What's the old phrase - keep your head in the fridge and your body on fire?

I'm not one for getting terribly hyped up. Of course it's the biggest match I have ever played in - a World Cup quarter-final against Australia - but it's still a game.

Everyone deals with the build up in a different way but I'm trying to be as chilled as possible and not get worked up. I'll perhaps watch a movie or two - Die Hard 4 is on in the team room.

As a player you always want to play against the biggest teams and they don't come much bigger or more in form at this World Cup than the Australians.

From a personal point of view, playing against the likes of Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock, who are both world class players, is going to be a massive challenge.

We have to be up for it physically but also switched on mentally and ready to take opportunities as and when they are presented. That's going to be very important against a very well drilled side.

We've had to change the team because of Andy Farrell's injury. It's a massive blow for any player to miss out through injury, especially in a World Cup quarter-final. They only come around every four years and you want to be involved as much as possible.

Training had gone really well this week and we looked good defensively against the other boys that have been attacking us.

But injuries happen in sport and everyone knows how we want to defend and attack and it's up to the guys to slot in when appropriate.

Catty will do a great job. I played with him in the centre against Australia in the first Test on the summer tour last year and it's nice to have someone with such experience to come in and steer things.

Olly Barkley has also had to drop out so Toby Flood comes on to the bench. It's a shame for Olly but I'm pleased for Toby as he has done all the training without getting any game time yet.

No-one is giving us much chance for this game but it makes no difference who is backing who. We need to play our own game to give ourselves the best chance.

I haven't been out much this week. Marseille is a lot different to Versailles. We went for a pizza the other night but I'm still addicted to sushi - I'll have to find a restaurant when I get back to Newcastle.

Hopefully it won't be for a good few weeks yet.

www.ruu.com/2007 - the England supporters website.