IRB Rugby World Cup Final 2007

England v South Africa

20 October 2007 - 21:00(local time), Stade de France, Saint Denis

Well!  Who would believe it, the England Rugby Team in the Rugby World Cup Final 2007!  Like many others I have to put my hands up and say I doubted them and thought they would be knocked out at the Quarter Final stage.   

The last time these two teams met just over a month ago England were whitewashed by the Boks and  to be honest looked set for the next plane home.  

What happened in the following weeks was nothing short of remarkable, the transformation from a side of no hopers to a playing side that had true grit, determination and guts in spades full.   I have never seen such a transformation in such a short space of time.  I am so proud of this squad's achievement in the last few weeks they have lifted England fan's  hearts and spirit.

Of course we have those who are saying they are not the best team in the competition, frankly that is sour grapes.  Games are won and lost in different ways and the team that can hold it altogether on the field on the day wins.  England have held it together in the physical battle, the mental battle, the calls, the skills, the game plan, putting their bodies on the line to win the knockout games as they came.  Sorry but those other teams just did not handle the pressure as England did and for them it has to be better luck next time.  That is sport!

So we look forward to an enthralling match, a tougher test this one for England, as prior to this nobody expected then to win now unfortunately we do!  The Springboks having watched all this will no doubt be wishing they had not beaten England so well a few weeks back,  as this resurgence of spirit and form will I am sure have spooked them and made them just a tad jittery.

One player who is definitely on form with the boot for South Africa is General Montgomery who is not missing anything at 33years old (would he be classed as an old man then?) Monty might have made a difference in the 2003 RWC but as he was playing for Newport in Wales, South Africa did not call up players who played outside the country at that time - big mistake I think that was!

Also a real threat is this man, Bryan Habana who races cheetahs for fun, England need to watch him well. And what of England well it is an unchanged side apart from Josh Lewsey who is replaced my Mark Cueto.  I think more of the same is required from the players courage, strength and taking the scrum apart, rattling the Boks and of course our Sergeant Wilko had better be on form with his boot because you know what points mean Prizes!

Regardless win or lose England have exceeded expectations and we wish all the players and staff the very best of luck and send them on their way with the battle cry!

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To his full height! On, on you noblest English!
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof;
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument.
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry! England and Saint George!'

Henry V, Act III scene 1

England: 1 Andrew Sheridan 2 Mark Regan 3 Phil Vickery (c) 4 Simon Shaw 5 Ben Kay 6 Martin Corry 7 Lewis Moody 8 Nick Easter 9 Andy Gomarsall 10 Jonny Wilkinson 11 Mark Cueto 12 Mike Catt 13 Mathew Tait 14 Paul Sackey 15 Jason Robinson

Replacements: 16 George Chuter 17 Matt Stevens 18 Lawrence Dallaglio 19 Joe Worsley 20 Peter Richards 21 Toby Flood 22 Dan Hipkiss

South Africa :1 Os du Randt 2 John Smit (c) 3 CJ van der Linde 4 Bakkies Botha 5 Victor Matfield 6 Schalk Burger 7 Juan Smith 8 Danie Rossouw 9 Fourie du Preez 10 Butch James 11 Bryan Habana 12 Francois Steyn 13 Jaque Fourie 14 JP Pietersen 15 Percy Montgomery

Replacements:16 Bismarck du Plessis 17 Jannie du Plessis 18 Johannes Muller 19 Wickus van Heerden 20 Ruan Pienaar 21 Andre Pretorius 22 Wynand Olivier

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• A Geordie England fan's tale of the Semi Final
• England v France - Semi Final Match Review
• Unofficial England Rugby Site - Expanding

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes