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It was marvellous

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It was marvellous."As the nephew played in the Telstra Stadium in the biggest game of his life, and the uncle watched, tears of pride and emotion never far from his eyes, one truth was unswerving. George Cohen, the one man in the stadium apart from the heroes of Sydney who knew what it was to be both a World Cup winner and an Englishman, could not stop one word returning to his lips as his nephew Ben and his team-mates reclaimed their great prize in the last seconds of extra time. "It's uncanny," he said. England: J Lewsey (I Balshaw, 84); J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall (M Catt, 79), B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery (J Leonard, 80), M Johnson (capt), B Kay, R Hill (L Moody, 94), L Dallaglio, N Back.Referee: A Watson (South Africa).. "To come here and take the trophy from the southern hemisphere is absolutely fantastic.''Sydney line-upsAustralia: M Rogers; W Sailor (J Roff, 70), S Mortlock, E Flatley, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); B Young (M Dunning, 93), B Cannon (J Paul, 57), A Baxter, J Harrison, N Sharpe (D Giffin, 48), G Smith, D Lyons (M Cockbain, 57), P Waugh. I'm sure back home they are going absolutely berserk.'' There was something very similar happening in Sydney "We've taken the moral high ground," Dallaglio added. And on his right foot.Dallaglio, who had had a relatively quiet World Cup prior to his excellent display yesterday, said: "They called us Dad's Army and I think we proved something. And then Wilkinson swung his right foot and the rest, as they say, is hysteria."He's outstanding under pressure,'' George Gregan, the Australian captain and scrum-half, said of Wilkinson.

"He missed a few early in the match, but he knocked over the one that counted and you've got to take your hat off to him for that. It was a massive final wasn't it? Two world-class teams going at it hammer and tongs into extra time Congratulations must be extended to England. They delivered under pressure and they delivered when it counted.''England, and their captain Johnson, thoroughly deserved this famous victory, for which they have been planning for four years, ever since that shattering defeat to the Springboks, then the defending champions, in France."I'm just happy for the players because they put so much into it,'' Johnson said "They put their heart and sole into this campaign. We were frustrated in the second half, but we have got to give credit to Australia They are a very good team, with very good footballers With 20 minutes of extra time it could have gone any way. Instead, he read out the offending words and merely claimed it had "kept him smiling all week". His players would have got the message, as well as the French.

Similarly, he laughed off a recent Australian newspaper headline claiming that he was "less popular than Douglas Jardine" His response: "That's a fantastic rap. I am pleased with that."There is a sense of fate in the way that Woodward has arrived at this zenith in his life. Thus before last season's Grand Slam he produced a quote from this French counterpart, Bernard Laporte, which pronounced: "England can never win games that really matter."He could have snapped back in similar vein. He has constructed a team who have adhered to his principles and maintained the faith Both in each other and their coach.

While his men have continued to place the team first, he has proceeded to position them on pedestals. Failure has reacted in him responding with an almost military of discipline Ramsey had his wing-less wonders Woodward has his whinge-less warriors. At least for the most part.When the players threatened a strike over pay and conditions two years ago, he warned each of them that if it went ahead, they would never play for England again They backed down. Afterwards, Woodward admitted that a part of him admired his men's commitment to each other. It was a shrewd tactic: to threaten them, yet still emerge as their champion.He utilises mind games as efficiently as the next coach, particularly if that coach is Sir Alex Ferguson or Ars? Wenger.

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