Saints star Lawes is looking for final revenge
Courtney Lawes is looking to go one better than Northampton Saints team-mate Joe Gray in tomorrow's IRB Junior World Championship final.
Gray was part of the England under-20s side that lost 38-3 to the Baby All Blacks in last year's final in Wales, with Lawes watching in the stands.
The Jimmy's End giant made just one appearance in last year's tournament, against Canada, but he is an integral part of this year's charge to the final in Tokyo.
After a try-scoring cameo in the tournament's opener against hosts Japan, Lawes has been an ever present in the England team, and has been named on the blindside flank for tomorrow's final.
Lawes said: "Joe hasn't been in touch! I haven't called him either, but it costs quite a lot from Japan. I didn't play last year and I'm hoping to get a crack at New Zealand."
England beat South Africa 40-21 in the semi-finals, pulling away after the Baby Boks were reduced to 14 men in the second half.
Lawes feels playing in the tournament has improved him as a player, though he knows he will have to step up another gear against New Zealand.
"It has been a good experience for me," said Lawes, who grew up right next to Franklin's Gardens.
"We've got a good bunch of lads here and we are all enjoying winning and playing well. My highlight has to be the second half against South Africa, when we scored tries and gave them a bit of a battering!
"I think I'm playing well, but there is always room for improvement. I'm looking forward to the final and hoping to play New Zealand."
The heat and humidity in Japan is going to be a factor in the final, but Lawes feels he will cope.
Lawes said: "The semi-final wasn't too bad because it was played at night. But it wasn't as good when we played Samoa. I played for the full 80 minutes at lunchtime and it was blazing hot. We had to keep taking fluids, but I was still really tired at the end."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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