Right, no rest for me. I’ll be wrapping this up now as I’ve got a few bits to do before the Scotland v New Zealand game. Do join me for that in a bit. Thanks for reading folks, bye!
They don’t though. “It was so bad it had it had a drama all of its own” says Eddie Butler on the BBC. It finishes Wales 17-13 14-man-Fiji.
Try! Wales 17-13 Fiji (Nadolo + con 80)
Nadolo has gone scorching clear to score. Fiji have one more play with which they can shock Wales.
Full time: England 28-31 South Africa
South Africa deserve to win, largely because England were awful in the first half and essentially beat themselves. They couldn’t cope with South Africa’s power. I’m not going to dwell on this though, because...
Updated
Oh no wait it's not
It was Le Roux for South Africa anyway, but it turns out he dropped it.
Try!
Oh my god!
Try! England 28-31 South Africa (Barritt 79)
Five, six, seven phases and England can’t get through. Eight phases and now there’s an overlap and Webber gives it to May, who has come off his wing and the Gloucester man draws two tacklers and puts Barritt over! Time for one more play...
Updated
78 min Penalty England and Ford strokes it down the line to give England a lineout 20m from the line inside the 22. They win scrappy ball but clean it up and hammer away at that South African defence.
76 min South Africa win the lineout 10m out. Matfield peels and drives for the line. South Africa go through the phases, just a few metres out, but England are holding them up well. Wales are still only 17-6 up against 14-man Fiji.
Lambie sits back in the pocket and chips over a 20m drop-goal easy as you like to make it England 23-31 South Africa. Game over, I reckon.
74 min Another penalty to South Africa as Lawes comes into the maul at the wrong side on England’s 10m line. Lambie kicks down the left to touch inside the 10m line.
@DanLucas86 regardless or ref, think its still been a good game, England have kind of thrown away most of their chances, the few they had...
— Steve Harte (@insaneteddie) November 15, 2014
It’s certainly improved this half.
73 min For the first time this Autumn England lose the lineout. South Africa clear and Ford’s return kick goes out on the full.
72 min This is idiotic yet again from England. Barritt takes it into contact, the forwards drive over the ball, leaving it lying on the floor for Habana to simply pick it up. The ball is cleared and le Roux mistimes his run, catching the fielder Brown in the air, but he knows he’s made a mistake and carries him down safely. Penalty England and Ford kicks to touch. Brookes on for England.
71 min Ford knocks it into the corner. Webber is staying on for Hartley and throws, 10m out on the right. England win the lineout.
70 min Poor kick from Ford and it’s straight to le Roux, but the South African 15 decides to kick as he’s well marked. Now England have the ball and Watson at long hast has a run. That must be the first time either England wing has had a chance to do anything at all today. Kruis, on for Attwood I think, knocks on but we go back for a penalty to England on the 10m line.
67 min South Africa take the restart and Bismarck du Plessis holds on, so Ford will get a shot at goal immediately, 36m out and right in front. It fades left but not too much so and it’s England 23-28 South Africa.
66 min 15m infield, about 38m out, Lambie will have another shot at goal... and he gets it. England 20-28 South Africa and here are some thoughts on the sin-binning from my sister.
@DanLucas86 aside from whether it was sin bin worthy or not, that was poor refereeing
— Kirsty Lucas (@KirstyLucas) November 15, 2014
65 min A change for South Africa too as du Plessis is replaced by Oosthuizen. Oh and Botha on for Etzebeth. Attwood concedes a penalty at the lineout for clambering all over Botha.
64 min A much-need double change at halfback for England coming as Youngs and Ford warm-up. Farrell sells Watson another duff pass, popping an obvious inside ball with no decoy runner and the wing is smashed. South Africa get a penalty and Farrell is now hooked.
62 min Nonsense decision that. Also thanks to my girlfriend Liz, whose Sky Go password I can fortunately remember. We’re back now.
I can see from Twitter that Hartley has been binned. Please stand by
61 min The TMO wants a word for something that occurred at the mall from England’s lineout. Was that a stamp from Hartley? I don’t think so; in fairness to Walsh he did actually spot that and mention it to Robshaw already so not sure why the TMO has mentioned it. It was careless really rather than aggressive. Oh well now Steve Walsh has said he thinks it’s worse than he originally thought... and my Sky box has frozen! Bah!
