There is a colossal game looming in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon and Chandler Cunningham-South’s pre-match routine is now established. First he likes to step into a cold shower to wake himself up properly. Then the big Harlequins and England forward will open the notebook he carries everywhere with him, pick up a pen and write down exactly what he plans to do to Leinster.
The precise wording – “It’s quite personalised to me” – is less important than the confident mindset it encourages. The basic idea is to reinforce one of two key objectives – “It’s just confirming what’s in my head already,” he says – and ensures he goes into battle “with a clear mind”. Unthinkingly following the herd has never been his style.
For his entire life, he admits, he has disliked being told to do things purely for the sake of it. Not necessarily to be difficult or arrogant, although he was not always the easiest student, but more in the sense of preferring to do things his way. It was part of the motivation for leaving his family behind in New Zealand just before Christmas in 2021 and boarding a plane to London, where he was born and lived until he was four. Something inside him was telling him it was worth a punt.
That was how he fetched up in London Irish’s academy. A New Zealand provincial academy place had failed to materialise and he felt a change of scene might be beneficial. Barely two years later he was winning the first of his 15 Test caps for England and demonstrating the importance of backing yourself even when others are less convinced.
These days his hard-hitting, dreadlocked talent should be obvious to all. At 19 stone and 6ft 4in tall, there are not a million dynamic ball carriers like Cunningham-South when the muse is with him. At just 22 he is still young – “Maybe some people have thought I’m older because I’ve got a beard” – but clearly relishes going toe to toe with the most fearsome of opponents: “Ardie Savea would be up there … he’s a bit of a beast,” he says.
Leinster away on Saturday will be tough but if he does have a high-profile stormer it will not be the first time. Last April in Bordeaux he was outstanding as Harlequins secured one of the all-time great Champions Cup away victories, winning 42-41. Something similar may be required again but, as he showed with a brace of tries off the bench for England in Cardiff last month, there are days when Cunningham-South refuses to take no for an answer: “I suppose you’ve got guys like Tom Willis and myself who are good at carrying into brick walls.” What are his final thoughts just prior to impact? “Close your eyes! No, I’m just thinking about getting over the gainline,” he says.
The explosive power required to dominate in the modern game, though, is continually ramping up. “I feel like people are getting bigger in rugby. I guess I’ve just got to keep getting bigger in the gym,” he adds. On the field he finds he is most effective when he keeps things simple. “I try not to think too much about what my opposite man is doing. I just try to do my thing. I’m not really much of a shit-talker. I just try to do my job, not let my mind slip on to anything else.”
Obsessing about rugby day and night, nevertheless, doesn’t necessarily suit him. So what does preoccupy him as he drives back up the A3 after training in Guildford? Plenty, by the sound of it. Finding a place to live in south-west London – “If anyone’s got a flat or a house they want to sell me in Wandsworth, Putney or Southfields, I’m struggling at the moment” – is a priority and so is finding somebody special to share his life with. He is single and wondering if Love Island might be the answer. “I think that might have to be my career after rugby,” he confides, his steely focus on Leinster instantly dissolving. “I’m also quite enjoying Married at First Sight: Australia. So maybe that if I haven’t found love by then …”
There is a quicker way, of course, of making it to Australia this year and that is to earn selection for the British & Irish Lions. Andy Farrell has plenty of back-row options but Cunningham-South, with ball in hand, is a bigger handful than most. Given this weekend’s opposition – “We’re basically playing Ireland with RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett” – he knows this Champions Cup last-16 tie is a timely opportunity, especially as he has been selected at lock. “I’d definitely like to be on that Lions tour,” he says. “I feel like I’d be able to add a bit of value. Being able to play second row and back row hopefully helps but we’ll see. I’ve just got to play well in these games coming up for Quins and hopefully put myself in with a shout.”
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He is keenly aware, though, that the very best turn it on every week rather than just occasionally. The competition in England is also intensifying. Henry Pollock and Guy Pepper are fast emerging and the Curry twins, the Willises, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ted Hill et al are not going to wave him through. How tough is it, then, when he is left out as has happened at Quins this season? “It’s hard not to dwell on things,” he admits. “You’ve got to stay grounded and know you’re a good player. If you have one of those days you just have to get back in the saddle and go again.”
At least he has plenty of family members to call if the need ever arises. His sister, half-brother, aunties, uncles and cousins are scattered around London but his mother, Caroline, back in New Zealand, has always instinctively understood him. “She’s my emotional support,” he says. “Bad game or good I’ll give her a call and she’ll cheer me up. She’s a sounding board about things outside rugby that are on my mind.”
All that matters right now, though, is Croke Park, about which Quins’ younger players have been learning this week. “It was really interesting to hear about the history and know what it means for those Leinster guys. But it’ll also give us a bit more energy running on there knowing how special it is to play there … the boys seem on it.” And once he has had his cold shower and jotted down his plan of attack, Cunningham-South will truly believe anything is possible.
