My Greatest RWC XV and Memories of 2007

All-time Rugby World Cup XV

Any sports fan likes picking their Best XI, XV, Top 10 of all-time etc. Here's my totally personal selection of a best Rugby World Cup XV. Please note, this is not my Best XV of all-time, more a selection of those that have had the biggest influence at Rugby World Cups.

1.       Jason Leonard (ENG) – 22 appearances, a record for World Cups, mean Leonard, a Cup Winner in 2003 has to be in the team. His versatility, which saw him play both sides of the scrum, and his total reliability, were the main strengths during a peerless career which saw him anchor the England scrum for 13 years, and saw him appear in 4 Rugby World Cups including 2 Finals, 12 years apart.

2.       John Smit (SAF) – the winning Captain in 2007, Smit was also present in 2003 and his motivating influence, allied to a solid line-out partnership with Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, amongst others, meant Smit was the most reliable of hookers, and just edges Sean Fitzpatrick onto the bench.

3.       Phil Vickery (ENG) – a stunning performance in the 2003 World Cup Final, where he destroyed Bill Young to such an extent that referee Andre Watson couldn’t quite believe it sees Vickery get my nod. Devastating in the loose, he set the platform that day for a dominant England pack performance.

4.       John Eales (AUS) – Nobody as he is known (as ‘nobody’s perfect’) was the goal kicking second row captain of the victorious 1999 Australian side. A mainstay of the Wallabies in the 1990s, his captaincy of the side that took the trophy in Cardiff was a major factor in that victory.

5.       Martin Johnson (ENG) – a talisman and a born leader, his ball skills were somewhat under-rated, and Johnson was frequently the one involved in shoring up possession or easing the opposition gently away from the ball. His decision to take the ball on ‘one more time’ in the 2003 Final was crucial in tying in 2 loose defenders and freeing up Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal

6.       Richard Hill (ENG) – Hill is, for me, one of the greatest Rugby players of all time. His unassuming demeanour on the pitch belayed the brutal efficiency with which he performed in every single game. He was as much a part of England’s ’03 victory as anyone else and England have never really been the same since he was forced into retirement

7.       Michael Jones (NZL) – Every day is like Sunday, sang Morrissey. Probably a good job that every day was not Sunday though, as that would have deprived the rugby world of the man who broke the mould in terms of open side flankers. Every open side since Michael Jones owes everything to the way he performed in the 1987 World Cup. Strongly religious, he refused to play on a Sunday, hence the little gag above, and this ultimately led to him being left out of the 1995 World Cup squad due to his non-availability for QF and SF.

8.       Wayne Shelford (NZL) – two thirds of the back row is the 1987 All Blacks back row. Buck Shelford was immense in that 1987 World Cup, and was truly a man who didn’t know the meaning of the word pain. Any man who has his testicular area stitched up before returning to the game deserves a place in my side.

9.       Joost van der Westhuizen (SAF) – the deadliest attacker round the base of the scrum the game has ever seen, bar none. Van der Westhuizen combined stunning pace off the mark with great strength, had a solid kicking game and was more than a match for anyone in defence. He wasn’t afraid to have a natter with his opposite number and the referee either, which is an ever-more important part of the scrum half’s armoury

10.   Jonny Wilkinson (ENG) – at the peak of his powers in 2003, he dropped 8 goals in a single tournament, including the decisive one, off his wrong foot, with less than a minute to go. He bounced back from repeated injury in 2007 to see England through to the Final once more with his ever reliable kicking proving decisive. For the moment, he is penned in to the team, and with him seemingly edging past Toby Flood in the reckoning once more, he has a chance to further stretch his drop goal record (13), penalty kick record (53) and his individual points record (243).

11.   Jonah Lomu (NZL) – Anyone who picks anyone but Lomu on the left wing needs their head examining. Pace, power, personality. Lomu ran riot in 1995 and to a lesser extent (but with more tries) in 1999 as a new breed of winger was highlighted. 15 World Cup tries, including 4 in a stunning semi final performance against England, is a record that may well stand the test of time.

12.   Brian Lima (SAM) – Both centre positions are tricky, as the greatest centres of my lifetime, Sella and O’Driscoll, haven’t had the incredible influence at RWCs that they had outside of the tournament. Most will see my inside centre as a surprising pick, but Lima was the star of a Nation, and his impact saw his side through to Quarter Finals in 1991 and 1995. His destructive tackling often caught the eye more than his play with ball in hand, but he scored 11 tries in World Cups and in 2007 dragged his tired body through a 5^th separate tournament (a record). He deserves his spot at 12.

13.   Will Greenwood (ENG) – I thought long and hard about this and Greenwood gets the nod ahead of Guscott and O’Driscoll for me. Good as they were, they never really made the difference at World Cup level, and Greenwood’s crucial tries in the group game with South Africa and the Quarter Final against Wales in 2003, along with his composure in the pressure moments of a tight final, see him get the nod.

