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“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
When Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote those immortal words to begin Sonnet 43, I doubt she was talking about rugby. But if she’d been sitting in the stands at Twickenham last Saturday watching the Wallabies play England, she may well have been.
That game had everything. It was fast, entertaining and intense. The lead changed four times, there were ten tries, and the result wasn’t decided until the 84th minute.
Like many of the code’s fans, I was beginning to wonder if the game had a future in Australia. But that Test match proved rugby doesn’t just have a pulse, it has a beating heart to rival Phar Lap’s.
If a team needs four or five players who’d be picked in a world XV side to win a World Cup, Australia is on track. Angus Bell, surely a future Wallaby captain, was immense. His work rate was phenomenal. To borrow some terminology from our rugby league friends – in one set of six, he had three hit-ups.
Angus Bell is tackled by England defenders. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Rob Valetini was outstanding, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii could be anything by the time 2027 rolls around and if Max Jorgensen can stay injury-free, we suddenly have a group of players with the potential to be world class. It was a game where the majority stood up. The Wallabies played with a level of self-belief that hasn’t been seen for a long time. And it gave us all hope (credit too, to Marcus Smith from England. His influence and mastery was incredible to watch).
But rugby is more than what happens on the field, and everything good about the game was on display that night.
The atmosphere at Twickenham is second to none. From ‘God Save the King’ to ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’, the home fans were in fine voice for the full 80. When England scored what they thought was the match-winner in the 78th minute, the noise was deafening (even louder than the jumbos coming in to land over the top of my modest Hounslow accommodation).
But here’s the thing. And this is what makes rugby rugby. Despite the result, the departing English fans congratulated me so often, my hand was almost sore. There was no bitterness. Just mutual joy at what we’d all had the pleasure of witnessing.
And then leaving Twickenham, there was no stress or agro, despite being stuck in what felt like the start of the City to Surf for an hour while we waited amongst the masses for a train. Everyone was happy. Because of rugby.
My biggest disappointment was the game wasn’t on free-to-air TV in Australia. I don’t understand broadcasting rights, but if Donald Trump can apparently pick up the phone and call Vladimir Putin to sort out a war, surely someone from RA can call the RFU and make it happen.
For too long, rugby has been preaching to the converted. Casual sports fans need the opportunity to watch these matches. If they don’t want to stay up, give them the chance to record and watch first thing in the morning. We need more people talking about rugby and that Test on Saturday night was one of the greatest conversation starters in history.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.