Rugby World Cup: Wallabies enforcer Scott Fardy says team is out to win Cup

FORGET escaping from the “group of death,” Wallabies enforcer Scott Fardy has declared they are heading to England to claim the Rugby World Cup.

FORGET escaping from the “group of death”, Wallabies enforcer Scott Fardy has declared they are heading to England to win all seven games necessary to claim the Word Cup.

Much has been made of Australia’s difficult task, having been pooled together with hosts England and Wales, both who have traditionally held stronger set-pieces and will have the benefit of northern hemisphere advantage.

But Fardy, one of Australia’s best performers this year and one of the few guaranteed starters in the team, says his focus reaches far beyond the group stage and plans to hold aloft the William Webb Ellis trophy on October 31.

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“To win the World Cup, we’ve got to beat all sides, whether we do that early or do that later, it’s part of the challenge,” Fardy said.

“We’re there to win it.

“People think it’s about getting through to the next round but we’re there to win seven games.

“We’ve got to beat these kind of teams to win it. If we can’t beat them then we’re not good enough to win it anyway.”

Fardy says his prominent displays on the field have come a change in the Wallabies’ game plan.

“My role has changed a lot to what I’ve done in the past,” Fardy said.

“I’ve got more clarity than I have had in the past. Some people say I play better but we run the ball quite a bit more than we have done and there are moments in the game where the ball comes into your hands when at other times it didn’t.”

Fardy, 31, only made his Test debut two years ago, having left Australia for Japanese rugby before returning to play for the Brumbies in 2012.

He now stands on the verge of playing in his first World Cups when many forwards his age have passed their prime.

“It’s something I thought I’d never do up until a few years ago - I never thought I’d play for Australia,” he said.

“To do both, I cherish it.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies enforcer Scott Fardy says team is out to win Cup