Rugby Test Match 2003 -- Australia vs. England

June 21, 2003 -- Colonial Stadium, Melbourne (ENG)

[@rentaghostokish5628]

I'll never forget that awesome 2002-2003 England team. From the autumn internationals of 2002 through to the RWC win in November 2003 they were magnificent. I'll probably not see such a dominant England team again in my life, but thanks for the memories guys!

[@smurz198]

+Rentaghost okish england can reach those heights again but its all about selection and the mindset of the players that needs to change

[@JP1234815]

They played their best Rugby in the first 4 games of the 2001 6 Nations. Outplayed Wales, France, Scotland and Italy with a mixture of Barbarians style running rugby mixed with a strong scrum. Jason Robinson was beating 15-20 defenders a game and it was that Championship where New Zealand, South Africa and Australia suddenly paid attention to England as a credible threat. I guarantee if they played that way today they would have just as much success.

[@kristrevellion9454]

Wait until you see what Borthwick has planned...

[@KmT81]

England Rugby 2000-2003 Golden Era

[@oysterman250]

@@kristrevellion9454 That comment didn't age too well!

[@GeordieBoy1955]

That tackle by Lewsey on Rogers was so gratifying to watch. It really knocked the fucking attitude out of Rogers.

[@grahammitchell5444]

Well put.

[@sgh1963]

Cohen's try at 1:20.50 a just a thing of incredible beauty. I watched it live and I still think that this game was England's best performance since professionalism

[@MisterPolitical1]

This was the best 2003 rugby test pre rugby world cup.

[@pitaberaciri8366]

That England forward pack with addition of Grewcock / Worsley was absolutely fearsome

[@rentaghostokish5628]

That rolling maul is the stuff of rugby legends!

[@JP1234815]

Sir Clive Woodward afterwards credited Will Carling and the England side of 10 years before for that maul. He (Sir Clive) was more than happy to 'borrow' moves from any side if he thought it would bring England success.

[@robicenco1]

If they'd won that warm-up match in Marseille then they would have held the (as far as I know) unique record of having won their most recent home and away matches against ALL the major rugby nations - Argentina, Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales. I think New Zealand may have done it in the last few years but haven't checked. Anyway this was a great match and a brilliant England performance - the highlight for me was THAT rolling maul.

[@robicenco1]

40:20 - what a sensational move. Absolutely dazzling.

[@senluijr]

Just come back to watch this again, I take my hat off, certainly been played that way throughout the game.

[@Falco2847]

Thanks for this mate. Bloody brilliant.

[@apgwilym]

Many thanks for this that English team were something.

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

This was Englands best ever performance in my life time. We actually ran the ball pretty well

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

As an addition to my comment ,the England win over NZ in Japan was even better

[@pikey12825]

1:13:56 Mat Rogers unaware of the hiding coming his way 1:32:55 Mat Rogers unable to finish a line break and smashed into touch by Josh Lewsey 1:35:48 Mat Rogers smashed by Neil Back 1:37:19 Mat Rogers frustrated and punches Josh Lewsey - This turned out to be Rogers worst mistake of his life 1:38:10 A blind Aussie referee and replays of Rogers punching Lewsey 1:41:16 The iconic Josh Lewsey revenge tackle on Matt Rogers, leaving Rogers legacy only to be remembered for this moment. Ironically, the commentator seconds before says "It's about time the Wallabies decided to go straight up the guts" - Lewsey must have heard him

[@jacobroberts630]

Thanks for that. Incredible hit by Lewsey. Rogers did well to get up and carry on.

[@fatneck2008]

Fanfuckingtastic hit from Lewsey!

[@wilfredoUbatuba]

thanks for the rugby history lessons mate!

[@KmT81]

Thanks for Uploading ! Love to watch those Rugby matches of England too(2000-2003) It was a great preparation match for World Cup Great Vintage matches ! Cohen and especially Wendell Sailor were amazing that night ! Can you upload WC99 England v Fidji ?

[@kirkham111]

England need to play like this again. High intensity aggression, fast offloads no time for the opponent to think

[@thetruth3462]

Hill, Back, Dalaglio, Johnson. What a forward pack

[@grahammitchell5444]

And Jack Rowell said Back was too small. Fair dinkum!

[@jackass40mile]

Getting a win like this and not being ecstatic. You can tell this was purely habitual and expected of them.

[@tonygoodwin2834]

I'm Aussie but that England squad was absolutely quality in all areas. They deserved the 2003 RWC no doubt. Funny that Eddie is now England Coach as opposed to this match.

[@grahammitchell5444]

And then he coached Australia to their worst ever RWC. Fabo!

[@senluijr]

Wonderful sound of commentating at around 35:00 yes the tackled player failed to release the ball, at no time was the tackled player released to be given a chance to play the ball.

[@dalewilson5613]

Wow Rogers, sailor and taquiri dual code internationals!

[@5tuartGuy]

Love this :D

[@silenusut]

Greetings from England. So proud. In terms of referring and the ‘technicalities’, see the difference between this match and 2002 vs S. Africa?

[@user-tx3fi5un1n]

Possibly the best rugby tam ever

[@jonahyoung347]

The Aussie try at the end would not have been given had they used the TMO as they do nowadays: the wingers boots were over the touch-in-goal line before he actually touched it down as the commentator suggested. Great rugby by the English - Thompson and his props were great ball carriers. Can't see that Neil Back would have been selected in the modern era either. Loved England's back three. Not impressed by Bracken's passing: it seemed that Jonny took the ball above his head virtually every time. Jonno immense, and Lawrence D too. Great stuff.

