By Kath 8/7/03
August 7 2003

England Elite and England 'A' Teams made history during the month of June 2003 and they never once played at Fortress Twickenham to do it?

Blazing June in Review!

June the Month of many Firsts for England Rugby Union!

Wow and what a month June was! Historical firsts throughout.

New Zealand Maori first up, England second string taking on the Maori in New Plymouth, New Zealand and beating them comfortably, for the first time in their history. Maori  9  v England  23.   

Then onto the first of the big summer Tests.  New Zealand (All Blacks) v England Elite.  This was the match the World of Rugby had been waiting for!  We were not to be disappointed either - England's DEFENCE, was dare I use that word *** Awesome***!  Down to 13 men for at least 8 mins at one point, after Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio were sin binned.   England the warriors stood firm behind Captain Martin Johnson who proved to be man of the match.  This game silenced the crowd and made the New Zealand Media fall about in a frenzy of confusion and almost choke!  The best professional analysis they could come up with was, that the England players were ugly and looked like Gargoyles -  This was the moment England went down in the history books as the First time England had beaten the New Zealand 'All Blacks' in their own back yard. New Zealand 13 v England 15.

17/6/03 England No 1 Team in the World Zurich World Rankings

Moving onto Australia and the next test.  The Australian Press were starting to worry now but then the age old arrogance of the 'Australian Mind Set' prevailed and of course we did not stand a chance against the World Cup Winners of yesteryear 1999.  Not 'down under', no  never, no chance England cant win away from Fortress Twickenham.  England turned on the skills and style and demonstrated fully to the 'one eyed' Australians just how well they play rugby.Australia  14 v England 25.

This match did the most damage to Australia, it will live in their minds long after the World Cup has come and gone.  Never had an England team won in Australia - Another First!

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Meanwhile Jim Mallinder and the England 'A' Squad were taking part in the Inaugural Churchill Cup.  Outstanding individual performances by many players Horak, Barkley, Walder, Vyvyan, Anglesea, Paul to name just a few.  England 'A' swept the board first beating Canada, then USA and finally beating USA in the final to pick up the 'Churchill Cup Trophy' - Winners England 'A'  - yet Another First!

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And on a more personal note another first, this time for Sportnetwork - Unofficial England Ruby Union came into being on the 12/6/03.  In just 18 days in June the site and message board has blossomed allowing fans from all Zurich Premiership Club sites to have their say about all things England!  

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So, let us fill our glasses and we will  raise a toast:-

 To:-  England, The Squad, The Management and to ourselves the Fans for the support we give!

TO ENGLAND EVERYONE!