The England captain played a critical role for Wasps but the elasticated Jones did his stuff in a
The England captain played a critical role for Wasps, but the elasticated Jones did his stuff in a Sale pack that frequently found itself between a rock and a hard place Uniquely athletic and learning fast.. Tim Henman’s remarkably dogged progress to the quarter-finals of the French Open and Nick Faldo’s impressive showing at Wentworth’s important Volvo PGA Championship, crowned by a last-day 66 which took him into fourth place, once again put them into a special category in British sport.
They are far from the most talented performers produced in these islands but in their attitude, and their resilience, they are surely a superb example to the country’s youth.Henman has carried the nation’s unrealistic hopes of glory for so long now but if it is a burden, he carries it without complaint in pursuing the elusive prize of a Grand Slam win. Mightily influential.5 STEVE BORTHWICK (Bath)Now that’s over, we can talk line-outs. Borthwick’s ball-winning was one of the key elements in Bath’s rise from bottom to top, and his all-round commitment reconfirmed him as the heartbeat of the operation.
No one gave more of himself to the cause.6 ANDRE VOS (Harlequins)A multi-purpose loose forward of the highest calibre, he dragged Quins to some unlikely victories through force of personality and example. Why did the Springboks finish the World Cup in such disarray? Because they rejected people like Vos.7 PAUL VOLLEY (Wasps)All three Wasps back-rowers could have made the cut, but it’s good for the soul to select the least celebrated. Shaw scrummaged every ounce of his unusual weight, tackled like a centre and carried the ball further than the vast majority of No 8s He was also devastating in the driving mauls. If there is a better defensive centre in England, he is playing his rugby after dark.12 HENRY PAUL (Gloucester)The slower he gets, the better he plays. Van Gisbergen was a striking symbol of the champions’ high-risk, high-reward approach with his bold interventions from full-back, and he maximised his value with some outstanding goal-kicking.14 JAMES SIMPSON-DANIEL (Gloucester)An oasis of footballing genius in a desert of creativity? Some have suggested as much. Simpson-Daniel’s name does not exactly lend itself to an adulatory chant from the Kingsholm Shed, but the supporters know a player when they see one and hold him dear.13 FRASER WATERS (Wasps)Mr Joe Public Esq might ask “Fraser who?”, but to a man, the Premiership players consider Waters to have been one of the central figures in Wasps’ season of seasons.
But if Hanley played as well without the ball as he does with it, he would be the best wing in the world The man is a natural finisher. Sublime at times.11 STEVE HANLEY (Sale)Defensively suspect? Agreed Prone to lapses of concentration? It seems so. Paul has lost the extreme pace that raised him so far above the ordinary in rugby league, but the subtlety of his distribution has turned him into a union player of considerable prowess. Having dominated everyone else during their golden ages, these three will now seek to dominate each other. The view from ringside should be terrific.2004 ROLL OF HONOURHEINEKEN CUP Wasps (runner-up: Toulouse)PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP Harlequins (runner-up: Monferrand)ZURICH PREMIERSHIP Wasps (runner-up: Bath)>ZURICH WILD-CARD FINAL Leicester (runner-up: Sale)NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE Worcester (runner-up: Orrell)CELTIC LEAGUE Llanelli Scarlets (runner-up: Ulster)CHRIS HEWETT’S PREMIERSHIP TEAM OF THE SEASON 15 MARK VAN GISBERGEN (Wasps)Hardly the biggest, but definitely among the brightest.