Updated
60 min Great defence from England and they’ve driven South Africa all the way back to the 10m line with Hartley and Marler especially impressive. Le Roux sends up a huge kick for Watson to deal with and the Bath man is impeded by Habana. Penalty England, with which Farrell clears his lines.
59 min De Villiers takes it up on the crash ball and makes ground, South Africa within 10m of the line now but Engladn have slowed it up very well.
57 min Matfield returns; will England regret conceding that try in the dying embers of the sin bin period? Lambie puts up a big kick and Watson spills it forward. Burger is nearly in but Morgan tackles him into touch well.
@DanLucas86 Morgan should start next time.
— RKS Heating. (@ludlowplumbing) November 15, 2014
I think he and Vunipola are very similar, high-energy players and you need to play both of them throughout the match. Not convinced it matters which way around they start.
55 min Lambie’s conversion drifts wide. In Cardiff, the Fijian prop Ma’afu has been shown his second yellow card and is sent off. Here, Farrell puts the restart out on the full.
Try! England 20-25 South Africa (Burger 54)
Vermuelen this time takes it and Coetzee takes it on. The veteran Burger rips it from him and peels off around the blindside in one movement and he rolls over the line. What a start to the half we’re having here.
Updated
52 min Etzebeth wins it and they maul to within 5m of the England line. Surely they have to go through the backs? Robshaw goes in and plays it on the floor and that’s another penalty to South Africa.
51 min From the lineout, South Africa get another penalty and Lambie sticks this one down the right into the 22. How will South Africa’s lineout fair on the offensive?
50 min Now Wood races clear from a ruck on his own 22. It’s worked on via Care and then Robshaw. South Africa cover but it goes left to Lawes, on the South African 22 now, but he lacks support and holds on.
Try! England 20-20 South Africa (Morgan, Farrell con 48)
It’s actually more like 35m out but England maul the underpowered South African pack up to within five. Morgan peels off the back, rolls through Strauss and scores!m Harsh on South Africa with the lineout call but England have responded brilliantly.
Updated
47 min Well it’s fair to say England needed that. Farrell puts a kick out on the full but the touch judge incorrectly rules that Habana took it into touch. England get the lineout then, 25m out and...
Try! England 13-20 South Africa (Wilson + Farrell con 45)
Lawes rises and takes the lineout. With Matfield off the pitch there’s no stopping the maul as Farrell and Barritt add their strength and it’s Wilson who ends up with it under the posts.
44 min England win the lineout 5m out. Matfield drags down the maul and is sent to the sin bin. Another lineout then.
43 min South Africa claim the restart but knock it on and then stick their hands in the ruck. England have a penalty 30-odd metres out and kick to the corner. Morgan is on for the disappointing Vunipola.
Aw what a try! England 6-20 South Africa (Reinach + Lambie con 42)
Lambie chips perfectly over the top of the England defensive line. Le Roux has read it and bursts through, catches it on the full in space and makes for the line. Brown is covering but Reinach has run a perfect supporting line and crosses. Le Roux is some player.
41 min We have begun again. Vunipola claims the restart in the 22 and Care box kicks clear under pressure.
@DanLucas86 Owen Farrell is a good kicker, sound tackler and very competitive, but he has no imagination or game management skills as a 10.
— Grahame Tate (@grimesgrimes) November 15, 2014
Farrell hasn’t been good, but it’s not fair to single him, or indeed anyone out. Neither side has done anything really, but England have been masters of their own downfall out there with a complete inability to (a) see what’s happening in front of them on the field and (b) hold on to the damn ball.
Half-time: England 6-13 South Africa
That’s yer lot. It’s been one for the purists. Purists who hate rugby and don’t like seeing much excitement. The best you can say is that it’s close, but neither side has really created a try-scoring opportunity, everything has come from mistakes.
