The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 81

The Observer 23 November 2003 vmw.observer.co.uksport WORLD CUP FINAL We have just put the icing on the cake' ft (Q) gained The England captain revenge for the one his career, says Michael Ayiwin have loved to have played Australia. It has made it such a great occasion. I think the top two teams in the world arrived at the final and between the two of us we've managed to provide a pretty epic game. 'I think if the conditions had been better we would have won a lot Jones also obliged the occasion by offering lavish tributes laced with the subtle digs he has made his own. The Australia coach agreed with one journalist's suggestion that it had been a photo finish between the teams.

'You slug it out for 100 minutes and get beaten in the 99th yeah, that would qualify as a photo he said. 'England were outstanding and are the best team in the world by one minute. 'They play to their 'THERE'S PROBABLY KIDS OUT NOW IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE BUYING BOOTS AND PRACTISING THEIR FIELD GOALS' EDDIE JONES IT HAD LOOKED all week all tournament, actually as if Clive Woodward had been biting his lip. For a man not afraid to have a go at the opposition if he thinks them out of order, he has been a model of restraint and diplomacy. At last, with the trophy he wanted in his hands, he has allowed himself to have a dig at the critics who have plagued his peace of mind.

When asked why England played a more expansive game yesterday, despite the conditions, he replied: 'We didn't go out and play a more expansive game tonight. We played the way we've played for a couple of years. I think we're one of the most expansive teams in world rugby. 'The campaign this week has clearly been led by the Australian media. It didn't make any difference to this team.

We just went out to win a game of rugby. 'If you guys in the Australian media look at the facts, we've won five in a row now. Australia have scored eight tries, we've scored seven. I think we've played far more expansive rugby than the 'Winning the World Cup is very important and it is just a big thank you to the Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union. We have just put the icing on the cake and we want to keep this 'What happened on the pitch at the end will live with us for ever.

I think we should make it compulsory now that you don't get a ticket at Twickenham unless you wear a white added Woodward, in tribute to England's vast army of supporters. He was also anxious to pay tribute to Australia, but he was every bit as keen to reiterate the priority he attaches to winning a philosophy he has repeated ad nauseam above the howls of denigration that have been hurled his way the last few weeks. 'Well done to Eddie Jones and George Gregan and Australia. They stepped up to the mark again, like they did against New Zealand. 'If I could have picked the final when I arrived I would IT WOULD BE nice to report that there were tears welling in the corner of Martin Johnson's eye, but actually there was only blood.

There was a big puffing-out of cheeks as well relief seemed to be the overriding emotion. Johnson now has the hardware to prove that he is the greatest captain England rugby has known. The outpouring of gratitude from those that feel safe under his protectorate, whether on the field or in the stands or on the sofa, might be ovemhelrning to anyone of those who feel it, were they to be on the receiving end. But Johnson is a tidal barrier of a man and such men are not given to extravagant shows of emotion, even when their work is finally done. He ambled around the field during the lap of honour with a huge arm around the shoulders of Jonny Wilkinson, the executioner to his judge.

But there was never any sign of an emotional breakdown, even at the press conference afterwards. 'It will take a few days to sink he said. 'It is fantastic for all the players, the management and the whole of England. After they kicked the equalising penalty in extra time, we called a long kick-off and we went straight up the middle. Once Matt Dawson had made the break, followed by Neil Back, I took it up once more and I think there were 30 seconds to go.

'We then had Wilko in front of the sticks to win the World Cup and you just wouldn't have anyone else there, would This hardness, of course, is the making of the man. Ten years ago, when he stepped into the England team for the first time, it was obvious immediately that the 23-year-old had presence. People spoke in hushed tones about the honing of his skills he received when he played as a youngster in New Zealand. Here was an All Black among our own ranks. He turned out to be a man beyond even the intransigence of that fabled breed of warrior.

In fact, we can say now that we knew England would win this thing all along. How could they not when they lined up behind Johnson? Later in the year in which strengths with a very good forward pack and hard running backs. They should be lauded as the best team in the world. They had to play well. We put them under the pump but we just came He also had a special 'tribute' for Jonny Wilkinson.

'I like his Adidas commercials I think they're pretty flash. He's an absolute one-out-of-the-box Jonny Wilkinson. There's probably kids out there now in the northern hemisphere buying Adidas boots and practising their field goals. And probably a lot of them aren't going to be sitting down for dinner on Christmas day with their parents, they're going to be out there And with that the Clive and Eddie show wound up -for the time being at least. Standing tall: Martin Johnson powers forward once more as he leads his side to victory over Australia.

Photograph by David RogereGetty Images reached the top of it. It might not soak in for another few days, but maybe when it does, in a quiet place, he'll allow those eyes to soften a shade. But the rest of us will only be shown the blood. against the transience of the commercial world could not be greater. The game may be changing around him, but it revolves around him, too, and never more than on this swirling, rainy night when he blemish on he won his first cap, he was playing for the Lions.

Four years after that he was made Lions captain for the tour to South Africa, having never captained an England side. The reasoning was simple -they wanted someone who could knock on the Springboks' changing-room door and put the fear of God into them. Just by being there. And the effect was the same as the two teams strode out on to the field yesterday. England walked out behind a giant with a war-torn face; Australia's leader George Gregan was slick and savvy, but his is a leadership for a modern, sophisticated world.

