On My Knees

In November 2003, England enjoyed their most wondrous day of sporting glory since the 1966 football World Cup final. Inspired by the amazing Jonny Wilkinson, they won the Rugby World Cup, silencing anti-Pom Australia with a victory in the final in Sydney in one of the most exciting sporting contests ever staged. The reaction of the nation back at home, starved of sporting success, was remarkable?a crowd of 750,000 would later cheer the team's victory parade through the streets of London. This was more than a rugby victory. It put the northern hemisphere back in charge of the sport but also turned the tide against Australian sporting dominance and perhaps even lit a beacon for the revival of all England's national sporting teams. Stephen Jones followed the whole process and notably the final push, which began in August 2002 and ended in November 2003 with the climax of England's spectacular victory.