THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP TRIUMPH

The rain is still pouring, the scores are level, the clock shows 100 minutes. Matt Dawson pulls the ball from the ruck,flicks it on to Jonny Wilkinson, who, with his right foot drops the ball between the post with effectively the last kick of the match. The most memorable result in English rugby is sealed. England are world champions and deservedly so.

Team England Rugby’s World Cup 2003, the Official Account of England’s World Cup Triumph is the story of the momentous achievements of Clive Woodward’s squad, the first team from the Northern Hemisphere to capture the World Cup. It picks up from England’s 2003 Grand Slam triumph covering the pre-tournament warm-up games against Wales and France and the announcement of Clive Woodward’s squad for Australia. Thereon in follows a match by match account of the opening pool games, including the hard fought victories over South Africa and Samoa, the punishing quarter final against Wales and the supremely accomplished victory over France in the semi-final, before the exhausting climax of extratime in Sydney against the Wallabies, a night when Martin Johnson led imperiously, the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Mike Tindall and Jason Robinson were a constant menace, and the kicking and all round performance of Jonny Wilkinson ensured the Webb Ellis Trophy would be heading back on a plane back to the home of rugby.

The World Cup triumph was a  supreme England team effort, and the book features first person accounts from numerous players, including Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson and Will Greenwood, as well as Clive Woodward, Andy Robinson and the coaching staff. Part celebratory souvenir, part detailed and comprehensive record, World Cup 2003 is the fully authorised, behind the scenes account of English rugby’s crowning moment.