From second tier to World Cup semi for England lock
SPOTLIGHT: When England impressively beat the then two-time holders New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semifinals, lock forward Ollie Chessum was a teenager watching the game on television.
Chessum, who turned 23 in September, had been cut loose by the academy at Leicester Tigers. That meant that after finishing school, he joined second-tier club Nottingham with thoughts of ever pulling on an England jersey a distant dream.
A return to Leicester on a senior deal in 2020, however, altered his path and a Test debut followed in 2022 as a replacement in a 33-0 Six Nations win over Italy in Rome.
On Saturday, he is set to start the World Cup semifinal against South Africa as England eye revenge for defeat in the decider four years ago.
“I took a bit of a weirder journey than most people, going through academies and stuff and I am proud of that,” Chessum said this week.
“Nottingham were the last people there to approach me and say ‘We want to give you a shot’.
“They were incredible with me. I have to give them massive credit for me being here.
“If someone told me back in 2019 I would be at the World Cup I would have laughed in their face.”
After his Test bow, Chessum had to wait just five months for his first international start, the series-clinching win over Australia in July 2022.
He has become a mainstay under Steve Borthwick, Chessum’s former coach at Leicester, after the ex-England captain took over from the sacked Eddie Jones in December.
Despite reaching the last four, England, winners in 2003, have failed to convince many people of their title credentials, underlined by a first loss to Fiji before the tournament.
They beat Argentina, Japan, Chile and Samoa clinically during the group stage before gaining revenge over Pacific Islanders Fiji in last weekend’s quarter-final.
“In the warm-up games at the start, we were in a strange place,” Chessum said.
“But we are starting to figure ourselves out and find our identity.
“We are growing as a team and I think that is a scary thing for any team.
“We are not the complete article yet and we are winning games.”
‘Back in the mix’
Ginger-haired Chessum has become first-choice under Borthwick and has built a consistent second-row partnership with Maro Itoje.
“It’s really growing now,” Chessum said.
“It’s going to take time for relationships like that to grow and to mould but I really feel like it’s in a good place now.”
During his time at Leicester, Chessum, whose brother Lewis plays for the club and England’s under-20s, has come across quite a few of his opponents this weekend.
He plays alongside Springboks forward Marco van Staden, No. 8 Jasper Wiese and fly-half Handre Pollard at Welford Road.
Pollard, who helped the Boks to the 2019 final win over England, was a late addition to their squad having recovered from a calf injury.
“I’m good friends with Handre back at Leicester and you don’t want to see your mates missing out on opportunities you think they’re deserving of,” Chessum said.
“You want to be playing against the biggest names, in the biggest competitions, on the biggest stages.
“It’s great to see him back in the mix.”
On Saturday at the Stade de France, one of Chessum’s tasks will be keeping an eye out on South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth, who was at his imposing best as they edged hosts France in last weekend’s last-eight tie.
Last Sunday, Etzebeth, 31, became the joint-third most capped Springbok on 117 appearances alongside Tendai Mtawarira, and behind Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield.
“He’s one of the best in the second-row, if not the best and has been for some time,” Chessum said.
“The engine he has on him, he’s been subbed off a bit here (at the World Cup) but is normally an 80-minute performer.
“Big, physical, set-piece, everything that South African rugby is about.”
