An immaculate performance. The writing was on the wall. A special say for Richard Hill - often underlooked but he made this pack work - one of the best back rows of all time.
Fair play to Jason Leonard...did the full 80, he must have been well on the way to 40 years old here.....nifty on his feet and smashing the tackles in. I don't think you'll see the likes of this England pack again very soon.
Considering how hit and miss the set piece for England was It was a hell of a match I always wondered how would have been if Steve Thompson and line out had functioned " bag ball what was that???" Still better then than in the World Cup
This was England at their peak, right before they set off to win the world cup. I wonder would this England team beat the current Irish team today? I'm Irish myself but I don't think Ireland would win. I think Ireland have actually yet to peak as well which is pretty crazy considering they've just hammered France in their own backyard but that England team were something else when they got going. I remember feeling gutted watching this game because both teams had come into it looking for a GS. But England were on another planet no matter what we did and what we threw at them. All household names now too. I'm hoping Ireland can carry the 6N or even northern hemisphere mast into the next world cup and win it. Its been a long time since 2003, we need more 6N teams getting to semis and finals of the WC in the future but England showed us there is a way. Also, I can't believe this was 21 years ago... time truly waits for no man.
We never saw Johnny in his prime, those injuries he had for 3 or 4 seasons after The World Cup win were horrible, just a once in a generational talent, he had one problem with me I wish he was Irish , we have a World Cup, I’d take him over Carter every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!!
Watching back, it really is remarkable how much this England team broke new ground in terms of standards and professionalism. This was a really strong Ireland side (BoD, Murphy, Byrne, Hickie, Maggs, young RoG and Paul O'Connell) but they look very off the pace compared to England - old-fashioned passing techniques and telegraphed, one dimensional attacks that England could easily read. Clive Woodward is not a great rugby brain and probably got more credit than he deserved at the time, given his subsequent record and the fact that he had a once in a lifetime generation of players available. All the same, he deserves credit for spearheading specialist coaching, superb training and conditioning standards and an utterly ruthless will to win. My word though, Will Greenwood... good player but a total prick.
That England team was immense. They should really have kicked on from this and wc win and dominated rugby ....Ridiculous how they haven't given their resources
Have seen more drop goals in this match then all of this year’s six nations I think. There would have been a few more yellows too if abiding by new rules on anything to do with the head.
Dear Eire. England hit you, hit you and then hit you again. Your 2003 team were simply brilliant however, we put the very fear into you. Stringer did not know what the heck was going on, Dawson owned him. Rugby perfection.
What an iconic year for England if only we knew the grand slam would be followed by winning the World Cup - what an era - marvellous
That England side between 2001 and 2003 was one of the great sides. Players who became household names all over the pitch.
That was a great England team, from an Irish supporter.
An immaculate performance. The writing was on the wall. A special say for Richard Hill - often underlooked but he made this pack work - one of the best back rows of all time.
If you have ever underestimated Richard Hill, then you are certainly watching the wrong sport.
Sexton couldn’t clean Wilkinson’s boots!! Hope he didn’t miss his flight last weekend 😂😂😂😂 ABs!
Wilkinson in his prime was a god
greatest 10 of all time
Wilkinson at he's finest. England Lions rampantly. Altogether pure brilliance. I remember it with great pride and find memories.
Thank you Ian , what a fantastic second half in defence and attack. Unbelievable win. Thanks man
Such a different England team during that time...
Best ever imo.
Brilliant watch for a saturday night locked in. THANKYOU.
Willkinsons defence... . Unbelievable
No messing about with the scrums in those days. So much better to watch than the slow reset after reset of the modern game.
Jesus johnny had it all
Johnny was something else.
The best England ever played, until Kiwi's W.C. semi
What
Wilkinson tackling like a back row forward. You never see that from a number 10.
Fair play to Jason Leonard...did the full 80, he must have been well on the way to 40 years old here.....nifty on his feet and smashing the tackles in. I don't think you'll see the likes of this England pack again very soon.
He was 35.
Considering how hit and miss the set piece for England was
It was a hell of a match
I always wondered how would have been if Steve Thompson and line out had functioned " bag ball what was that???"
Still better then than in the World Cup
This was England at their peak, right before they set off to win the world cup. I wonder would this England team beat the current Irish team today? I'm Irish myself but I don't think Ireland would win. I think Ireland have actually yet to peak as well which is pretty crazy considering they've just hammered France in their own backyard but that England team were something else when they got going. I remember feeling gutted watching this game because both teams had come into it looking for a GS. But England were on another planet no matter what we did and what we threw at them. All household names now too.
I'm hoping Ireland can carry the 6N or even northern hemisphere mast into the next world cup and win it. Its been a long time since 2003, we need more 6N teams getting to semis and finals of the WC in the future but England showed us there is a way.
Also, I can't believe this was 21 years ago... time truly waits for no man.
First 50 minutes, cracking game.
Why didn’t you show the anthems? More importantly the build up to the anthems?
Indeed. It was epic, anthems hugely respectful as well. A bit of a shame as this was so historic.
Because this is a sports show & not a singing show.
How good was Geordan Murphy - awesome player.
Shame he isnt doing well with leicstier
Indeed ( without offense ), we showed you a level of rugby that you only have ever dreamed of x
There was so much more space on the field in 2003, made for exciting rugby!
We never saw Johnny in his prime, those injuries he had for 3 or 4 seasons after The World Cup win were horrible, just a once in a generational talent, he had one problem with me I wish he was Irish , we have a World Cup, I’d take him over Carter every day of the week and twice on Sunday!!!
wilkinson vs odriscoll the clash of not so big titans
oh how rucks have changed...
Watching back, it really is remarkable how much this England team broke new ground in terms of standards and professionalism.
This was a really strong Ireland side (BoD, Murphy, Byrne, Hickie, Maggs, young RoG and Paul O'Connell) but they look very off the pace compared to England - old-fashioned passing techniques and telegraphed, one dimensional attacks that England could easily read.
Clive Woodward is not a great rugby brain and probably got more credit than he deserved at the time, given his subsequent record and the fact that he had a once in a lifetime generation of players available. All the same, he deserves credit for spearheading specialist coaching, superb training and conditioning standards and an utterly ruthless will to win.
My word though, Will Greenwood... good player but a total prick.
That England team was immense. They should really have kicked on from this and wc win and dominated rugby ....Ridiculous how they haven't given their resources
Can someone explain what that first penalty was for?
Neil Back offside? Bit of a guess, it's hard to see.
Have seen more drop goals in this match then all of this year’s six nations I think. There would have been a few more yellows too if abiding by new rules on anything to do with the head.
Dear Eire. England hit you, hit you and then hit you again. Your 2003 team were simply brilliant however, we put the very fear into you. Stringer did not know what the heck was going on, Dawson owned him. Rugby perfection.
England vs New Zealand 2003 please
So, every time an England player was hurt, they also happened to bleed?
Woodward learnt a lot from the NFL...
Amazingly arrogant finish by Greenwood!
he was taking the piss out of his mate, Wilko, actually. the game was done, no arrogance at all.
Fair play but I bet the Irish felt “arrogant English”! What a great team we were in 2003!
Any chance of the series whitewash of Australia 2016?
England were semi professional already. Ireland still mainly amateur. Now both are professional - but Ireland is very professional and England isn’t.
Very........................ white.
What do u mean
Stringer vs Dawason....still makes me laugh
Murphy is not "electrifying", Murphy is a chancer, nothing more, nothing less
Stringer? The WORST Scrummie EVER??