14.   Jason Robinson (ENG) – Tempting though it was to play Robinson at full back, I plumped for his original position of Right Wing. The original dancing feet, Robinson transferred from Rugby League and made the biggest impact of any of the ex-League players. His try in the 2003 Final, his all-round performances that year and his re-emergence in 2007 as a Full back make him one of the most versatile players in RWC history. Can I pick him twice?

15.   Serge Blanco (FRA) – Serge Blanco was head and shoulders above anyone else who played 15 in the 1980s. Show a youngster a picture of him today and tell him he was once the Prince of Full Backs and they would laugh, but Blanco’s effortlessly smooth acceleration, and wonderful skill, which culminated in his greatest moment, the last minute try in the ’87 semi final against Australia, see him edge out John Gallagher at 15 for me.

So there we go. My Greatest Ever XV is selected. On the bench, for completeness sake, I have 16. Sean Fitzpatrick (NZL), 17. Oz du Randt (SAF), 18. Victor Matfield (SAF), 19. Zinzan Brooke (NZL), 20. George Gregan (AUS), 21. Michael Lynagh (AUS), 22. Philippe Sella (FRA), 23. John Kirwan (NZL)

So of the 23 chosen, I have 7 Englishmen, 6 New Zealanders, 4 South Africans, 3 Australians, 2 Frenchmen and 1 Samoan. Some would accuse me of pro-English bias, but I happen to think that the 2003 World Cup which England won was possibly the strongest tournament, with Australia, France, South Africa, England and New Zealand all putting out stunning sides, and even the Welsh creating a brand of rugby which struck fear into English and All Black hearts. Add to that the fact that England won that tournament ‘down under’ and I think that speaks volumes. No Welsh, Scots or Irish involved, possibly demonstrating that, since the first two tournaments when Wales and Scotland reached the semi finals (and should maybe have done better eh Gavin Hastings?) they have all disappointed at World Cups, and their star names (O’Driscoll, Williams, etc) have never really sparked. The only Celtic names I considered at all in fact were O’Driscoll, Ieuan Evans and Gavin Hastings.

It’s always fun picking these teams and I suspect many of you will be disgusted at some selections. If so, let me know, I look forward to hearing where and why I went wrong.

2007 Memories

Having given you my considered opinion as to the best XV of all-time, it is time for some slightly more personal and recent memories from the 2007 World Cup in France. Living As I was in Paris, it was a chance to be right at the heart of things, but with work commitments and the speed at which tickets sold, I was restricted to seeing half a dozen games. That said the atmosphere in and around grounds was head and shoulders above my only previous RWC experiences (Cardiff and Twickenham in 1999 and the smallest venue to be used for a World Cup, Otley RFC in 1991).

It all started for me on a Tuesday night in Lyon, when, after a tough couple of days work, I made my way from my hotel to the Stade Gerlan for the game between Argentina and Georgia. Argentina were already the villains of the piece, as they had shocked France in the opening game, and the mock boos with which they were greeted heightened the atmosphere. The Georgians, taking their bow in the tournament in their debut year, gave everything, making my colleague alongside me wince with some of the tackles. Argentina strolled home in the end, but it really got me into the tournament, even if it was a game between, as one Frenchman nearby said, "Two small teams". "Remind me who Argentina won against in their opener mate?", was my parting diplomatic shot. (Cue gallic shrugs and muttering)

For a couple of weeks, I then had to resort to watching games in crowded bars (oh the hard life I lived at the time) with a cosmopolitan bunch of supporters, some English, some Scottish, some French, some Irish, a couple of Aussies... I could go on. One Welsh supporter, who shall remain nameless, had already livened things up in my local during the 6 Nations by asking my 'outside toilet' shaped South African friend whether he was an "Aussie or an All Black". The air turned blue and Tomos's cheeks were as red as his Welsh jersey on that occasion, I promise you.

Next up for live action was England vs. Tonga, in a true temple of the game - le Parc des Princes. Great stadium though the Stade de France is, it usually has all the atmosphere of a foggy day in Wolverhampton. Le Parc is very different. I had four tickets, and the intrepid foursome who met up 2 hours before the game in Les Trois Obus was well lubricated on entering the ground. I'm sure they won't mind me saying, but as I eased my 16 stone frame into my seat and looked to my right, the 3 friends with me, Adron, Tom and Manu, were all bigger than me. How we squeezed into the 4 seats for the first half is beyond me, and it was some relief when the row in front was not re-populated for half 2 and one of us could 'ease forward' a row. England showed up, eventually, that evening and despite a pretty solid effort from Tonga, England through Sackey and Corry braces, 2 of them very late, ran home comfortable winners to qualify for the Quarters. We 4, suitably refreshed by the Trois Obus after the game, headed off into the distance to savour Parisian culture once more...