39 min Le Roux sends an arcing kick over down the left but it’s easily dealt with by Brown. Wales are 17-6 ahead now, thanks to a penalty try. Fiji’s 6’5”, 20st 5lb, fast inside centre Nemani Nadolo has now missed two penalties. That guy can’t be human.
Updated
38 min It’s not a good penalty, shunted across the face of goal when you’d really expect a kicker as good as Lambie to nail that. A horrible miss that.
37 min Care takes the restart in his 22 and kicks it clear. Another penalty conceded by Wood at the lineout as Wood closes the gap. Stuart Lancaster, with sad eyes, shakes his head. Lambie to kick at goal from 15m in on the right and about 34m out.
36 min And through goes that one too to make it England 6-13 South Africa.
Updated
35 min England get a free kick as South Africa engage early at the scrum. Vunipola taps and goes quickly and 37m out, in front of the posts, Vermuelen goes off his feet at the ruck and Farrell will get the chance to cancel Lambie’s penalty out immediately.
33 min Gets it. England 3-13 South Africa.
31 min As you’d expect, both lineouts have been excellent today. Matfield wins this one on halfway and it’s a magnificent maul that follows, driving England 25m back towards their own line. England deliberately collapse it and Lambie will kick for goal from 25m out, 15m in from the left.
30 min Fiji have just come close to scoring an astonishing try in Cardiff. Here, South Africa win the lineout but Lambie’s high cross-kick is far too deep and Brown catches it comfortably and calls the mark.
29 min Another penalty to South Africa this time for, er, someone coming in at the side of a maul on halfway. Lambie finds a good touch on the right, just inside the 22.
26 min South Africa steal the ball on the floor but again Reinach’s kick is charged down. England need quick ball but it’s a poor pass from Care that bounces to Barritt. England carry, slowly and Vermuelen is penalised for not releasing the man on the floor. Penalty England and Farrell knocks it over from under the posts. It’s England 3-10 South Africa.
24 min The Twickenham crowd get their boos out as Barritt is taken out by Lambie chasing a high Farrell kick. No matter though as South Africa knock on and Attwood makes a charge into the 22. He goes too far though and by the time he gets it to Watson the Bath winger has run out of space. It goes left though and, after a lovely bit of handling from Hartley, May looks to scramble to the line. He holds on though and we’ll go all the way back for that South Africa knock-on.
23 min England turn it over but Reinach’s box kick is charged down by Lawes. South Africa secure the ball on their own line and Reinach atones for his mistake by shooting off to the left and finding de Villiers, who clears well.
22 min First Barritt and then Vunipola take it up on the crash ball and England make good ground into the 22. Walsh signals for a penalty then changes his mind.
21 min Ah the scrum. Literally no one apart from Brian Moore likes the scrum, do they? England get the penalty as Marler gets the better of du Plessis. Good work that, from the Harlequins captain and Farrell kicks to touch on the right.
19 min South Africa win the lineout and keep it tight, but the plan falls apart when Strauss knocks it on in contact with Hartley. That’s good defence from England. “Have this XV ever met before?” asks Stuart Wetton. “It doesn’t look like it.” There’s no cohesion there for England, you’re right.
Alex Cuthbert’s try has put Wales 10-0 up against Fiji.
Updated
18 min They don’t have possession anymore though as Wood plays the ball on the floor and Lambie kicks a penalty up to within 36m of the England line. That was great work by Burger to win the turnover on the floor there.
17 min Slow ball again from Care and he’s cost England. But this is better... or was. Brown takes it at first receiver and sears through the middle, cutting a swath through the defence. There’s no control at the breakdown though from England and they’re driven back, although they retain possession.
Try! England 0-10 South Africa (Serfontein 16, Lambie con)
Oh dear. Care flicks out a lazy pass after taking a couple of steps off the base of a ruck and Serfontein plucks the ball out the air and races home from 60m.
Updated
14 min Du Plessis infringes at the maul. “That’s so deliberate and so clear” says Walsh, readying the prop for the yellow card. “Be careful,” says Walsh and Farrell kicks to touch. What on earth?
13 min It’s wet out there – there was a downpour before kick-off, but this is poor handling from England as Vunipola knocks on this time in midfield. Le Roux kicks ahead and England have a lineout midway between their 22 and the 10m line.
