By
Alan Fraser
22:00, 6 November 2013
|
22:00, 6 November 2013
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The last time England followed a victory over Australia with a home game against Argentina the team went on strike.
Only for two days, as it transpired, but for 72 chaotic, frantic and confrontational hours around that period in November, 2000 there was a real chance Martin Johnson and his players would refuse to take to the field at Twickenham against the touring Pumas.
Spelling it out: England captain Martin Johnson addresses the press during the pursuit
Had the threat turned into action, there existed the likelihood of a team of volunteer amateurs lining up in the famous rose-crested white shirt of England to earn a cap to be shown to future generations. No wonder scores of wannabes from around the country emailed the Rugby Football Union offering their services.
The bizarre story of what the England squad nicknamed âMad Monday, Twisted Tuesday and Wacky Wednesdayâ is retold here.
The background: The row over money had been simmering for months. Basically, the RFU sought to reduce the guaranteed match fee and increase the win bonus element of the £6000-a-game package. The players wanted the exact opposite, not least to protect squad members who would miss out on bonuses when not making the final 22.
Dispute: The RFU and Woodward’s squad disagreed over how the players should be paid
There was also a disagreement over intellectual property rights which the RFU tried to persuade the players to sign away in order to have complete freedom in the use of names and faces in advertising and sponsorship.
Professional rugby had brought some of the squad six-figure incomes, though still not in the same league as footballers and individual sports like tennis and golf. But others were on as little as £10,000 at their clubs. The RFU were raking it in through capacity Twickenham crowds, big TV deals and major sponsorship contracts.
While one England player went about in a second-hand Ford Mondeo, RFU chief executive Francis Baron drove an Aston Martin with personalised plates.
Flashing the cash: Baron (right) was known for driving around in an Aston Martin
The stand-off: The matter came to a head in the days before the Australia game. A meeting Johnson described as âappallingâ between players representatives Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson and Johnson himself, and Baron, who was said to like playing hardball, led to an escalation of the dispute.
âThe players decided to take action before the Australia game but we were persuaded to wait until after that high-profile international,â said Dan Luger.
In fact, at that stage the players stopped short of threatening a strike, opting instead for refusing to participate in any commercial activity. The somewhat odd idea was to turn training gear inside out so as to hide sponsorship logos. The touch paper was lit.
Last-gasp: Dan Luger’s try in 2000 saw England edge past Australia the week before the Argentina clash
England coach Sir Clive Woodward felt let down by his players and warned that anyone turning his training shirt inside out would be omitted from the side to face Australia. Woodward pleaded with the players not to upset sponsors and promised a meeting after the match. The players agreed.
Mad Monday: An offer from the RFU actually reduced the total match fee. Ostensibly, the argument was over a few hundred quid but both sides insisted it had become a matter of principle. Late that night, the players gathered in Johnsonâs room at the Pennyhill Park Hotel.
âA strike now seemed the only option,â Johnson wrote in his autobiography. âI told (the players) it was possible that if we walked out we might be walking out on our international careers.â
This was serious. Paper planes started flying around the room.
Let down: Woodward was not happy with his players for threatening the strike
Mark Regan wondered how he would be paid if he went on strike. Only a couple of senior players did not vote to strike in a secret ballot and they abstained. Woodward was informed of the momentous decision and the strike hit the fan.
Twisted Tuesday: Few of the principals had slept that night. At daybreak, the players were told to leave the hotel and settle their own bills. Players exchanged home numbers for fear of the RFU switching off their mobiles. Cellnet was a main sponsor.
Not everyone took Lugerâs relaxed view. âI loved that I did not have to train for a couple of days,â he said. âThe RFU were being silly. We should have been getting more money anyway. It all got very heated. A lot of things were said.â
Standing proud: England sing the national anthem at Twickenham before the Argentina game
Rumours spread. It was said Woodward planned on leading out a team of amateurs against Argentina. Every half fit-looking stranger at the England hotel was identified as a county player arriving for secret training. But no âphantomâ team was picked or assembled.
Leicester chairman Peter Wheeler was in the leisure club at Wentworth Golf Course working on a deal. Press conferences were held and statements read out against a background of lengthy heated phone calls. The main protagonists gathered that evening at a fundraiser in the Café Royal. Empty seats and stomachs told a story of huddles in cloakrooms and toilets.
Wacky Wednesday: Another sleepless night. But a meeting between the players representatives and the RFU at Headquarters produced a compromise agreement and the end of English rugbyâs notorious industrial dispute. Brinkmanship had seen both sides blink.
Resolution: Johnson eventually led his team out against the Pumas
âThe lads were completely solid,â Luger said. âIt made us a stronger team and was important in the development of the World Cup victory of 2003. It was the only time the squad were disappointed in Clive. A lot of coaches would have lost the players over the incident but, fair play to him, he gained our confidence back.â
At the time Woodward described the Tuesday as âthe saddest day in the history of English rugbyâ. Not now. âThat was a bit over the top,â he said. âIt was not as sad as losing a Grand Slam decider to Scotland or getting beat 76-0 by Australia. And the whole process certainly had a positive effect in bringing the squad closer together.â
Dallaglio talked of a new respect between all parties. âThrough the tears and grief we had seen how strong we were. Pistols at dawn had ended in kisses and hugs in the evening,â he said.
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T.Trinder,
Exeter, United Kingdom,
12 minutes ago
They had Unity as a Team and a Self Belief Great Era ! and some great games too!!!!
davehk,
hk,
2 hours ago
what a boring story, what’s the point in telling it if you dont tell the outcome of the deals ! . .
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Article source: http://www.france24.com/en/20131105-scotland-rugby-centre-wary-japan-threat
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