Ask winger and mathematical prodigy Ryan Hall about England flying under the World Cup radar and he'll say: "I don't read press." Ask him about his most respected rivals and he'll respond: "I don't watch."

World Cups are about characters and usually you have to look among the part-timers from the game's far-flung outposts to find them, such as the Russians who declared "we are here for the jeans" before the 2000 tournament in England.

A mathematical force: England winger Ryan Hall has scored 32 tries in 32 Tests. Credit:AAP

But Hall is hiding in plain sight; a 29-year-old winger from Leeds Rhinos who has scored 32 times in as many Tests for England.

He can also solve a Rubik's Cube in 45 seconds, once addressed his teammates on how Pythagoras' theorem affects everyday life and plays saxophone, piano, guitar and violin.