10 min England work it slowly along the line but the ball squirts forward out of Attwood’s grasp. South Africa kick ahead and Farrell, on his own, looks to run it back from under his own sticks. It’s an idiotic decision and he gives Watson a hospital pass. South Africa wrap the winger up and he holds on. Penalty South Africa, who almost scored a try when they ripped it from Watson’s grasp. Lambie kicks the penalty from the left, inside the 22 and it’s England 0-3 South Africa.
9 min England get a lineout on the left as Brown’s up-and-under is spilled into touch by Matfield on his own 10m line.
7 min South Africa pinch the lineout but closed the gap and England have a penalty. Farrell kicks it down the left touchline and finds touch, but England knock it on after winning the lineout. South Africa have the advantage and Pietersen looks to jink around, knowing it’s a free play, but Lawes hits him with an absolute monster of a tackle. Wales have taken the lead through a George North try.
Updated
6 min It’s a good solid scrum from South Africa. Vermuelen picks up at the base, carries upfield and Reinach clears.
5 min This is good from England. Wood takes the line out and Care crabs across the pitch. Two decoy runners come through and then Eastmond wriggles his way through the defence but knocks on in the tackle 10m out.
3 min Etzebeth wins the lineout cleanly but South Africa can’t get it along the line quickly. A good tackle on de Villiers by Eastmond and when Vermuelen carries it into the ruck England counterruck well and win a penalty. Farrell kicks to touch on the 22 on the right.
2 min Good defence from South Africa and the ball squirts loose from a ruck. Hartley sweeps it up but is tackled well by Jannie du Plessis and South Africa get a penalty on their own 10m line. Lambie thumps it upfield for a lineout just outside the 22 on the right.
1 min South Africa take the kick-off in their 22 and eventually work it to Pat Lambie. Care comes flying in to try and charge it down and Lambie doesn’t make much ground. England win the lineout on the left, around 30m from the line.
Wales fans: And indeed Fiji fans, I’ll be keeping an eye on that match and providing you with updates as and when. Jamie Roberts v Nadolo could be a mighty clash there.
England’s attempt to beat South Africa for the first time since 2006 is underway. Owen Farrell gets us going.
And this on Steve Walsh:
@DanLucas86 Steve Walsh as Ref? This should be fun, he had improved the last few times I've seen him. So expect a disaster.
— AndyinBrum (@AndyinBrum) November 15, 2014
@DanLucas86 Walsh also sent Sheriden off in the lions 2005 for not punching someone
— AndyinBrum (@AndyinBrum) November 15, 2014
I’d forgotten that last one, actually. But yeah, the guy’s a bit of a joke.
Danny Care, on the occasion of his 50th cap, leads the England team out. A few more predictions for you.
“SA to shade it by a score, 2 or 3 perhaps,” reckons Robin Hazelhurst. “And the England-in-crisis people to go mental ‘we’ve lost to the second best team in the world having already lost to the best! And having not won in NZ where nobody ever does! Oh woe is us!!’” Yep that about sums it up.
@DanLucas86 @guardian_sport It could be a draw.
— Kate Holdsworth (@DutchBirdKate) November 15, 2014
Yes, this is likely to happen if the two teams score the same number of points.
@DanLucas86 Afternoon Dan. As we're playing Georgia & I can't get too excited, I'm supporting the Bokke against their West Germanic Cousins
— Shaun Thorpe (@ShaunThorpe9) November 15, 2014
Shaun’s an Ireland fan, incidentally.
@DanLucas86 Heart says England...but head says SA (unfortunately).....hope the head is wrong!!!
— Reg Gorczynski (@RegGorczynski) November 15, 2014
Bad news department: today’s referee is Jeff Tweedy lookalike Steve Walsh. The Kiwi ref, who tends to come across as an official who loves to be the centre of attention, has been suspended three times from international rugby. That’s as many times as Dylan Hartley. From Wikipedia:
Walsh was involved in a verbal altercation with the England fitness coach Dave Reddin at the 2003 Rugby World Cup after England’s “16-man” fiasco in the match against Samoa. Reddin was cleared of misconduct for his part in the incident but was banned from touchline duties for two games for sending winger Dan Luger onto the field against the match official’s orders. Walsh was suspended for three days, missing one match, before going on to referee at the quarter-final stage.
