Exeter Captain Dean Mumm will have far more pressing issues than ensuring that his team finishes the Aviva Premiership well with the Rugby World Cup firmly set in the gangling lock forward’s mind.
The 31 year old is set to return to the Waratahs for the final rounds of the Super Rugby Championship after Exeter’s season finishes in order to chase a Wallaby berth for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
And the New Zealand born lock insists he’ll have no issue coming back to England in four months time and breaking the hearts of the hosts who have been grouped with the Wallabies in the so-named “Pool of Death”.
Making 33 appearances for the Wallabies before making a sea change up to the Northern Hemisphere, Mumm is excited to be returning to Australian rugby and putting his best foot forward in front of Waratahs’ and Wallabies’ coach Michael Cheika.
“Playing for the Wallabies is my intention and I’m going to try and grab some games for the Waratahs towards the end of the Super Rugby season,” he said.
“They’ll have a few rounds left when I get back and if I can get a game in front of Michael Cheika and the other Australia coaches, it gives them a chance to make their choice. Michael hasn’t been explicit over my chances yet, we’ll cover that stuff when I arrive back in Sydney, but I’m in pretty good form and the World Cup is my big target.”
On top of his physical prowess, Mumm suggested he had a lot more to offer the Wallabies come World Cup time.
“My knowledge of English rugby would certainly be helpful. I’ve got a far better understanding of what motivates English players and in my time at the Chiefs we’ve come up against good scrums, which will be a key factor for Australia and what it takes against those elements.”
“Understanding the English mentality is handy in the way you approach those front-five situations, so I’d just like the opportunity to be able to use my experience of being here.”