England Profile
Fri, 18 May 2001 10:02
Colours: White
Honours: Rugby World Cup champions (2003), Six Nations Grand Slam (2003), Five Nations Grand Slam (1913, 1914, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1957, 1980, 1991, 1992 & 1995), World Cup runners-up (1991).
Coach: Former Bath stalwart Brian Ashton succeded Andy Robinson as England coach after a disastrous November Test series in 2006, inheriting a team very much in an uncertain period of transition. Ashton, who had a year as Ireland coach in 1996/7 before leaving to be first England attack coach, and then Bath coach, has a reputation for getting the best out of players and playing an expansive game.
Captain: Wasps prop Phil Vickery bounced back from three years of injury hell in 2006 to reclaim his place in England's front row. A quiet assured character, Vickery is one of the last remaining players who participated in the Rugby World Cup victory of 2003, and 'Raging Bull' would love nothing more than to lead England back from their low of 2006.
Player to watch: In the Six Nations tournament of 2007, Jonny Wilkinson returns to action after three years of injuries and bizarre accidents - he even succumbed to appendicitis. But he has apparently lost none of his enthusiasm or famous work ethic, and Brian Ashton reckon he is playing better than ever.
Profile: Traditional under-achievers on the international scene despite vast playing resources, England underwent something of a revolution in the late 1980s and were the northern hemisphere side to break the south's rugby hegemony after winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003, having moved to No.1 in the world rankings in the course of 2002.
Up until that period, England's glories had been few and far between, with great successes often followed immediately by failure. But the tenure of Geoff Cooke as England manager between 1988 and 1994 saw a period of sustained success for England, with structures put in place to enable the national team to finally fight its weight on the world stage.
Not that it has been plain-sailing all the way in recent years with the fabled Grand Slam slipping through England's fingers during the Five/Six Nations championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and their Rugby World Cup campaign in 1999 coming off the rails in spectacular style at the quarter-final stage when they were roundly beaten by South Africa in Paris.
Since the 2003 World Cup triumph, many of the players who led England to the pinnacle of the game have retired, including inspirational captain Martin Johnson.
Under the guidance of RWC-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward's right-hand man Andy Robinson, England went into a full slump, losing at home to Argentina for the first time ever in November 2006, but the hopes are surging under the auspices of Brian Ashton.
