20 Questions: Rob Cook – Gloucester full-back
It’s going all right. It was nice to score at Twickenham against Harlequins a couple of weeks ago. I’m enjoying a good run of games and I like the way we’re playing. We need to keep going to go up the table.
Are Gloucester in a better place than they were a year ago?
I think so. The Premiership is getting more and more competitive but if we concentrate on our own game and keep improving we’ll be able to build some momentum going into the latter stages of the season.
Targets for 2016?
We haven’t talked about it much but being at a club like Gloucester we have to be in the top six and that’s the same for about 10 of the 12 clubs in the league. It’s going to be a big scramble at the end of the season.
Very congested in the middle of the table, isn’t it?
It is! If you win a game you get close to the top four but if you lose you can fall off the pace. If you can win a few games in a row you’ll be flying and that’s what we’re hoping to do.
Does it make it harder or easier to focus?
There’s no easy games in this league no matter who you play so there’s always a new challenge ahead. I think you have to thrive on it.
What about Europe and the Challenge Cup?
We’re doing well being unbeaten in four games so far. We’ll looking to kick on from that, win the group and get a home quarter-final.
Hoping to retain your title?
No one has won the Challenge Cup back-to-back so that’s definitely something we’ll be looking to achieve.
You’d be guaranteed a Champions Cup spot, too
Indeed. Unlike last year, if we win it we won’t have to go through a play-off to play in the Champions Cup next season.
Are Harlequins your biggest challengers in Europe?
They’re flying at the moment and fair play to them.
What about your own season?
It was a bit frustrating at first being in and out of the squad but I’ve managed to string a few games together and score a few tries. It’s nice to get a good run of games and return to where I was before my injury last year.
Did you have to change anything to get a shot?
I just stuck to working hard on the basics and doing the simple things well. I had to wait for my opportunity but I’d like to think I’ve taken it and not given the coaches a reason to drop me.
Fourth season at the club?
Yeah, and I absolutely love it. It was a big step up from the Championship with everyone being a bit bigger and stronger but training at this level every day helps you improve. I learned a lot off guys like James Simpson-Daniel and Olly Morgan.
Three years at the Pirates before that?
It was awesome down there. They’re a massive rugby community and to be honest it’s quite similar to Gloucester on a smaller scale. Everyone is rugby mad and it’s a great place to play rugby.
Over a 1,000 points for them, too?
Yes, I did it in just over 100 games. It helped being a kicker but we scored a lot of tries as well.
Talking about kicking, what happened to your famous routine?
I was practising a lot and my back started to hurt as a result. So I had a look at it with Tim Taylor our kicking coach at Gloucester and we decided to change it. I actually kick the ball a bit further now and I’m more accurate, too. It was a good way to get famous, I suppose!
If not rugby what career would you have?
I was 25 when I started playing professional rugby and I was a cricket coach before that. So I’d probably go back into coaching, maybe teach both rugby and cricket at a private school.
Favourite cheat meal?
I love fish and chips and I normally have one after the game because I then have a few days to lose the extra pounds.
Three dinner guests?
James Corden, Courtney Cox, from her early Friends days, and Matthew McConaughey.
Best and worst banter?
Mark Atkinson thinks he’s got the best but he’s nowhere near. Paul ‘Dozza’ Doran-Jones puts a smile on everyone’s faces, though.
Best and worst dressed?
Dozza is the best while Mark, Richard Hibbard and Henry Purdy share the worst dressed prize.
