England v Australia Rugby World Cup -Match Preview

ENGLAND
By Kath 19/11/03 1930 GMT
November 19 2003

England v Australia Rugby World Cup 2003 - England take on the World Champions in their own backyard for the prize of the Webb Ellis Trophy!

RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL 2003

Australia v England Match Preview:-

And so our mediaeval  tale continues........ but I will recap for late comers....... (you just can't get the crowds nowadays)!

King Clive and the Knights of the Oval Table set out many months ago on a journey to regain the Holy Grail the Webb Ellis Trophy!  This grail affectionately known as (Bill), was to be found in a faraway land they call OZ.

    

    The Webb Ellis Trophy!

This OZ land is a very primitive place and has strange folk and cultures but they have the prize that King Clive and the English Knights want!   

Now on this journey King Clive and the English Knights have fought off many a foe, sent from all nations - Georgia, South Africa, Samoa, Uruguay, Wales and  France!  Finally in the year of Our Lord, on the 22nd November, 2003, King Clive and the Knight's journey will be over. 

The final battle to take the grail will commence when General Jonno enters the Telstra fortress with the English Knights and (hopefully), win by fair means, what they have worked and fought for all of these long years. 

 

Sydney Olympic Telstra Stadium

Meanwhile, King Clive once again encamped with his knights at Manley (you know - I told you that place where Manly things are done)!  He summoned his battle weary Knights to the Oval Table for a war conference.   King Clive reminded them of what it was to be English and British and he said unto them, make no mistake my warrior Knights  this is a war of  the hemispheres. We will fight this day not just for our Rugby Brethren but for all sports fans in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Upon hearing this, the English Knights fell on their knees in pray to St. George for courage to overcome their marsupial foe - because you see these foe are not all man, they are part beast and digi vodaphone (NO! - they can't phone a friend in this game show)!

King Clive announced that Lord Michael Catty of Baath would stand down from the front line and be replaced by Knight Tindall upon hearing this Knight Tindall went over to speak to Lord Catty promising that he would uphold the cause to the end..

And so without further ado,  the battle cry rings out as our King Clive sayeth.....

And you, good yeoman,
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!'

 

Australia:-   Mat Rogers; Wendell Sailor; Stirling Mortlock; Elton Flatley; Lote Tuqiri; Stephen Larkham; George Gregan; David Lyons; Phil Waugh; George Smith; Nathan Sharpe; Justin Harrison; Al Baxter; Brendan Cannon; Bill Young.

Replacements: Jeremy Paul; Matt Dunning; David Giffin; Matt Cockbain; Chris Whitaker; Matt Giteau; Joe Roff.

 

England:- Josh Lewsey; Jason Robinson; Will Greenwood; Mike Tindall; Ben Cohen; Jonny Wilkinson; Matt Dawson; Lawrence Dallaglio; Neil Back; Richard Hill; Ben Kay; Martin Johnson (Captain); Phil Vickery; Steve Thompson; Trevor Woodman.

Replacements: Dorian West; Jason Leonard; Martin Corry; Lewis Moody; Kyran Bracken; Mike Catt; Iain Balshaw.

 

The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge.......
'CRY GOD FOR HARRY ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE '
Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1