During the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, Irish winger Shane Horgan was called for a knock-on in a match against Taranaki, on touch judge Walsh’s advice. Horgan disputed the decision and was met with verbal abuse from Walsh. After the Lions made an official complaint, Walsh was suspended from officiating duties for four months.
On Wednesday 18 March 2009, it was reported that Walsh would lose his job for a third strike on his record, after appearing drunk and being asked to leave a refereeing conference in Sydney in December 2008. A New Zealand Rugby Union statement in January had said that he wouldn’t be considered for the opening month of Super 14 matches.
Having seen Walsh officiate a few times, he also has a funny old interpretation of the laws of the game.
We have a first email of the day. And much like last week (I think, I’m not one for checking facts or anything) it’s from Simon McMahon: “Afternoon Dan. Very nice of you to allow us to choose between your good self and that nice Mr Steinberg. It’s a tough one. I like rugby, and I like tennis too. But which is better? Now, if there was golf on, I’d be with that crazy cat Scott Murray. No doubt. And now that I’m here, I’ll feel bad if I leave. Maybe I can come back later for Scotland v. New Zealand?”
You can check out any time you like, Simon, but you can never leave.*
*You know what, I don’t even know what that means. But it’s a cool line, no?
You’re all going to look up what Martin’s unprintable tweet was, aren’t you?
We also have a prediction from Martin Pengelly of this very parish... ’s American guise.
@DanLucas86 …or, more printably if you wanted, SA win 20-15.
— Martin Pengelly (@MartinPengelly) November 15, 2014
Also, predictions are welcome as ever. I’m going with South Africa by four points. Although I’m beginning to think that some of you aren’t that convinced by my ability as a clairvoyant...
Expect great commentary from @DanLucas86. Just don't put money on his prediction.#carrythemhome http://t.co/3zZE6O3bji
— Eamonn store (@EamonnStore) November 15, 2014
Do you like tennis? I like tennis. Jacob Steinberg also likes tennis. But the difference is that he likes tennis more and I like rugby more, which is why he’s got the ATP Tour Finals game-by-game report here. Which of us do you like more? Your chance to choose right here.
Another thing. Congratulations to David Edwards and Melanie Williams on their engagement. I’m missing their engagement party tonight because I’m doing this and feel quite bad. Here’s hoping everything comes up Milhouse for them.
So what of England’s chances? South Africa have spoken publicly about wanting to right the wrongs of last week’s performance. Certainly they were below their best, although it does feel as though Ireland deserve more credit than they’ve received for subduing them. Expect the usual from the Springboks today, just an amped-up version. Their players will be tearing into England with every sinew fully flexed and it’s going to take a hell of a defence to stop them.
England on the other hand have been more relaxed, calmer in the build-up. This shouldn’t be mistaken for apathy though. The 2011 shower might as well be decades in the past as this is a group that, for whatever they may lack technically, is as committed and strong-willed as any. They’re also not stupid guys: they’ll be aware of the tone of this week’s columns and they won’t be lacking in desire to set a few people straight.
The side England have picked is, again, not the one I’d have gone with. The two wingers were essentially passengers, consigned to defensive duties only, after the first 10 minutes against New Zealand and that stems from the poor distribution and woeful kicking of the two half-backs. The three-quarter line isn’t ideal with perhaps only Watson someone I’d pick for the first XV, but injuries are injuries and so Burrell, Tuilagi and Rokoduguni aren’t worth thinking about for today anyway. I’m still not convinced by May either, although he scored an excellent try last week (look what happens when you actually run forward!) and put in a number of excellent tackles to shackle Ben Smith, so deserves his chance.
Today’s riff then is a simple one: pick your England World Cup XV assuming everyone’s available. I’ll go with Foden, Rokoduguni, Tuilagi, Burrell/Burgess, Watson, Cipriani, Dickson; Corbisiero, Hartley, Cole, Parling, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola. Webber, Mullan, Wilson, Launchbury, Haskell, Care, Farrell and Nowell make my bench.
