Yorkshire Carnegie
A day at Twickenham
By Leemingtyke
March 1 2013
With the international break dictating a week off from Carnegie following duties myself and the boy decided we would venture down south, to HQ no less, to witness first-hand the Lancaster revolution and to experience our first ever live Six Nations game. We invited the old man and, after a quick check of the Northern Division – North 1 East fixtures, he decided that, on balance, he would join us. Pock would just this once have to cope without his attendance at their home fixture with Durham City..........
Twickenham is a nice spot for a game of rugby. Rising up out of the south London cityscape it dominates the ‘mean streets’ of Richmond Upon Thames. An imposing rectangular colosseum of concrete and steel it is a fantastic stadium and a perfect arena for a set to with the enigmatic French.
With half an hour gone and England ahead by the odd penalty in three a war of attrition looked to be on the cards. French centre Fofana decided enough was enough, he collected the ball and with nothing much on, he decided to have a run. At least 4 missed English tackles later he and the French contingent around us were celebrating a fantastic individual try. Parra converted, Farrell responded with a penalty and we were 10-9 down at the break. Response needed.
A Farrell penalty on 48 mins and Englands’ slender advantage was restored but it looked like it was going to be tight. Lanny decided changes were needed, not wholesale changes like we’re used to at HC, just changes to the right areas. Saint-Andre responded and to roars of approval from some England supporters around us, Michalak was introduced, an all or nothing throw of the dice from the French coach. Thankfully it proved to be the latter and within minutes a spell of English pressure was rewarded when the ball broke to the hugely influential Manu Tuilagi who was left with little else to do but run it in. LT, LT Junior and LT Senior jubilant, French contingent subdued. Farrell missed the conversion but England were in control, and at a vital time in the match.
Danny came on for Ben Youngs and Flood for a hobbling Farrell. Floods introduction IMHO provided a steadying influence. On a couple of occasions he chose to kick, to the disapproval of some around us but on both occasions, when the phase finished, England had gained ground. The much maligned Michalak briefly reduced the arrears to 4 points with a converted penalty however, two nerveless Flood penalties in response and it was all over. 23 – 13 to Lanny’s England and the Grand Slam still well and truly on.
To be honest, it was bloody freezing, bloody expensive and a bloody nightmare to get to. Three tickets at £83 each, £16 to park the car on a local primary school playground, £5 a pint, £6.50 for a pork baguette and £6 quid for a programme don’t leave much change out of £300.
Having said that, it was a fantastic occasion. England demonstrated the surest sign yet that they are developing into potential world beaters, namely, they played badly and still won. Some individuals have had better days but the team still won.
They are still far from the finished article however and if they do go on the claim the grand slam Lancaster will have to work hard to ensure they keep their feet on the ground and remain hungry to improve. But, so far, his strong point has proved to be exactly that. He has introduced an ethos based on hard work and humility, an ethos epitomised by his captain and it’s hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago Chris Robshaw’s leadership credentials were being questioned. On Saturday he was simply immense, leading by example he deservedly claimed man of the match honours, although the force of nature that is Manu Tuilagi cannot have been far behind. A word too for Brad Barritt - and that word is solid. Unpretentious, unfussy and often unnoticed he is the perfect foil for Tuilagi.
Apart from the result and the obvious signs of progression there was one more highlight which will live long in the memory. The pre-match singing of Jerusalem and the National Anthems.
I’ve heard the Anthem many times. I’ve sung it underneath the twin towers at the old Wembley Stadium on FA Cup Final day.
On a parade square at sunset, with an SA80 in the present I’ve heard its dying embers drowned out by the Rolls Royce Merlin powered spitfires overhead and felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
But I don’t think it has ever sounded better than it did on Saturday afternoon when we, along with the vast majority of 80 thousand others, belted it out at a packed Twickenham Stadium on a Six Nations match day. Truly a ‘goosebumps’ moment.
Just in case anyone is wondering …………. Pock ran in 6 tries to defeat Durham City 38 – 5. A good day all round.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
01/03/2013 06:03
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:07:18:40:46 by Wildwillie .
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:01:12:21:04 by almostatyke.
Quote:Wildwillie
Good stuff LT My memories of HQ are all somewhat blurred.
At a fiver a pint your beer fund must have been considerable WW!
Very kind comment Almo, thank you. I'm sure you could have done just as good a job.
Quote:leemingtykeQuote:Wildwillie
Good stuff LT My memories of HQ are all somewhat blurred.
At a fiver a pint your beer fund must have been considerable WW!
Needed to drown my disappointment at both the double header and the Moseley game.
Premier Inn is a winner anywhere.
I've booked my tickets for the Premiership final (£20 a ticket) then England vs the BaaBaas the following day in May, the tickets were buy one get one free, so again about £20 a head.
Two games of top quality rugby for about the same price as many Championship football matches at the likes of Leeds United and Ipswich Town.
