England players are embracing a self-imposed cake ban during their World Cup training camp, with Lewis Ludlam saying the sacrifice will pay off at the tournament in France. Steve Borthwick’s squad recently returned from a gruelling week of heat training in 40C (104F) temperatures in Verona and are continuing to fine-tune their preparations at their traditional Bagshot base.
Borthwick will cut his 39-man group to 33 on 7 August, two days after England’s first warmup match, against Wales.
While Eddie Jones used to run a notoriously tight ship, Ludlam revealed that under Borthwick it is the players keeping each other on the straight and narrow. “The regime has changed in that it is not as much forced upon you but you have got the trust to do everything the right way so we are in the best position to go and put ourselves in the best spot come this World Cup,” said Ludlam, who is bidding to reach his second World Cup having been a surprise uncapped member of the 2019 squad.
“There is a general feeling among the squad we have got to be on the money and making sure we are making decisions so we are better rugby players the next week and the next month. It is a good group of lads so we keep each other in check.
“There might be a birthday cake here and there but the lads are pretty understanding of what is ahead of us. In the grand scheme of things it is a short time in our career when we can be really on it to give ourselves the chance of creating some really special memories.”
