Unofficial England Rugby Union - England v Georgia First Photos and Report

England v Georgia First Photos and Report

By David Gough 0900(local time) Perth
November 11 2003
David Gough has sent us his views as to the build up to the first match and the game. He also sent through some excellent photos, as this is David's first time using a digi camera - I have to say well done David!

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It's funny really, you know the feeling you get when you are working all through the week, and then the weekend comes and goes in a flash? Well, that didn't happen this weekend, Sunday evening just couldn't come quick enough!

The Friday "Meet the players" in Perth city centre was a disappointment, especially for the youngsters, representatives from all the teams were there.... except England, who were busy training. Highly commendable, it shows the ruthless and utter professional way that England are going into this competition..... but try to explain that to a 10 year old little boy who is sitting there with his England shirt on, his England cap, his face painted with a St George cross, and waving his flag.... hoping to get a glimpse, even better, an autograph of one of his heroes. You can't..... a 10 year old boy doesn't understand why they weren't there if he made the effort to be there. I'm sure they could have spared just two of the squad to greet the throngs. But that is just my humble opinion, instead everyone had to cheer for the flag of St George that they had instead of players, but it didn't dampen the party like atmosphere.

The weekend dragged something shocking! There was a wine festival on in the Swan valley, about 20 mins from Perth city centre, which I usually attack with gusto as I really don't mind an odd glass of ..... well ...... anything alcoholic really, I still went, but it just wasn't the same, even people out there in the beautiful Swan valley, in the bright spring sunshine were all talking about the rugby. I even volunteered to be the designated driver, which is something unheard of in out household! It felt like it used to do when you were a youngster at Christmas eve, just wanting to get to bed and for it to be tomorrow!

Finally, Sunday arrives, begins overcast, but, sods law comes into effect from lunchtime onwards, the much talked about Fremantle doctor, as made famous by the dulcet tones of the cricket commentator, Ritchie Benaud, brought a shocker of a rainstorm in, which drenched everyone from mid afternoon onwards.

However, it didn't dampen the spirits of the throngs of England fans of all shapes and sizes who were spilling out of the watering holes of Subiaco. They had come from near and far, and nothing was going to spoil this night, the appetiser to the blockbuster that awaits us all next week.

Inside the stadium, it became a case of the haves and the have not's, as half of the seats were open to the elements. Say what you like, but rugby just isn't the same when played on an oval, luckily, I had my binoculars with me so the players didn't resemble a heard of white ants, in fact, I ended up watching most of the game through my binos, took me 20 mins before I could focus my eyes properly after the game had finished!

We cheered as Jonny, machine like, practiced his kicking, we even saw his human side, yes folks, he missed one! ........ but more than made up for it when the game begun with a 100% record. We sang and shouted as the guys ran their warm up drills. We put up with Australian fans shouting for the Wallabies, fans who had come to the game specifically to jeer and boo absolutely anything and everything that England did, but we outdid them, we sang Swing low, we shouted and hollered, and they ended up doing the "Wigan walk" 10 mins before the end of the game...... to more than a few comments from the faithful.

We then legged it home as fast as we could to arrive just in time to watch the game on tv .......... what a night! Bring on the Boks!!!