Like a hole in the head
Last updated: 26th October 2007
Nick Easter
Afterwards we were gutted especially watching South Africa go up and collect all their medals and wanting to be there, but that is sport. We could have gone out to a Stirling Mortlock penalty in the last minute of the quarter-finals.
The Rugby Club popped down to Harlequins to catch up with two of England's star players, who against the odds got them to the World Cup final.
England went to the Paris with the tag as the worst defending champions ever, and seemd to live up to that expectation in some of their pool games.
However a stern talking to and a steely belief saw them confound their critics by reaching the final, thanks in part to No. 8 Nick Easter and scrum-half Andy Gomarsall
However Easter and Gomarsall were both surprised by their selection to Brian Ashton's England squad, and a year ago it was just a wild dream.
"I could imagine myself being there, you have to as you can always live the dream," said Easter.
"But realistically I was doubtful. I suppose I thought it could happen when I got the nod at the beginning of the year for the Saxons.
"Suddenly having played 20 min for them, I got the call on the Sunday from Brian Ashton saying come and join us for training on the Monday. The next week I was in the Six Nations starting line up. It has been a dream journey ever since."
Gomarsall's journey to the World Cup is something you would expect to see in a Boys Own annual.
Dumped by Worcester in the summer of 2006, Gomarsall found himself playing for a pub side before harlequins threw him a rugby life line and the rest, well almost made history. Like Easter, Gomarsall never saw himself going to France.
"No absolutely not," laughed Gomarsall. "But that is what I love about rugby. I did not have a club, but I needed to play. The situation I found myself in, well it was a tough time and I was a facing a 'is this the end' scenario.
"But I always said I wanted to get back playing for England again and that there was unfinished business. But at that time it was a huge distant dream. But you have to have that."
England's low point was there 36-0 loss to South Africa in the pool stages but they bounced back by taking the 'scenic' route to the final - beating Australia and France reroute. And while the press may have doubted them, Easter said that the fans over in France were fantastic.
"I can't thank the crowd enough, they were fantastic. After the Australia game we were staying in the Holiday Inn on the main parade and there was white everywhere.
"I went to the South Africa v Fiji game afterwards, and just walking down the street was surreal and awesome."
Having made it to the semis by beating Australia, Gomarsall did not watch the France v New Zealand match to see who they would play, but Easter wanted to soak up some of the atmosphere.
"I did watch it, on a nice Sunseeker by the harbour - Austin Healey set it up for us. I don't think it was his boat or his money," joked Easter.
"On the port side as well they had a massive screen as well where the French public were watching it. When they scored the two tries and kicked the points to go ahead, I legged it off the boat to get over there to see what the atmosphere and reaction was like. It was superb and a great moment for Northern Hemisphere rugby after that because we had been slated earlier on in the competition."
For the semi-final, it was back to the scene of their 36-0 demolition to play the tournament hosts at the Stade de France in Paris
"I remember walking off the bus and past the away change room which we were in for the South African game, so not the greatest memory," remembered Easter.
"We went straight into the home dressing room and I remember thinking yeah, the French at their home ground in their own country having to change in the away dressing room, we have their edge over them here, lets make sure we have that out on the field."
England won that game, but the fairy tale ending belonged to the Springboks who soaked up all the English pressure to win 15-6. And if you think that Easter and Gomarsall were happy just making the final, well think again.
"As the days have gone on I have been feeling more and more disappointed, said Easter.
"It is beginning to sink in what we have missed out on. Not that I did not know before hand, you knew that this opportunity may possibly never come around again.
"Afterwards we were gutted especially watching South Africa go up and collect all their medals and wanting to be there, but that is sport. We could have gone out to a Stirling Mortlock penalty in the last minute of the quarter-finals."
However Easter's abiding memory of the 2007 world Cup is not of losing or winning, but rather of what happened on the subs bench.
"Jonny Wilkinson has got a pressure kick against Samoa and Mark Regan was heard on the subs bench getting his sayings mixed up. He turned to the lads and said: 'We need this kick like a hole in the head'. That says it all really."
Like Easter, Gomarsall, was also coming to grips with missing out and hopes that the powers that be who run the game in England learn from this experience.
"I think it is frustration more than anything," pondered Gomarsall.
"That if we had got it right much earlier, we may have got the win. But who knows, if we won it possibly things would not have changed, it still needs to change.
"You look at the Six Nations coming up in February. When do we meet up? A week before. For me that is just not good enough. Things have to change but how as players are things going to change with just a week of preparation?
"We will deal with it though, we always do."