[@mrcmaths4613]

I love the biased Aussie commentary. You beauty.😅

[@Nigel-wu5lj]

Usually massive hatred.

[@grahammitchell5444]

They are the worst commentary team, EVER. Arrogance, inaccuracy, hyperbole and naked jingoism were their hallmark. @@Nigel-wu5lj

[@allanbeech2440]

I know the result shut them up.

[@hjhs5922]

Axa Angle- the single worst graphic of its time 😂

[@zisssssou]

Everybody is talking about these double performances vs NZ and Oz in 2003 as historic for the NH, when France had already win both sides in various occasions in 1977, 1984, 1989 or 1994

[@colinburns5632]

Crikey, mate! Ken you believe those tossers putting an advert in the middle of the match? This is blasphemy, wot!

[@jameswilson1984]

England (As mentioned in the commentary) were on a run of 13 wins before this game. After this game England only lost once through to after the World cup. The game England lost was a friendly away to France, where England fielded their reserves. England lost the game to a last minute score by the French. It's such a shame that had that last minute French score not occurred there would be no debate about this team being the best ever as they would have had the record for most consecutive wins.

[@icarus877]

James Wilson Yes, and I was at Twickenham for that loss

[@garyheaton3983]

England....nuff said!! Shame about the ads though

[@robicenco1]

"The Great Britain defence coach Phil Larder"... don't think so, pal.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

The English made a lot of errors in that game, but by God they had no fear of moving the ball around.

[@bladerunner1943]

Think the Grand Slam 2003 decider away, against a very good Irish team 44-6 beats this game

[@hjhs5922]

42-6

[@JP1234815]

@@hjhs5922 The 2002 England v Ireland game (45-11) is pretty good too. Jonny Wilkinson running the ball from everywhere.

[@garyheaton3983]

at 1.38 an Ozzie throws a punch at Lewsey who gets his retaliation in with a completely legal tackle that nearly cuts him in half at 1.41the perfect reply!!

[@saintjust2]

C'est quand-même dingue comme l'Australie dépendait de Larkham... Sans lui, ou diminué, ce n'était plus la même équipe: c'est flagrant ici mais même pendant la finale les sept minutes qu'il a passé à se faire soigner ont été décisives: sans lui les Wallabies jouent "faux", sont empruntés, manquent de confiance offensive comme défensive, et face à cette équipe d'Angleterre parfaitement "rôdée" ça ne pouvait pas pardonner...

[@ewaf88]

England look huge and athletic. I wonder how they'd fare against the modern England

[@andyryan4484]

It's going to be 2003 in a close game but you have to remember half these guys are in their 50s now

[@oreoemsa304]

i was born june 21 2003!

[@thomasgraham5367]

If like me you came here for the famous rolling maul, it's on 46 minutes. Can anyone tell me whether it should have been a penalty try though? Looks like Gregan came in and stopped it from the side in desperation, and you can't do that, right? Can't blame him, just that it would have been awesome for that to have ended in a score!

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

I recall watching that and being amazed... Leicester used to do that so well for years. (Jonno and Back played for them ) but possibly the 1st time they performed it at international level. Of course the whinging Aussies said it was illegal ha ha

[@juliandodwell8213]

Yes je did come in from the side. Washed over by the commentry

[@dnuttall0]

that rule of releasing the tackled player to allow him the play the ball was not existent back then

[@bigwilly367]

do new zealand games g

[@carpusbarsum]

Wendell Sailor was excellent in this game. Great try!

[@jeremymerrifield7244]

Just a tad late olde chap

[@dleigh9997]

@@jeremymerrifield7244 meaning?

[@annefilippobertozzi7601]

@@dleigh9997 he had his feet in touch, before landing the ball.

[@timhainesuk]

1:41:18 i did a little wee

[@nathanpickering7828]

6:30

[@nathanpickering7828]

11:24

[@user-yk3lm9zm1m]

4:58

[@Thembisile13]

Here is the thing with this era of rugby...15 men faced 15 men on a constant weekly basis...for their country with less rules and I guess less money too. But Men played the game. Not to say current rugby players aren't men but there is a difference...you guys know what I mean?

[@grahammitchell5444]

Er...no; you've lost me there. The rules stay the same regardless.

[@Thembisile13]

@@grahammitchell5444 No

[@NuisanceMan]

Here's what happens when England has an 85% win probability against Australia. Australian commentators: I'm bitter. I'm going to hit the Fosters, HARD. Anyway, England cheated. English commentators: I just know England are going to lose this in the end.

[@themoops811]

Stop whinging

[@samwallace4074]

1:38:40 1:41:18 Thank me later

[@shostrock]

Exactly what I came here for, thanks!

[@Reyfro2000]

Imagine if Adrian Peterson played rugby 0_0

[@manwalrus]

To be quite honest I miss those old referee uniforms. Ugly, but purposefully ugly.

[@grahammitchell5444]

"Richard Hill, the typical pommish whinger" Can you imagine Bill McLaren saying that or Nigel Starmer-Smith? No, me neither. The only so-called 'commentator' worse than this mob of bigots is Murray Mexted. Or Simon Poidevin (another Australian)

[@grahammitchell5444]

"Richard Hill, the typical pommish whinger" Can you imagine Bill McLaren or Nigel Starmer-Smith saying that? No, me neither. But then it doesn't get much worse than this third-rate 'commentary' team. Only the likes of Simon Poidevin or the dreadful Murray Mexted go lower still. Now, you make a comment like that about an Aussie player and you'd never hear the end of it...