Top Ten: England Demolition Jobs
Michael Hodge
Posted on: 17 March 2009 - 12:36
Rugby Union
Sunday was a great day to be an England fan. Martin Johnson’s men put in a performance that has been seldom seen in recent years as his team put in a great display of attacking rugby to destroy a poor French side. Sport.co.uk takes a look at the top ten England demolition jobs over the years.
10) England 134 – 0 Romania (2001)
Not a surprise to see England thrash the Romanians, but that match saw special significance for Charlie Hodgson. The back up England fly half, making his debut, tore the Romanians to pieces as his creative running left the mainly amateur opposition players grasping at thin air. Hodgson finished the game with a record 44 points, with Jason Robinson also scoring 4 tries.
9) England 80 – 23 Italy (2001)
Italy’s first match at Twickenham in the Six Nations saw England run in 10 tries. Italy started of the match well and led at during several points during the first half. The second half saw England score 47 unanswered points as the Italians fitness levels vanished. The pick of the tries was a length of the field effort from up and coming speedster, Iain Balshaw.
8) Wales 15 – 44 England (2001)
With many people tipping Wales to push England close for England’s first trip to the Millennium Stadium, England destroyed Wales in a match that was over at half time. Jonny Wilkinson was in the form of his life and England played the sort of rugby that made them the best team on the planet. Will Greenwood enjoyed his recent recall to the England team with a hat trick of tries, while Ben Cohen claimed a brace. It was all to no avail though as Foot and Mouth disease curtailed England’s Grand Slam dream.
7) England 12 – 10 Australia (2007)
Although not a demolition scoreline, the match is remembered for England’s pack destroying their Australian counterparts. Andrew Sheridan and Nick Easter battered the Australians, stopping the dangerous Australian backs from ever getting clean ball. It proved to be a massive shock in a world cup that was full of them. Jonny Wilkinson scored all of England points.
6) England 60 – 23 Wales (1998)
The late 1990’s were pretty lean times for the England team. England were building for the 1999 World Cup and this result gave the English rugby public hope for the future. England ran in 8 tries against a fairly average Welsh side, but the crowd were there to witness Matt Dawson’s first try for England, plus Phil Vickery’s international debut.
5) England 48 – 19 France (2001)
A real game of two halves. Prior to this game, England were almost thought of as unbeatable, having scored 167 points in their last 3 games. France came to ruin the party and deservedly led 16-13 at the break. Clive Woodward rallied his men and they delivered a sensational second half performance, running in 5 tries to thrash a mesmerized French outfit.
4) England 34 – 10 France (2009)
A stunning first half from Martin Johnson’s men saw the best performance from an England side in recent years. The French pack were destroyed, while England’s set piece play was faultless. In the back line, England were prepared to run the ball at their opposition with Rikki Flutey coming away with 2 tries. France rallied in the second half, but England never looked threatened to record a victory that almost gives the kiss of life back into England rugby.
3) England 35 – 3 Ireland (1988)
The Ireland game in 1988 is considered by many as when England rugby left the doldrums of the 1980’s and entered one of its most successful periods in its history. England had not scored a try in its previous 3 matches and going in at half time 0-3 down, few expected much change. The second half saw England blitz the Irish with 35 unanswered points. Chris Oti was the man of the moment claiming a hat trick of tries, but the match is also famous for one other reason. When Oti touched down for his second try, certain parts of the old Twickenham started singing “Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot”. The tradition still continues 21 years later.
2) England 53 – 3 South Africa (2002)
The infamous “Battle of Twickenham”. England went into this game having just beaten Australia and New Zealand and looking for the clean sweep over the “Big 3”. South Africa came with just one thing on their mind… violence. In a game where up to 4 Springboks could have seen a red card, it was Johannes Labuschagne who was given his marching orders. From that point, England massacred the South Africans, scoring tries at will, inflicting South Africa’s worst ever result and possibly the darkest point of recent South African rugby.
1) Ireland 6 – 42 England (2003)
The Grand Slam decider on the last game of the Six Nations. Ireland had their strongest set up in recent years, led by possibly the best player in the world, Brian O’Driscoll. Ireland were going for their first grand slam since 1948, but were blown away by an England team on their way to world cup glory. Ireland started off the stronger side, but by the second half England were in full flow. Two late tries, the last one including some stunning hands by Jason Leonard saw England win their first grand slam in 8 years and had banished the memories of the previous 3 years last day heartaches.