An English victory, but the dragon finds its fire

Australia was a glorious setting for the fifth Rugby
World Cup, but the tournament started quietly.
Results were very much as expected, as the three
southern hemisphere giants looked to be progressing
comfortably to the latter stages along with England
and France. The others were scrambling to join them.
Wales had beaten Canada, Tonga and Italy in their
first matches to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
For the final group match, coach Steve Hansen
selected fringe players to face New Zealand. The
tournament was unexpectedly ignited by this ‘under
strength’ Welsh team and their flowing, stylish rugby.
Wales led the mighty All Blacks well into the second
half before a grandstand finish from New Zealand
secured a 53-37 win. The flame of the Welsh way was
lit and Hansen decided to select a fairly unchanged
team for the quarter-final tie with England.
England had passed through their group with little
alarm and match by match established themselves as
one of the favourites. Wales played like a team with
nothing to lose and with the spirit of the great Welsh
sides of old. At half time it looked as if the Welsh way
would be enough to derail the English challenge, but the
introduction of Mike Catt by coach Clive Woodward
changed the match. Gradually the two-pronged kicking
attack by Catt and the immaculate Jonny Wilkinson
gained territory for England and they clawed their way
back into the contest. After an epic battle England
progressed to the semi-finals.
With Wilkinson ever influential England, captained by
the outstanding Martin Johnson, defeated South Africa
in the semi-final at Perth. The final against Australia in
Sydney went to extra time, and in the dying seconds
Wilkinson’s drop goal for world cup glory secured a
place in history for the red rose team. The offloading
game played by Wales against New Zealand and
England developed and led to the Grand Slam of 2005 –
the first for 27 years.