Preamble
Afternoon folks. ENGLAND ARE IN CRISIS! Some clown gave Stuart Lancaster a six-year contract which, if England lose today, MUST BE TORN UP IMMEDIATELY! If you’re looking for a football analogy then Lancaster is ALAN PARDEW and the morons in charge, whoever they are, are collectively MIKE BLOODY ASHLEY! It’s a joke, a farce. A year out from hosting the World Cup and England ARE A BLEEDIN’ SHAMBLES! Tickets for Twickenham are damned expensive and England simply aren’t showing the BULLDOG SPIRIT that the homophobic, borderline xenophobic, boorish, boo boys who would cause you to leave a bar and vow never to return if you even suspected one of those utter cockends might ever have visited it crowd ARE OWED. If England don’t win today then Chris Robshaw et al must be forced to telephone the mother of a soldier who died in Afghanistan and explain why they LOST AT A GAME five times in a row, four against the All Blacks and now against the second-best side in the world after the All Blacks. THEY ARE DOOMED.
In case you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic. Losing a bunch of games to New Zealand and South Africa is pretty much expected now and, despite the doom-mongering among just about every journalist going this week, a fifth defeat on the spin (after four games in a row, three of them away, against New Zealand) wouldn’t be a disaster for England. Sure, it wouldn’t bode well for the World Cup where there’s every chance they’ll play either the All Blacks or South Africa in the final, but hands up everyone who genuinely, honestly ever thought that England will triumph on home soil next year.
Put your hand down, you lying so-and-so.
England under Stuart Lancaster are a good side. Galvanised by the sense of occasion on home soil next year, they certainly have a chance of being the best northern hemisphere team at the tournament. But, despite the excellence of the Irish, the spirit of England, the rejuvenation of Scotland, the potential of the French and the still-just-about-untapped explosive brilliance of the Welsh, they are not among the front runners for the World Cup. They are not close to the front runners. If England and the front runners were a movie couple they would be [15-minute break while the sports desk ruminates on romance movies... oh got one!] Scarlett Johansson and her husband in Lost In Translation [that’s one of my favourite movies, can’t believe it took me that long to think of one].
Regardless of today’s result, talk of portents of doom and humiliation and group-stage exits next year is laughable. An inability to beat the two best sides in the world – the two best sides by a hell of a long way, I mean, we’re talking Bundesliga distant here – with Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft, Semesa Rokoduguni, Luther Burrell, Manu Tuilagi and Sam Burgess all out injured is in no way indicative of how you might perform against Wales or Australia.
Perversely, the opposite isn’t really true. Look at Ireland last week: they’re a team in transition in the post-BOD era and yet turned in one of their greatest ever performances to shock South Africa. They’re a galvanised team with a greater understanding of how to win the big matches. South Africa, if the words emanating from their camp are to be believed, were slightly complacent but Ireland took advantage of that. If England can emulate the men in green (who played in white last week) today then great! If not then there’s still plenty of rugby to be played.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm. Here are your teams.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell , 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Marland Yarde
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (capt), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cornal Hendricks
Updated
Dan will be along shortly. In the meantime have a read of Robert Kitson’s preview on a game England dare not lose:
A handsome new book entitled Behind the Rose has just been published, largely based on the testimonies of some of the 1,368 men who have represented England at rugby union since 1871. It is both a historical treasure trove and a timely reminder, on the eve of another huge Twickenham Test for Stuart Lancaster’s team, that the modern generation are engaged in a different game.
The former grand slam-winning coach and lock forward Mike Davis whose contribution to England’s upturn around 1980 is often underestimated, recalls being unable to afford proper rugby boots when he made his Test debut in 1963, instead buying a pair of much cheaper football boots and dying them black. The Cornish prop Stack Stevens used to hitch lifts up to training in the Midlands in lorries carrying cauliflowers.
For much of the 1970s, winning with England was far from a regular phenomenon. It was the incomparable sporting all-rounder Alastair Hignell who summed it up best: “The attitude to sport then was that it was something you did on the way to something else.”
