Ouseburn's Twickers Diary Part 2


By Ouseburn (on 18/11/02)
November 22 2002

Ouseburn, the lucky lady, got to watch England beat a southern hemisphere team for the second time in two weeks, this time it was Australia's turn. Here's Ouseburn's Diary of the day.

Saturday 16th November, 2002

Dry/ Cold Day Temp., 3° 0553 Decided because of all the problems last week, we would set off earlier - Ehmm 7 mins to be exact! - have you noted that the temp dropped to 3° this week!! Blooming cold - (I'm sure there is a song in there somewhere - oooOOO aggghhhh Precious Moments). 0730 Onwards weather turned awful, driving rain and fog. Oh good Lord - another accident between J11 & 10 tail backs again, but fortunately this had cleared and just the road works slowing us down by the time we got to J9. Usual comfort stop however, not much of a comfort as it was a very tiring trip with the weather. 1012 J6a - M25 - still road works! 1037 M4 1040 J3/A312 road to Twickenham. 1116 Twickenham - we arrived this week one full hour earlier, 5 hours in total, which is our normal average for the trip. Much more leisurely walk down to the ground taking in the sights and sounds. Through Whitton again lots of guys outside the pubs beer glasses in hand chatting and generally having a good time, many wear their ZP club colours - a few Tigers prowling about but hey they did not frighten me! Most supporters however, tend to wear the England jersey, lots of Barbour's being sported. The guys come in all shapes and sizes, you see the Hooker types and the Line out types as well as the good old props - bless them! 1150 Into the West Car Park, I check out the ‘Roller’ I want for Christmas - and the various picnics - BT (or should I say 02?) keep handing me free samples of Nivea for Men aftershave balm...Hmmm - I really thought I had looked pretty good up until then - honest!!! But obviously not!!! - Gave them swiftly to my hubby. 1245 Waiting for the team bus - lots more security this week. High visibility stewards came in red, yellow and a very bright shade of lime green also special branch officers with their dogs. If I remember last year it was the same tight security - I rather think the RFU were frightened that the Aussies might pinch the ‘Cook’ cup, because the chances are they're not going to win it! Then a horn goes and the stewards fly into action, well walk at a gentle pace - come on now I am allowed some poetic licence here!! Anyway the horn goes and then that sound of the Police Out Riders bring the England coach up from the main gate - I’m really sorry I can’t really describe this sound, but it sends shivers down my spine as I know the team are on their way. Here they are - the England mascot guy is in the forefront waving his flag and out jumps Dawson, he always seems to be first off! This time I get much better photos of the team! There are the usual shouts from the crowd but this time the applause for the team is deafening and you could tell from their faces they were well chuffed - even our Wilko. Off they trot into the players entrance and off to prepare. 1300 Then came the Australians - looking through the bus window - they were not smiling - they looked worried. John Inverdale (BBC news team) standing in front of us doing his piece to camera as the team collected their kit. Not as many supporters here from Australia compared to the All Blacks the previous week. 1315 Lunch - I had toyed with the idea of bringing Wine this week a nice Claret - but the beer won through in the end. Something we spotted in the west car park ‘Harry Ramsden’ Fish & Chips - well I never, what next in the West Car Park along with Bolly ?!?! Watching for the famous folk eye spied a huge Tiger goes under the name of Deeenooo Deeenooo - had to laugh as the young male steward stopped him and asked to see his ticket most celebs walk through being recognised - but Deeenoo was a real gentleman and pandered to this young man. 1345 Into the ground go and search out our very own steward JJ - chatted for a while being told off for blocking the walkways by another steward ooohhh! Off to take our seats and on the way I play at being David Bailey again - will this picture come out? is there enough light? - ah the decisions!! In our seats now and I’m right in the middle of the group huddle again - Martin is telling us all what we have to do and then the team break out into training routines - my favourite is when the all line up in a row and follow the Assistant Coach as he runs at them challenging - its fantastic to watch and the team tend to shout at the same time a bit like when the pack engage! 1420 The St. George's Cross is revealed by the Royal Electrical and Marine Engineers The flags of Australia and England are brought onto the pitch and the Divas sing:- "Land of Hope & Glory, mother of the free, How shall we extol thee, who are born to thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set; God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
And then the Fireworks go off and out come Australia followed by England - the roar from the crowd is amazing and yet more Fireworks. Then a minutes silence for the people murdered in the dreadful bombing in Indonesia - national anthems sung and the teams take up their positions. 1430 We are off!! - England out of the blocks flying, going at Australia with speed, ball being passed from left to right and then Simpson-Daniel hands of the ball to Cohen and TRY!! Twickenham goes wild - the body language of the Australians says it all. Out come our Brandy flasks for the first sip of the day. Credit to the Australians they come back at us and half time the teams go in with just a narrow margin in favour of England - but nothing to worry about - Famous last words! Out come Australia - down goes the gauntlet and two tries within quick succession - The Twickenham crowd is silenced - my nerves are in tatters again and the rule is I only get to drink my brandy if we score not the opposition! Then the Captain marshalled his troops and you could see an air of calm assurance come over the team and then the crowd started to sing Swing Low and we were all over those Aussies wave after wave our boys were creating the chances, our lineout superb and no matter what they threw at England - our boys prevailed and then my man of the match Ben Cohen went in for his second TRY! Jonny missed nothing all day - unlike Matt Burk. (I think Jonny was made perfect in heaven - don’t you)? The odd thing was the timing - how the referee managed to get 7 mins each half - well I give in! 86mins and counting the crowd where whistling and noise was deafening and then I heard the ref say on the Ref Link to the touch judge: "I can't hear the time, I have called for the time but can’t hear it." Oh my good lord I am now on the edge of my seat, Australia coming at England again - then all of sudden the ref blows up and the crowd all around stand up and the music plays and everyone goes wild - apart from a young Australian in front of me who gets a hug from her better half. Up goes Martin Johnson to claim the ‘Cook’ cup - as I am on the West side I can't see the trophy being presented but you can watch it on the Big Screen - so I sit back and cheer and clap like the rest - what a wonderful moment. Thank You -Team England, Thank You. England 32 v Australia 31 1630 Set off straight away back to the car - as the weather was turning again and in the dark the rain and fog etc., was not something we looked forward to. 2212 Pulled into the driveway - Very tired. Temp 2° 2300 On with the Video - watched the full hour pre-amble and the whole match again - but because the ref managed to find a further 15min overall, we just got everything in however, We did miss the thoughts of Dewi, Barnsey and Lynagh - ask me if I care! 0215am. Another great day ! Message to Diary - Go to bed sooner next week for the Springboks !! - away to dream now Ouseburn over and out.
  • England vs Australia Preview
  • Ouseburn's Twickers Diary - Part 1
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