winning ways right now. It could also be a precursor to a World Cup semi-final, although that is not a prediction - crystal ball smashed last week.
4. Spare a thought for the Springboks. Politics is rearing its ugly head. Selecting eight black players in their World Cup party of 31 was not good enough for the political party ANA - the Agency for New Agenda. In a country once ruled by the abhorrent apartheid system, it is not as easy or sensible to start arguing the toss about political correctness; scars are deep.
But what I do know is that, whatever issues are hindering the development - or not - of black players at lower levels, this is NOT a Springbok squad selected on colour. Heyneke Meyer has been as good as his word, his decisions were colour blind.
5. Spare any remaining thoughts you may have left after your sympathetic musing on the plight of the Springboks for Uruguay. In a pool including Fiji, Wales, England and Australia, the South Americans warmed up by losing 40-0 - to Japan.
6. If you are religiously inclined, say a prayer for the Ospreys openside Justin Tipuric. He was always a certainty for Wales' World Cup squad but his brilliance in the tight as well as loose marks him as someone deserving of a starter's position. The problem is that the man in possession of that No 7 shirt happens to be Captain Sam.
England will hope Wales stick with their tried and trusted back row of Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Lydiate and not the twinning of Tipuric and Warburton last seen against England in the 30-3 Grand Slam defeat... this should have started, 'If you are Welsh and religiously inclined...'
7. To the rest of the world; PANIC. New Zealand have left Cory Jane, Israel Dagg and Charles Piatau at home. These back three men would walk into the vast majority of World Cup squads. What price, were they English, of them wearing 11, 14 and 15?
8. After Twickenham, keep an eye on Scotland's game with France. After morale-boosting wins for the pair of them in recent weeks we might discover which, if either, of the teams is the imposter. Neither team are renowned for their consistency but a Scottish win would be significant, while a win away from Paris would cement the good impressions the French pack made against England twice in August.
9. Raise a toast if you happen to find yourself with a glass in hand - you have plenty of time, folks - to Ryan Jones. The 75-times capped former Welsh captain has retired after a career highlighted with three Grand Slams and four Six Nations titles; my personal memory of Jones was 2005 when he arrived late to join the sinking Woodward Lions tour of New Zealand.
On his first game, he was brilliant against Otago. He should have walked straight into the tired and English-dominated test team. The writing was on the wall when he was omitted. I am not sure if I ever saw Ryan play quite as well.
10. Away from the internationals, onto the club list. Leicester. Aaron Mauger has arrived and Freddie Burns, an inconsistent but talented attacking 10 is purring. Players normally do when a new coach turns up but I wonder, will Mauger do for this generation of Tigers what fellow Antipodes traveller, Pat Howard, did in the last decade? It will be great to see the Tigers attack that gain line again...
Watch England v Ireland on Sky Sports 1 from 2pm on Saturday
