Dragons RFC scrum half Gonzalo Bertranou is ready to embrace the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France – and is targeting a huge scalp to kick-off the tournament with Argentina.
Bertranou and the Pumas launch their tournament on Saturday evening when they face England in Pool D in Marseille.
The livewire number nine was selected for the last global showpiece in Japan in 2019 but only featured in the final match against the USA in Kumagaya as Argentina failed to progress past the pool stages.
Since then, Bertranou has become a firm figure in the side with 53 caps and as he prepares for kick-off this time, he admits it has made him all the more determined to appreciate every second.
“I live this moment with much, much joy and with a lot of responsibility. I am focused 100% on what I must do - I feel very well prepared,” said the 29-year-old.
“I enjoy every moment, do everything to improve day by day. I come with that objective and that mentality.
“What happened (at the last World Cup), has already happened and if it happened it was for a reason.
“I am sure that the experience made me a better player, a better person, and now I am taking advantage and enjoying every moment.
Bertranou has faced England four times in his career; three times in 2017 and again in November 2022 when Argentina won 30-29.
But despite some indifferent results for England in recent times, the Mendoza-born back knows how difficult the first pool game will be.
He said: “England has great players in its squad, they all had a very good season. We cannot trust the results or what has happened recently.
“Your game will remain the same, no matter who plays. Therefore, we are going to have to be very careful, because they are all dangerous and experienced players.
“Their coach (Steve Borthwick) will know what his best option is, and our defence will remain the same. We must think about our own game.
“England are the favourite in the group,” he added. “In my head I can imagine what they are going to try to do, but I am also very clear about what we must do for us to do well.
“England are a World Cup team - they have shown that. What matters is this match, it doesn't matter what has happened before.
“Can there be a surprise? I always enter the field expecting anything, but also knowing very well what I must do.
“There can always be some surprise on the part of the opposition, but if one is very clear about the approach and what they have to do, that should not affect us.
“We are not looking and what happened in the last World Cup. What we have seen is a clear evolution of the team,” he added.
“We learn from mistakes and from the things we did well, and that has happened to this team.
“These is a different cycle, this cycle started a year and a half ago, many players are the same but, as in all aspects of life, one learns, improves, corrects mistakes.
“I think there is always an evolution, and a desire for the team to work better every day.
“We are very focused on what we must do, on what we must do in training each day. My head is focused on that, not looking beyond the first game.”
I live this moment with much, much joy and with a lot of responsibility. I am focused 100% on what I must do - I feel very well prepared...