Marseille Quarter Final weekend remains, without doubt, the best rugby trip I have ever been on. A chilled Friday night on the seafront with my three charming female Australian flatmates for the weekend gave way to a glorious Saturday morning. Seats behind the posts at the tunnel end, within hearing distance of ITV's interview point (more of that later), were perfect. A glorious day, with banter aplenty between Aussies, English, Springboks, French and Welsh (who had turned up in their thousands, not predicting their defeat to Fiji), but as kickoff approached, tension rose. The game was not a glorious game of attacking rugby, but a true battle between 2 Nations desperate to get to Paris for the semis. Stirling Mortlock's missed penalties kept England in the game, and the one thing you could guarantee was that where Mortlock missed, Wilkinson wouldn't. One of the grittiest England wins I have ever seen! As for the interviews, as Will Grenwood was about to interview Andy Gomarsall after the game, I found my voice and screeched my appreciation of Gomarsall's performance, which saw both men turn their heads and a frantic director try to get their attention.... Sometimes I have a big mouth it would appear (no comment necessary thanks very much). My three Aussie companions had to be thus photographed in my ridiculous England hat as a penance. Great afternoon.... onto the evening.

Having met up with Manu and his English boss Chris, who were equally as smiley as I was, we meandered back to the Vieux Port area, to that traditional French (!) bar, O'Malleys. The Guinness flowed, as we prepared for the evening game - New Zealand vs. France from Cardiff. The game is etched into the history books, and as I wasn't there, I won't repeat everything, but when the French scored what proved to be the winning try, it rained Guinness in Marseille. My pristine white England shirt has never been the same, but who cares. Everyone was deliriously happy, and as a coach load of Australian supporters got stuck in a traffic jam outside the bar, there was a 5 minute long multi-national chorus of "Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio" much to the amusement of all.

Sunday dawned with another glorious day, and we headed to the magnificent Stade Velodrome once more to see the anticipated drubbing of Fiji by South Africa. It all looked straightforward, but midway through the second half the Fijians ignited, and but for hair's breadth miss of a try in the corner, would have taken the lead and really pressured the Boks, but it wasn't to be, and the Fijians left to a hero's reception, even if they had lost eventually by 17 points. 2 incredible days, and the 3 hours sleep on the train back to Paris were gratefully received.

One week later, and Stade de France beckoned me for the first time in the tournament. England vs. France in the semi final. The atmosphere was the best I have witnessed there, as even the open backs to the stands couldn't contain the noise. It was an evening of much mirth. How we laughed at the pockets of All Blacks fans who had come all the way to Europe "for the semis and final only, as there was no-one who could beat us". How we laughed at the French selection of Traille at 15. How we exploded in joy when Josh Lewsey jumped all over him to score after 2 minutes. How we lifted the roof when Jonny came to our rescue again in the last 5 minutes with his usual penalty and drop. My first live English win against France, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Another week on, and it was Final time. That week had been spent sourcing tickets, first for me, then for every mate I have ever known. 4 came through a former French International, another for an old school friend came through a bloke in the pub. 3 friends chartered a neighbour's private jet to get over (trains, planes and ferries having long since been booked up). The old school friend left Northampton at 3am on the morning of the game to squeeze on a ferry then drive down to Paris. 7 friends came over in the back of a horse box.... the stories are endless.

On the way to the game (French train strike wouldn't you know) I joked that at least I couldn't be further away than I was for the semi (top tier next to back row). As I took my seat between three Men Mountains of South Africans, on the very back row of the top tier, I laughed to myself. The first half went quicker than any game I can remember, in spite of there being little open play. England seemed to have made the perfect start to the second half when Cueto went over in the corner after a mazy run from Tait. I could not have been further away from the incident, but it was clearly a try and no amount of airbrushed replays will convince me otherwise! When Robinson gingerly walked off after 50 minutes or so, I knew the goose was cooked, and the South Africans won a deserved victory. It was a match played in great spirits, and the support around me, split 50/50 between England and South Africa, with the odd French or New Zealander thrown in. The trade of single malt from my two hipflasks for chunks of various varieties of biltong was made many times.

A Rugby World Cup is a stunning event to be involved in. I'm lucky to be attending my 4th at the end of September, and I suggest, if you haven't been to one yet, England 2015 should be on your list as soon as possible. The convivial atmosphere, the laughing and joking and two-way banter, is so far removed from the atmosphere at top level Football it is unbelievable. If you're lucky enough to have experienced it, why not spend the time and add your own RWC memories to this blog in the comments.

And Finally....

I have set up a Prediction Game Pool on this link http://www.sportguru.co.uk/ with the pool name being The Egg Chasers and the Pool Code being prosflea join me there and see how little I know.

I've set up a page for the blog on Facebook as well now. Search for The Egg Chaser and Like the page if you don't mind.

As I said earlier this week, England's League starts on Saturday, and I am going for a Semi Final 4 of Saracens, Leicester, Northampton and Bath. The big sides will lose their International stars for large periods though, as post World Cup, there is always recuperation time, and then after Christmas we have 6 Nations again. That is me saying that it's anybody's guess what will happen this year....

Next Time

Next time you hear from me I will be giving you a team of XV that I think will have a major impact in their positions, and you'll also hear my predictions of eventual winners, top try scorer, and many other things. There’ll be a quick A to Z of the World Cup, and some two line summaries of the hopes of each Nation. I hope you will join in and let me know where I have gone wrong.

Thanks as ever, catch you soon