RUGBY UNION-WORLD/AUSTRALIANS Australia rugby squad welcomed in Bath

Record ID: 141124

  • Title: RUGBY UNION-WORLD/AUSTRALIANS Australia rugby squad welcomed in Bath
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS BEING HANDED THEIR CAPS, THEN GREETING FORMER ENGLAND STARS FRAN COTTON AND BILL BEAUMONT (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN MOORE, AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TELLING AUDIENCE: "I'ld also like to thank the choir up the back. What a terrific job you guys did. Much better than Take That!" VARIOUS OF AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS AT THE ROMAN BATHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA WING ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER, ASKED IF THE WORLD CUP BEING ABOUT TO START NOW FEELS REAL, SAYING: "With the welcoming ceremony earlier before, it's certainly become a lot more real, so the boys are pretty excited." AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS POSING FOR CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASHLEY-COOPER, ASKED HIS OPINION ON BATH, SAYING: "Really good. We've had a chance to have a really good feel of the University of Bath where we are training. The facilities are great and the deck we are training on is world class. So the boys are pretty happy. We've had a good training run this morning, so we are well under way." AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS POSING FOR CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL CHEIKA, AUSTRALIA HEAD COACH, SAYING OF THE WELCOMING CEREMONY: "It was very good actually. I didn't quite realise with some singing and some entertainment and some entertainment which was nice. The people of the city should enjoy the event and be a part of it. I know for Australia it's probably a little bit difficult, because we are in England's group, for the locals to support us." AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS POSING FOR CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHEIKA, ASKED WHAT THE FOCUS WILL BE ON FOR THE PLAYERS NOW THEY ARE IN ENGLAND, SAYING: "Just getting the right balance between work and preparation and staying pretty relaxed. We've been relaxed about things all the way through and just stay like that. Enjoy the tournament as it comes upon us and just get stuck in when the time comes." AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS POSING FOR CAMERAS
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA19HX067LGL2SK7U7TI4O6519S
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Australia's rugby union players are ready for the so-called Group of Death at the Rugby World Cup beginning on Friday (September 18).
    The Australians were officially welcomed to their base in the historic city of Bath on Tuesday and said they were delighted with their training facilities at the local university.
    Australia is in the same pool as hosts England, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay, with only two sides due to go through to the quarter-finals.
    Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper said their stay had started well.
    "Really good. We've had a chance to have a really good feel of the University of Bath where we are training. The facilities are great and the deck we are training on is world class. So the boys are pretty happy. We've had a good training run this morning, so we are well under way," said Ashley-Cooper.
    Head coach Michael Cheika, asked about the players' focus, said: "Just getting the right balance between work and preparation and staying pretty relaxed. We've been relaxed about things all the way through and just stay like that. Enjoy the tournament as it comes upon us and just get stuck in when the time comes."
    The Australians begin their campaign against Fiji in Cardiff on September 23.
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