Rob Andrew knows what it feels like to lose a Rugby World Cup final, having been a member of the first England team to come within touching distance of the Webb Ellis Cup in the 1991 Tournament.
The former fly half suffered the heartbreak of a 12-6 defeat by the Wallabies at Twickenham, only to gain some revenge four years later with an injury time drop goal to clinch a 25-22 victory at the quarter final stage.
“It was a big moment for us and we didn’t take our chance,” Andrew told rugbyworldcup.com as he recalled the Tournament for which he was not England’s first choice kicker – that honour going to full back Jonathan Webb.
“1995 was a little bit of revenge for 1991 but it was only in the quarter final stage so it wasn’t actually. It didn’t lead to anything because we went out the next week against New Zealand.”
Now Andrew, who ended his 12 year association with England in March 1997 with 71 caps and a then record 396 points to his name, hopes the class of 2003 can go one better than they did and give English sporting fans something to cheer about.
Can England deliver?
“They are capable of winning, definitely,” Andrew insisted. “I hope so [that England win] and they are certainly good enough to win. The challenge is can they deliver on the big day and that is where they have got themselves to.
“There is no doubt they can, but they have to now do that.”
Andrew is now Director of Rugby at English Premiership club Newcastle Falcons, where he has carefully nurtured the talent of Jonny Wilkinson and so is the perfect person to sum up what makes the England fly half so special.
“I think just his determination and his commitment to what he has to do,” said Andrew. “ He has got a huge personal commitment to be the best and won’t let anything sort of get in his way to be honest and I think that is what stands him out.”
For Andrew read Wilkinson?
What chance then his protégé doing to Australia what he did eight years ago, kicking the winning drop goal – a score which would tie him with Andrew on 21 drop goals in international rugby – albeit with a different prize awaiting the victor?
“I certainly hope not because I hope if we get to the second minute of injury time that England have already got the game won and don’t have to through that because I don’t think any of us would be able to stand it,” admitted Andrew.
“But I think we also know that if it has to come to that then Jonny is more than capable of doing it.”