What Martin Johnson said to England teammates before the 2003 World Cup final speaks volumes

09/30/2024 07:34 AM

Former England lock Ben Kay recently shared insights into the leadership of Martin Johnson during the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.

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Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby captains, didn't deliver any stirring speech ahead of the clash with Australia in Sydney. His leadership style was different—quiet but immensely effective.

That day, Johnson led England to a historic victory, with Jonny Wilkinson sealing the win with a famous drop goal in extra time.

Johnson: “It’s Not About Speeches”

Reflecting on what it meant to be a captain in such a high-stakes match, Johnson explained his approach to leadership.

“I’m not expected to make an awesome speech before games. They are all motivated to play; players don’t follow me. If I wasn’t there, they wouldn’t scratch their heads and go, ‘What do we do now?'” he said.

Johnson emphasized that at the international level, being captain is more about the technical aspects of the game rather than motivational speeches. "Being captain, at international level, is all about technicalities and how we’re going to play," he added.

Sensing When the Team Needs More

While Johnson preferred to keep things simple, he admitted there were times when he could sense the team wasn't quite ready. “There are always days when the team is flat,” he revealed.

Cutting Through the Noise

For Johnson, the key to effective communication lies in brevity. “There is an incredible risk of people saying the same thing for the sake of saying it, and then saying it three or four times,” he explained. “The skill is getting your message across in the fewest possible words. You’ve got to cut through the crap.”

Playing for Each Other, Not Just the Nation

Johnson also challenged the romanticized idea of playing for the entire country, suggesting that the true motivation lies within the team. “When you play international sport, you are playing for the whole country to a degree, but the real motivation is that I am playing for these guys on the pitch,” he said.

“Whether it is Leicester, England, or the British Lions—that is who you are really playing for.”

What the 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different

Take a look at how some of the key players look now:

Phil Vickery

A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand ‘Raging Bull’, with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.

Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including ‘Celebrity MasterChef’, which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.

Jonny Wilkinson

Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup’s and the Six Nations.

Will Greenwood

Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti’s London office. Greenwood’s family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne’s research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.

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