The Sunday Mail
Breaking new ground was the theme of Friday night’s opening ceremony and England began their campaign knowing that could be the upshot for the sport in the country if they are successful at this home tournament. The centre of the Twickenham pitch was dominated by a giant ball and halfway through the ceremony, 20 ‘giants of the game’ took centre stage — with Martin Johnson the chosen English representative.
His presence provided a link with the 2003 triumph, as Stuart Lancaster’s players prepared to launch their quest to emulate that epic feat 12 years after Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis Cup on that memorable night in Sydney. There was plenty of pomp and grandeur, with music from the Royal Marines and an appearance by Prince Harry, among a large multi-national cast in the production devised by creative director Kim Gavin.
Most supporters heeded requests to be in position to watch the festivities unfold early but the anticipation had been building outside the stadium long before anything actually ever begun.
Fans began to converge on Twickenham from late morning — most wearing England’s home white shirt rather than the change red shirts in which the players appeared against Fiji.
The crowds gradually swelled throughout the afternoon, with pubs around the station particularly full and awash with increasingly raucous revelry.
Naturally, there was an overwhelmingly English presence, but there were considerable contingents from other nations, too.One couple were resplendent in red Canadian Mountie outfits, while there were large groups of French supporters, Argentines, a few South Africans and countless New Zealanders.
Several shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants in Twickenham and surrounding area were adorned with rugby-themed flags and bunting, and a number of premises chose to welcome England’s Pacific island rivals by displaying Fiji flags.
There was even a cake shop with an oval-shaped cake iced in the official World Cup ball design.
By late afternoon, the place was a seething mass of feverish excitement. Hundreds of people poured off every train in a remarkably civilised, good-natured swarm, despite the crush.
It was just a shame that they arrived into a shabby station which had undergone a superficial makeover, but not the fundamental overhaul it really needed to provide a fitting entry point for visitors from around the world. The event — and the hub for the host nation — deserves better.
Still, no one was too concerned. They emerged to be greeted by touts openly operating in front of the police, who appeared indifferent.
Meanwhile, overhead, a police helicopter hovered. It was a slightly incongruous presence, given that the most evident crime taking place below was of the sartorial kind — although some of those offences deserved a lengthy sentence. It was surely an almighty hassle for local residents but the decision to close roads around the centre of Twickenham and the stadium eased the movement of supporters, which is often unbearably slow when the traffic is still flowing.
The hordes surged towards their destination past stalls selling all manner of culinary delights. Smoke from a South African braai drifted across thea main approach road, adding to the atmosphere.
There appeared to be more people giving the sport a try and they were filled with a sense of intrigue.
During so many matches on an annual basis, those present at Six Nations games and autumn Tests seem so familiar with the routine but not this crowd, who gazed around and took plenty of the obligatory selfies.
Some of the Twickenham staples were in evidence. There were plenty of Barbour jackets, garish waistcoats and blazers and establishment accents.
But there were many others in all manner of fancy dress. A group of knights in full regalia headed for a very different kind of crusade, via the bar of course — Dailymail.
