Rugby Union: England Emerge From Mire Bright-eyed With Promise

The rugby season is so long it can play tricks on the unwary mind. It seems only yesterday that the English game was enduring a dismal winter and spring, dragged through the mud at Test level by Argentina, Ireland and Wales and dragged into disrepute by too many short-sighted politicians. Now, though, the garden is rosier, fertilized by two outstanding displays from Guinness Premiership sides in major Twickenham finals. Perceptions can change radically in the space of nine days, let alone nine months.

Sunday was the best day English rugby has had since the 2003 World Cup final: an end to the threatened Heineken Cup boycott, a rousing win for Wasps in a titanic all-English struggle and Twickenham hosting a record crowd for a club game. Crowds across the Premiership have again shown a significant rise and the number of Munster jerseys in the post-match bars on Sunday suggested that even neutrals cannot get enough of top-class live rugby.

True, the influence of French, Irish and Pacific island players should not be underestimated. Wasps' triumph was masterminded, in part, by Scotland's Ian McGeechan and two Kiwis, Craig Dowd and Leon Holden. But the green shoots of an English recovery cannot be overlooked. How many of the following list were expected in August to make the impression they did? Danny Cipriani, Dominic Waldouck, Danny Hipkiss, pictured, Shane Geraghty, Toby Flood, James Haskell, Tom Rees, Tom French and David Strettle are only the crest of a new wave. The 2007 World Cup may come too soon but watch out in 2011. "English rugby is in good shape," sighed the beaten and Australia-bound Leicester coach Pat Howard on Sunday evening. "You've got good players and a lot of clubs doing things right."

The other abiding lesson is that character can still win rugby matches. "We haven't got Leicester's buying power or strength in depth but what we have got is soul," said Wasps' captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, bridling at even the mildest suggestion that a side finishing fifth in the Premiership should be considered less than worthy European champions. McGeechan was adamant that circumstances, rather than a lack of talent, forced Wasps to prioritize Europe. "This was the only competition in which we could pick our first-choice team, so we targeted it," he said.

Before the summer tours and World Cup preparations distort everyone's memories, however, there are several other highlights worth recalling. No venue raised the hairs on the neck more than Croke Park, Ireland's temporary home, where England sank without trace. There is no question, either, about the most spectacular pre-match show, won as usual by Stade Français' owner, Max Guazzini, when Sale visited the Parc des Princes. Some of us are still finding pieces of silver streamer in our bags six months later. Game of the season? Leicester's historic win in Munster just pips the finest hours of Llanelli Scarlets and Wasps. Individual performance of the season: Jonny Wilkinson, England v Scotland in February - too bad it took so much out of him.

And the composite European team of the year? All contenders must have featured in this season's Heineken Cup. The resulting XV is light on Welshmen - James Hook, Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones all came close - and two of the Irishmen could not get into their country's Six Nations XV. The presence of six Wasps players merely demonstrates rugby's immutable law: nothing is impossible for those who desire it badly enough.

Best in show


Rob Kitson's European team of the season, 2006-07

15 JM Hernandez Stade Français

14 C Dominici Stade Français

13 R King Llanelli Scarlets

12 G D'Arcy Leinster

11 R Caucaunibuca Agen

10 A King Wasps

9 E Reddan Wasps

1 M Castrogiovanni Leicester

2 R Ibanez Wasps

3 J White Leicester

4 M Bortolami Gloucester

5 S Shaw Wasps

6 J Worsley Wasps

7 S Jennings Leicester

8 L Dallaglio Wasps

Roll of honor


Six Nations France

Heineken Cup Wasps

Guinness Premiership Leicester

EDF Energy Cup Leicester

Magners League Ospreys