September 9, 2007

Redruth prop Peter Joyce follows his club-mates Darren Jacques and Glenn Cooper into action for the England RU Counties XV tomorrow (Monday, September 10, 18.00) against Spain in the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival in Morlaas, South West France – and for the 21-year-old the action can’t come soon enough.

Joyce was one of four players who sat out the opening win over Russia and after a 76-10 victory, the pressure is on for the team to match that benchmark on Joyce’s debut for the Counties, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Premiership.

"I’ve just been waiting for the game and it’s going to be hard, with more rest before the game," he says. "You start running through scenarios of how you want to play and you struggle getting to sleep because of that. You think about what you’re going to try to do and your mind starts racing at a 100 miles an hour when you should be going to sleep.

"We’re beginning to feel more like a team now and it’s looking good, but you just want to get into the game. Watching the first game against Russia only made it harder in a way because there is so much to attain and such a high standard to live up to. But that’s what you’ve got to do. It has to be done.

Redruth front-row colleague Jacques will be on the bench for this game and hoping that Joyce can come up with a display similar to his own, with the front-five delivering a steady flow of quality ball to a back division that was prepared to move the ball at every opportunity.

"I’ve really been enjoying it." he says. "It’s different from the way we play at club level. It’s a bit more expansive and a bit more technical and I’ve been enjoying it.

"There was a lot to take on when we first came together, but we’ve come through that and started to put things into practice. Having Peter and Glenn about has definitely made things easier for me.

"It’s a nice step up from the rugby we play at home and we’re aspiring to be better. This is a lot quicker and it’s what we want to achieve club-wise."

One blemish on the otherwise rosy picture emerged at training this morning when fly-half Alastair Simmie had to withdrew after damaging his thigh while practicing his place-kicking.

The absence of the Durham University student means that Cinderford’s Tristan Roberts, who had an exceptional game in the win over Russia, will again wear the No 10 shirt.

He showed maturity, composure, imagination and a wide range of skills in orchestrating the romp against Russia and proved the perfect lynch-pin for the enterprising and ambitious style of play that the Counties management and coaches are determined will be their trademark.

England Counties XV (v Spain, Monday, September 10, 2007, 18,00 in Morlaas): Jack Smales (Tynedale & Northumberland); Nick Royle (Fylde & Lancashire), Kyle Dench (Otley & Yorkshire), Paul Mooney (Otley & Northumberland), Tom Jarvis (Stourbridge & Gloucestershire); Tristan Roberts (Cinderford & Kent), James Doherty (Wharfedale & Yorkshire); Chris Rowland (Stourbridge & Somerset), Dean Bick (Blackheath & North Midlands), Peter Joyce (Redruth & Cornwall), Matt Owen (Manchester & Cheshire), Thomas Bason (Blackheath & Kent), James Kellard (Blackheath & Kent), Dan Cooper (Durham University & Durham), David Archer (Henley & Hertfordshire).

Replacements: Glenn Cooper (Redruth & Somerset), Darren Jacques (Redruth & Cornwall), Richard Snowball (Otley & Yorkshire), David Allen (Blackheath & Kent), Craig Aikman (Halifax & Lancashire), Frankie Neale (Blackheath & Kent), Chris Malherbe (Wharfedale & Yorkshire)