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Absent Friends: Only ten starters remain from the final of Rugby World Cup 2003
Talk of 2003 abounds in Marseille as England and Australia prepare for battle in Saturday's quarter-final clash at Stade Velodrome, but is it relevant?
Beside notions of revenge and vindication, both sets of players insist that England's World Cup famous win in Sydney bears no relation with what will transpire this weekend.
They could be right: a peek at the 2003 team-sheets reveals that only ten of the players that start this quarter-final - five from each side - began the game on that distant November evening....
ENGLAND:
15 Josh Lewsey: Still going strong and will appear on England's right-wing on Saturday.
14 Jason Robinson: Retired from international rugby in 2005 but England coach Brian Ashton lured him back to the fray. Will retire after the World Cup - or so he says!
13 Will Greenwood: Retired from rugby in 2006 and currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports.
12 Mike Tindall: Now with Gloucester, but a broken leg ruled him out of World Cup contention.
11 Ben Cohen: Admitted to "falling out of love with the game" after victory in 2003. Decent form in recent months saw him in contention for the World Cup, but he then withdrew his name from the hat for personal reasons. Now without a club after being sacked from relegated Northampton after he protested the club's decision to award the captaincy to Bruce Reihana.
10 Jonny Wilkinson: Back after almost four years in the surgical wilderness and is set to start on Saturday.
9 Matt Dawson: Retired from the game in 2006 and now works in the media.
8 Lawrence Dallaglio: Retired from international rugby in 2004 but a change of heart saw him return to the Test stage in 2006. He is on the bench in Marseille.
7 Neil Back: Now coaching at Leicester having retired from the game after the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
6 Richard Hill: A miserable time with injuries since 2003 has included to two knee reconstructions, but now fit and playing for Saracens.
5 Ben Kay: Suffered an extended dip in form but now back to his best and starting on Saturday.
4 Martin Johnson: Retired immediately after the World Cup, now earns his crust as a rugby pundit.
3 Phil Vickery: Elevated to captain having weathered three career-threatening operations on his neck.
2 Steve Thompson: Forced into retirement earlier this year after sustaining a serious neck injury, now poised to take up a coaching job with Brive.
1 Trevor Woodman: Forced into retirement in 2005 after sustaining a serious neck injury, now living in Australia and coaching Sydney University.
AUSTRALIA:
15 Mat Rogers: Returned to Rugby League in 2007 after falling out with bosses of the 15-man game over the state of Australia's club rugby scene. "It's a waste of time," he said.
14 Wendell Sailor: Serving a two-year ban for cocaine use and is set to return to Rugby League when his ban ends in April 2008.
13 Stirling Mortlock: Now captain of the Wallabies, he will lead his country out in Marseille.
12 Elton Flatley: Retired from rugby in 2006 after taking medical advice. The former Reds star suffered from continued blurred vision as a result of a number of concussions.
11 Lote Tuqiri: Yet to score at the current World Cup, but will be looking to get one on Saturday.
10 Stephen Larkham: Still plugging on, but a knee injury has ruled him out of the game.
9 George Gregan: Now history's most-capped player, he wins his 139th cap this weekend.
8 David Lyons: Sustained a broken leg against Canada in the pool stages and could be out until the new year.
7 Phil Waugh: Got within an couple of inches of stealing Jonny Wilkinson's thunder in 2003; on the bench this Saturday.
6 George Smith: Has suffered the indignity of bench-warming in recent times, but back in the side that will face England.
5 Nathan Sharpe: Picked up the Wallaby of the Year award for 2007 and starts on Saturday.
4 Justin Harrison: Now plying his trade with Ulster.
3 Al Baxter: Still battling - but must make do with the bench on Saturday.
2 Brendan Cannon: Forced into retirement by a serious neck injury earlier this year, now working in the financial industry.
1 Bill Young: Retired in 2006 after suffering further trouble with a chronic neck injury. He now runs the family pub, the Concord Hotel, in Concord West, New South Wales.
SATURDAY'S TEAMS:
Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 George Gregan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Stephen Hoiles, 20 Phil Waugh, 21 Julian Huxley, 22 Drew Mitchell.
England: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Lawrence Dallaglio, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Olly Barkley, 22 Dan Hipkiss.
Compiled by Andy Jackson
