England went into the tournament in 1987 believing they could ‘beat anyone’. Wales dispelled that notion in the quarter-finals
By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog
England’s preparations for the inaugural Rugby
World Cup began in earnest at the Five Nations in February 1987. They had an awful start to the tournament, losing 17-0 to
Ireland in
Dublin and then 19-15 to
France at Twickenham. But the fallout from the Battle of Cardiff threw an even bigger spanner in the works.
England were defeated and disgraced in Wales, losing the game 19-12 and losing four players to suspension. With just one match to play in the Five Nations – and just three months to go before Australia and
New Zealand co-hosted the first World Cup – England’s plans lay in tatters.
Three-quarters of the way through their Five Nations campaign, England were still waiting for their first win and their first try. With Richard Hill banned, they were now in search of a new captain to lead the team in the Calcutta Cup and the World Cup. Step forward winger Mike Harrison, whose selection came as some surprise – especially to himself. “They must have gone through the list from one to 15. I imagine I was their 15th call after everyone else had said no. I was gobsmacked. It was not something I ever expected.”