There was no indication it was possible when they got drummed 36-0 in the pool stages by the Springboks, but 2007 was a memorable Rugby World Cup for England.

They somehow regrouped to reach the knockout stages and on the back of a huge support, faced off against Australia in the quarter finals in Marseilles. At this stage, it was the biggest fixture England Rugby Travel had ever operated, with thousands of fans heading to the south of France. The remarkable image of Andrew Sheridan locking horns with the Australia front row lives in the memory and then it was off to Paris for a semi-final against the hosts. England won and then it was a final rematch against South Africa.

Mark Cueto’s controversial disallowed try couldn’t grab victory but despite the defeat, England returned as heroes.