Defeat of Argentina in 2000 was important stepping stone for Clive Woodward’s side on way to winning ultimate prize
I
t is exactly 25 years since the most fraught pre-match buildup in the history of English international rugby union. In this same week in November 2000 a pay row led to the entire national side walking out on strike, prompting Clive Woodward to threaten that an alternative team of lower-league amateurs would be chosen if his players did not return to training by 11am the following morning.
After a tense standoff they duly did so, a grudging truce was agreed and the weekend game against Argentina went ahead with England winning 19-0. Three years later all but two of that matchday squad (the exceptions were David Flatman and Matt Perry) were lifting the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The moral of the “strike” story? The darkest hour can be the springboard to a spectacular golden dawn.
So why does all this feel relevant again now? Particularly given England’s players are paid much better these days, they are winning regularly and Argentina’s on-field stock also continues to rise. This year alone the Pumas have beaten the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand, not to mention Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend. For good measure they also defeated England at Twickenham as recently as three years ago.