Johnson's touches on something deeper. It's a simple playground instinct. Some people just demand to be followed. Others look at them and know only that they want to be in their gang or on their team. It's a safer place to be.

THERE AREN'T ANY new ways to describe what he does when he finally gets on the field. It is rugby from both the old days and the new. At the age of 33, he has never been fitter or stronger, never more skilful or clever. All of it tribute to his tireless pursuit and to the science of perfection that pervades the modern game. But and this is where we still get that shiver he is ultimately moulded from those dark days when the rugby field was a more lawless place to be.

He has curbed the violent tendencies of his character, but the residual aura of intimidation is still there. It rallies those around him. Johnson was either not captain or not playing in the three grand-slam botches that blighted this team's fortunes and led commentators to question their ability to handle the big occasion. When he plays, England somehow become a harder team to beat and thus, of course, they become a team more likely to win. Now that the World Cup is theirs, no one need worry for now, but at some point Johnson will have to consider retirement.

When he does go England must hope that those other leaders he has gathered around him can carry the torch. He took hold of the game yesterday after England's uncertain start. A try behind There were some big penalty calls, none bigger that the scrum penalty from which Australia levelled just before the end of normal time. It appears England may have been blamed for pulling out as the scrum was setting. Although something may have been said to him by England as the scrum was forming, Andre Watson would have called it as he saw it, whether you agree with it or not.

Had Australia gone on to win England would have looked back on that as the deciding moment. But Andre had a very good game. He had to referee two physical teams in slippery conditions. It was bound to be difficult for him. There were a number of calls which might have seemed unusually harsh -with both Neil Back and Mat Rogers very disappointed at different times but I agreed with 31 tofite 990D in six minutes, England soon sent the ball to their captain's hands.

Or rather he seized it. Perhaps his darkest hour as a player the one chink in his apparent invulnerability -was the line-out ball stolen from him by Justin Harrison as the Lions of 2001 chased Australia's lead in vain. Again he lined up opposite Harrison here and again the battle was intense. But Johnson was in the ascendancy this time and was central to England's success in winning the ding-dong contest on opposition ball. And as England began to pull the Australia defence around the field Johnson was a primary ball-carrjer.

IN THE OLD days, tall second-row forwards were not the most effective ball-carriers, but in this new era the best pack as much punch as the fastest No8s and the most powerful both calls. Andre was right to call a strict game. Australia played to the same quality as in their semi-final win. But England shut them down in the middle, and the wings had fairly quiet games. Australia started well but I thought they kept the ball in hand a bit too much.

They pulled the English wings in to defend, and, with the English defence being strong, Australia looked a bit predictable it would have been judicious to have mixed it up by kicking into the corners. England's try was a killer, and at a crucial time. After the break, the pass could have gone in or out, to Ben Cohen or Jason Robinson. I was surprised it didn't go inside. Scoring out wide cost England the conversion, but they needed a score like that.

However, I don't think it would 'CLIVE INVESTED SIXYEARSOFHIS LIFE AND HAD HIS UPS AND DOWNS, BUT I'VE HUGE ADMIRATION FOR HIM AS A COACH' Amazing Dawson launches England from static start props. They tackle as voraciously as the fittest flankers. Johnson is such a one, his game transformed from those dark days when he merely intimidated. Rarely can a man of 6ft 7in have hit people so hard. Rarely can a second-row forward of such derided age have charged so forcefully at the heart of the opposition defence after nearly two hours of the most intense rugby in the world.

Away from the thunder of the action, though, Johnson presence does more for his team than his words or his actions. He stood with his hands on his hips, the most perfect look of disdain on his face, as the teams stood in for mation waiting at the start of the second and final period of extra time. His glare may have featured on a thousand billboards, but the contrast Johnson cuts necessarily have detracted from the win to have done it with penalty goals. Jonny Wilkinson gets his penalties because of the pressure his' side puts on they literally force opposing sides to give away penalties to stop tries being scored. Wilkinson will get the plaudits, but for me the amazing player was Matt Dawson.

With a minute to go in extra-time, and England well outside the strike zone, he took the ball from a static ruck and made a super break. Two rucks later he made the pass from which Wilkinson delivered the World Cup. That was the crucial break in the game. I'm absolutely delighted for England and Woodward whom I phoned during the week. Clive has invested six years of his life and had his ups and downs.

I've huge admiration for him as a coach, and I'm over the moon with the result. England proved they're the best in the world and they can laugh at the criticism. England haven't been arrogant. They've won their games and taken their criticism. In the past we've seen them sometimes let the pressure get to them.

But here they held on, despite making mistakes. It was a win of character in not being rattled by those mistakes, not buckling under the pressure, and closing out the game. It's great that in Ireland's next match against England we can measure ourselves against the best in the world. It's a tall order, but one we will look forward to. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan says strength under pressure was crucial IT WAS AN excellent final, the best there's been -despite the weather.

It had everything; drama, mistakes, passion, aggression. And the best team won though not as they would have wanted. England would have been very disappointed if they had lost. They had their foot on Australia's throat but missed some golden opportunities. At certain periods the scoreline just didn't reflect the possession and field position England had enjoyed.

Clive Woodward's side made mistakes in carrying the ball forward, but I wouldn't say they were less ruthless than they should have been. Australia's defence was very physical, and the attack of both teams was affected by the conditions; but I do think England were smarter than Australia during the game they made fewer mistakes in that area..