Since retiring from international rugby in 1995 following my move to Newcastle Falcons as player/coach I had begun doing BBC Radio 5 punditry with Ian Robertson and Alistair Hignell. It was great fun and it allowed me to keep involved with the international game. It was at the same time that a certain Jonny Wilkinson joined Newcastle and began his England career in the lead up to the 1999 World Cup.
On the way to the 2003 tournament England were ranked world number 1 and favourites to win. They won the Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations, and followed this with victories in both Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 2003, before an Autumn world cup.
I was looking forward to joining the BBC radio 5 team in Australia for the final two weeks of the tournament – hoping to see England in a semi final and final. The group stages had gone to plan despite a hard fought battle with Samoa, and what was in the end a reasonably comfortable win over South Africa.
I was at home in England doing the day job with Newcastle and watching the quarter final against Wales in Brisbane. I was due to fly out the following day for the semi final and final. At half time all was not going to plan with Wales in control and England at risk of exiting in the quarter final ( ironically just as England had in 1987 – to Wales in Brisbane !). I messaged Ed Marriage, the BBC radio 5 rugby producer asking if I should cancel my flight ! I need not have worried as a dominant England second half, aided by the introduction of Mike Catt, turned the game around and England were heading to the semi final and I was heading from Newcastle to Sydney ( from the Tyne Bridge to the Harbour Bridge).
A semi final beckoned against France – a team that a confident England team would expect to beat. I was able to have a brief catch up with Jonny in the lead up to the game, and little did we know what dramatic events would unfold over the next 10 days. A miserable wet Sydney evening welcomed England and France to the Olympic Stadium. The conditions suited England and a comfortable win was secured on the back of an efficient wet weather game orchestrated by the pack and the half backs, Dawson and Wilkinson.
In the other semi final hosts Australia continued their remarkable Rugby World Cup record by downing New Zealand, just as they had done in 1991, to set up another England – Australia final. This one in Sydney as opposed to Twickenham ( where as a player I suffered the ultimate disappointment – losing a home World Cup final !).
As with the dramatic historic 1995 extra time final between South Africa and New Zealand, England and Australia were to serve up another gripping nerve shredding finale between old foes. One try each from former rugby league players, Tuqiri and Robinson, plus incredible penalty goal kicking from Elton Flatley and Jonny Wilkinson squeezed the game into extra time.
The sides could not be separated and the clock was nearly up on 100 minutes of action. Only one thing left to do – win a line out, drive, break from Dawson to get closer to the posts, one more drive from captain Johnson to tie in the defence, one swift pass from Dawson to Wilkinson. Right foot ( wrong foot by the way ) and England were to be World Cup champions for the first time. One more great drop goal and one great scream from the commentary position.
Memory added on June 23, 2014
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