England held off an inspired Samoan challenge in 2007 to win 44-22 in Nantes. Photo: PA/David Davies
While it has been tempting to draw parallels between England's current World Cup campaign and their dogged efforts in 2007. Steve Borthwick's team enjoyed relative ease during the tournament.
Unlike their predecessors, they led the group. with a spare game. However, they still need to come to terms with Samoa, an opponent Matthew Tate's side also faced in the pool stages; albeit at a more dangerous moment in many respects.
Sixteen years ago, England cruised to a 28-10 win over the USA before South Africa crushed them 36-0 at the Stade de France. At that stage, returning to the same venue for the final seemed beyond the scope of Brian Ashton's accusations. Then, as Tate recalls, senior players such as Phil Vickery, Martin Corrie, Nick Easter, Andy Farrell and others got together and «came up with a game plan» centered around Jonny Wilkinson's rugged bag and boots.
“There was a bit of trepidation in that game.”
Facing Samoa was her first assignment, and Tate partnered as starting center with Ollie Barkley.
“There was a bit of trepidation in that game,” he says. “Before that [during Samoa’s defeat to South Africa], Henry Tuilagi lined up in midfield from a short lineout and just passed Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Dany Rossouw.”
“Brian Lima played too and he blew me away. I actually played against him in a charity game at Twickenham in 2005 because of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which was Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere. Clive Woodward was coaching the northern hemisphere and I was dragged onto the bench. I was late and made the mistake of sending the ball straight to Brian Lima, who ran full speed towards me and splashed me like a piece of a traffic accident.
Brian Liam (left) was the first player to compete in five World Championships, the fifth being the 2007 World Cup. Photo: Reuters/Eddie Keogh
“I saw him knock on Derick Hougaard in 2003 from my sixth form lounge, so his nickname — 'The Chiropractor' — preceded him. But beating a strong team was a good way to get back on the horse and determined how we would play for the rest of the tournament. The game was forward-oriented, the defenders were deployed where we needed them, and Johnny scored his goals.”
Samoa spent most of the second half with the score just 26-22. Then, of course, Wilkinson scored his second goal and an extra penalty. Late tries from Paul Saka and Corrie, who each scored a brace, flattered England, but they later defeated Tonga to be knocked out. Andrew Sheridan handled the Wallabies' struggles personally and faith in them grew. Tate remembers sitting in the port of Marseille and watching New Zealand sink. England were supported further because they knew they could oust France and did so.
Ultimately Jonny Wilkinson's boot brought England home with his four penalties. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers 
The Samoan defense left the ball on a perfect bounce for Paul Saki to touch down wide. Photo: Reuters/Eddie Keogh
After retiring in February 2019, Tate joined Oakwell Sports Advisory as an analyst and has since moved in with his family. to the position of General Manager and Tournament Director of the Emirates Dubai 7s. Tate also controls the stadium and surrounding facilities, which are located around 20 minutes' drive from the city and include eight rugby fields and six cricket ovals, as well as netball courts.
“Sevens gave me a bit of salvation.”
Around 9,000 people use the facilities each week, playing sports as varied as Gaelic football and the booming padel tennis. This month it will host WXV3, the third tier of women's rugby competition. The same venue has hosted huge concerts and the first stage of the revamped HSBC SVNS will take place on December 2-3.
The latter will be part of a festival that will bring together around 5,500 athletes from 32 countries in five sports: rugby, cricket, netball, crossfit and padel. Tate introduced the latter himself, although sevens are still close to his heart. Without it, he might not have competed in the 2007 World Cup, two years after a brutal evening in Cardiff at the hands of Gavin Henson.
“Sevens gave me a bit of salvation after the infamous 2005. debut,” admits Tate. “I was sent to do sevens, which probably sounds dramatic, to make me fall in love with the sport again.”
South Africa have been praised for using sevens as a gateway into the 15-a-side arena, with Cheslyn Kolbe, Quagga Smith and Kurt-Lee Arendse emerging from the format into their first team. Darcy Graham has also achieved success in Scotland. However, Tate acknowledges that unions may not see this as a «return for their money».
Let's go back to 2007. “You get what you get” is a classic Martin Johnson truism that perfectly captures the futility of the ifs and buts in Test rugby union. Yet the 2007 World Cup still leaves a sense of regret for England. Coming into the decisive moment with determination, they could have taken the lead shortly after the break thanks to a poor try from Marc Cueto. A few minutes earlier, this was a run from Tait.
Then aged 21, the outside center picked up the ball and bewildered Frans Steyn, feinting and piercing the South African midfield. Tate also left Percy Montgomery grasping for fresh air, who was eventually almost pulled down.
“I wish I could remember more,” Tate admits. “There are two reasons for this. I was nervous as hell myself — it was the biggest stage I've ever played on — and Shulk Burger kneed me in the head after I made that run. Mike Catt was screaming at Alain Rolland to make a mistake because he basically jumped right on top of me and kneed me in the head.
“Would it have mattered? Who knows, but it prevented me from quickly driving the ball back, and Dani Rossouw could follow behind. It was he who brought Mark Cueto into contact. While I know Couets will go to his grave saying it was an attempt… it wasn't. His foot was on the line. It would be great to win it, but did the best team left in the tournament win it? Yes, that’s probably what happened.”
No clenched teeth here. Tate, a phlegmatic character, does not seem to have spent the last decade and a half wondering how England could have become the first team to retain a World Cup title, eight years before New Zealand achieved the feat at Twickenham in 2015.
Although the final proved too difficult, Tate and his 2007 colleagues showed undeniable steel and remarkable savvy. This could certainly be a lesson for England in 2023.
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