England v Wales Match Preview

St. George
By Kath 5/11/03
November 8 2003

England v Wales - Rugby World Cup Quarter Final  Brisbane Suncorp Stadium - Sunday 9/11/03. A medieval tale for us all to relish?......

England v Wales - Rugby World Cup Quarter Final

Brisbane Suncorp Stadium - Sunday 9/11/03

A medieval tale for us all to relish?.............

And so it came to pass one late evening in that faraway land they call OZ, ........ that the mighty 'All Blacks' awoke the sleeping Dragon we know as Wales! Those mighty men in black angered the Dragon so much but still weakened by years of slumber, those mighty 'All Blacks' got the better of the Dragon.

But now the Dragon was stoked up, spitting fire and brimstone pacing around looking for it's next prey! Lo and behold that prey is to be his old foe England and St. George?

Now in another part of this Land of OZ, a leader of men so true, summoned his Knights of the Oval Ball together. The noble Knights came from all around our green and pleasant land we call England - from Waspieshire, Bathshire, Saleshire, Quinshire, Falconshire, Saintshire, Glawshire, Tykeshire, Saracenshire and an infidel from Perpignan!

They all assemble around Clive's oval table to discuss - war and evoke the cries of battle.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more - is England's cry to arms - and what arms we have to hold off this old enemy! The English Knights will have to be at the top of their game to sleigh this newly formed Dragon.

The Arms of the Knight's Pack - Leonard 111 caps on this day, in the year of our Lord 9th November 2003 and the Italian stallion Dallaglio, with true grit Johnson and a Back like no other!

aaaghhh....... what delights in store for us all, the 50th cap wonder - of White Knight Jonnnnnnyyyyy Wilkinson! (The man with the Golden Sword err Boot) and so 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!'

and here endeth our tale of Knights and Dragons - real action to follow

***

Wales played magnificently against the 'All Blacks' and at one point we held our breath as we thought that this may be the shock of the Rugby World Cup.

England will be giving Wales the total respect due to them and this is borne out in the team selection that Clive Woodward, England Head Coach has put out. This is a very strong side and the replacement bench even stronger, the competition is now becoming quite mouthwatering and the excitement building.

INJURIES: Updated 8/11/03 Lewsey Out - injured hamstring in training - Luger In - Abbot moves to the bench!

 

England: Luger, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen, J Wilkinson, M Dawson, J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (Captain), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallaglio.

Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt,  Abbott.

Wales: G Thomas; M Jones, M Taylor, I Harris, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; D Jones, C Charvis (capt), J Thomas.

Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, M Williams, D Peel, C Sweeney, K Morgan.