Diminutive scrum-half Craig Casey is content material to be the butt of the jokes after confirming his Eire teammates recurrently “take the p***” relating to his top. Casey is comfortably the smallest member of Andy Farrell’s 33-man Rugby World Cup squad at simply 5ft 5in.
The 24-year-old was instantly teased after arriving in France when captain Johnny Sexton acted as if he was the workforce mascot throughout Eire’s open coaching session in entrance of 12,000 spectators of their base metropolis of Excursions.
Munster participant Casey, who emerged from the tunnel holding Sexton’s hand after which posed with him for {a photograph}, feels there’s little level in rallying in opposition to the good-natured mockery, notably with squad “sheriffs” imposing penalties.
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“They wish to take the p*** out of my top, as you possibly can inform, however you simply need to roll with it,” he stated. “In the event you don’t roll with it, you’ll in all probability be fined.
“There are just a few sheriffs within the camp that hold everybody on their toes. I’d say if I fought in opposition to it, I’d in all probability be in large hassle so I simply get on with it. It’s good craic.”
Casey, who’s competing for motion with Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray, remains to be awaiting his World Cup bow after performing as water provider throughout Saturday’s thumping 82-8 win over Romania in sweltering Bordeaux.
He hopes to be named within the matchday 23 for this weekend’s Pool B conflict with Tonga in Nantes and believes it could be unbelievable to make his match debut. “It’s precisely the place you wish to be as an Irish rugby participant, at a World Cup being concerned on this group,” he stated.
“We now have all talked about what the excitement has been for the final two or three years and it has positively elevated since we acquired over right here, the thrill ranges throughout the group are sensible. The primary two weeks right here had been positively laborious work however we’re mixing it with the craic as nicely so it’s a really fulfilling place to be.
“It could be unbelievable to make my World Cup debut if it occurs. You need to be prepared and when a possibility does come, you’ve got to take it with each fingers and attempt to cement your house.”
After taking over Tonga, Eire’s bid to succeed in the quarter-finals will likely be determined throughout pivotal Paris appointments with South Africa and Scotland. Casey and the vast majority of his teammates gathered to see the Springboks defeat the Scots 18-3 on Sunday afternoon.
He’s braced for a bodily encounter in opposition to the reigning world champions on September 23 at Stade de France, whereas additionally anticipating related this coming weekend.
“There was a superb 25 of us within the workforce room watching it, so there was a superb buzz round that, a really bodily recreation,” he stated. “Scotland performed very nicely first half, in addition to South Africa, positively bodily. (They) simply outmuscled them ultimately, that’s what we predict in just a few weeks, that bodily encounter.”
Talking about Tonga, Casey added: “We all know how robust the Pacific island groups are and we’re going to need to be at our greatest. We now have acquired to go up one other degree (from Romania).”
