We were there

The S Club 5, namely me, Stu, Seamus, Stanley and Scoop, have a brick at Twickenham on the path of legends....it  says quite simply, we were there. Never has it been more poignant than on Saturday when England crushed the All Black it what many regard as the greatest game played at Twickenham.

The national press has handed out all the plaudits to the players, coaches and supporters, and already set the expectation that this England side can now build on this result and go places. I won't add to them here, but will explore the greatest game argument.

The S Club and friends have been going to rugby internationals in part or as a whole since 1972. We have seen many memorable games standing on the old South terrace or sitting in the rickety stands of the original stadium, but as the stadium got redeveloped, and the game turned professional, the glory days at Twickenham have become fewer and fewer. Indeed we have regularly highlighted the fact that the game had become the low point of the weekend. Saturday's game most  certainly was not, and I would suggest it is the greatest game played at Twickenham in the modern era.

As we are now in our 40th season as supporters it is interesting to imagine which other games we would class as memorable, if not great. Certainly the first ever game in 1972 which was against Wales has to be up there. It was the mighty John Dawes side which had populated the 1971 British Lions  which ironically won the series in New Zealand the previous Summer.

Beating Wales is always sweet, and none more so than the Bill Beaumont grand slam year when Paul Ringer was sent off and Dusty Hare kicked a last minute penalty to keep the slam dream alive. Ireland have lit up Twickenham on several occasion's with Mike Gibson and Fergus Slattery providing memorable moments, and Serge Blanco used to deliver with his French side on a regular basis.

I have seen England beat New Zealand three times now, and draw with them 26-26 at Twickenham and they are all up there with the game on Saturday, and the Ella brothers Australia side which did the grand slam on tour provided another highlight. I had already seen them play for Australia schools a few years earlier. As the memory fades, and the record books are referred to more and more my most memorable game at Twickenham will remain that first one. The irony of that is tied into the fact that we watched the first half of the England v New Zealand ladies game after the main event, and they played rugby which was refreshingly open and hugely entertaining, reminding me very much of the seventies and eighties, when there was room on a rugby field to be creative and expressive. In those days route one was a rarely used tactic, indeed, Manu Tuilagi could be the new Charles Kent!!  

4 men on a raft

Another August Bank Holiday, another raft race. Yes, the S Club 5, have once more paddled their way into the record books at the Bampton raft race.

We arrived on the Sunday morning this year, as number one son travelled up to visit his grandmother on the Saturday, and SWMBO's dad had to go into hospital for a heart beat synchronisation operation. The heart seems to be OK now, and the excess fluid in his lung appears to be dissipating.

So it was all a bit hectic getting to the raft race start, but our spirits were lifted as the rain had stopped but the river remained fast flowing and full. This last attribute is vital to us heavyweights, as usually the raft can get grounded five or six times during the race and we have to get off and pull it over the shallows, while lighter and rubber ring based rafts can sail on by.

Not so this year. Not only did we do a personal best, breaking the 30 minute barrier, but we overtook four other vessels, something which is unheard of for us. Couple that with only 4 of the S Club participating, and two paddles breaking and it was a cracking good show.

We were dressed as Olympians this year, but failed to win the most entertaining craft award. In fact we have not won the award for several years, when we were dressed as pirates. Our Viking attire deserved it but we were denied on a stewards enquiry. our Hawaii  Five 0 came nowhere nor did our grumbies, although we did get the tele coverage for that one last year. 

This year the award went to two lads dressed in DJ's who punted a raft all the way down with a couple of tree branches as poles. The raft full of Bruce's and the newly weds on a raft bed also got a mention in dispatches.

We are considering dressing as Missus Mop's next year and going for the 'all girl crew' prize!!

I told you so.....

I have been bleating on about the quality of the product on offer at Twickenham Stadium, as the England rugby team stumble from one shambles to the next. My prediction that the stadium will be half empty before the next World Cup has fallen on deaf ears as far as my chums at the RFU are concerned.

Today, however, in the Observer, Paul Hayward has taken up the theme, and I do wonder if he drinks in the Prince Blucher after the game, and has ear wigged my persistent bemoaning!

Wales and Ireland seem to be able to play exciting rugby even in adversity, England just cannot step up to the plate. I have no idea what the answer is although I do fear the lack of University educated players is on the decline as a result of professional rugby teams and their associated academy's trying to dumb down rugby intellect by brain washing the flair out of players.

The S Club 5 will continue to attend on a casual basis as the day, and indeed, the weekend continues to be a good craic, but the three Autumn Internationals are two too many for us already......I am reminded of the phone call once to Brentford FC....'Hello can you tell me what time kick-off is?......whenever you can get here Sir!'