2003 Six Nations Championship Explained

2003 Six Nations Championship
Date:15 February – 30 March 2003
Countries:




Count:25
Grand Slam: (12th title)
Triple Crown: (23rd title)
Matches:15
Tries:74
Top Point Scorer: Jonny Wilkinson (77)
Top Try Scorer: Damien Traille (4)
Previous Year:2002
Previous Tournament:2002 Six Nations Championship
Next Year:2004
Next Tournament:2004 Six Nations Championship

The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship, and the 109th international championship overall. The annual tournament was won by England, who completed a grand slam, and went on to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup later the same year. Italy won their first match with Wales (30–22), finishing in 6th place for the first time in the process.

This was the sixth time in the Championship's history, but the first time since it became the Six Nations, that two teams met in the final round with undefeated records, both England and Ireland having won their first four games, making the final match a decider for the Grand Slam. It was also the first time Ireland had been involved: and the first that was won by the away team. Wales were whitewashed, losing all five of their games, and earned themselves the wooden spoon as a result.

Participants

NationVenueCityHead coachCaptain
Twickenham StadiumLondon Clive WoodwardMartin Johnson/Jonny Wilkinson
Stade de FranceSaint-Denis Bernard LaporteFabien Galthié/Fabien Pelous
Lansdowne RoadDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'Driscoll
Stadio FlaminioRome John KirwanAlessandro Troncon
Murrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Ian McGeechanBryan Redpath
Millennium StadiumCardiff Steve HansenColin Charvis/Martyn Williams

Results

Round 1

FB 15Paolo Vaccari
RW 14Mauro Bergamasco
OC 13Cristian Stoica
IC 12
LW 11Denis Dallan
FH 10Diego Domínguez
SH 9 Alessandro Troncon
N8 8 Matthew Phillips
OF 7 Aaron Persico
BF 6 Andrea de Rossi
RL 5 Marco Bortolami
LL 4 Cristian Bezzi
TP 3
HK 2 Carlo Festuccia
LP 1 Giampiero de Carli
Substitutions:
HK 16Andrea Moretti
PR 17
LK 18Mark Giacheri
FL 19Scott Palmer
SH 20Juan Manuel Queirolo
FH 21Ramiro Pez
CE 22Mirco Bergamasco
Coach:
John Kirwan
FB 15Rhys Williams
RW 14
OC 13Tom Shanklin
IC 12
LW 11Gareth Thomas
FH 10Iestyn Harris
SH 9 Dwayne Peel
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Michael Owen
RL 5
LL 4 Robert Sidoli
TP 3 Ben Evans
HK 2
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17Gethin Jenkins
FL 18
FL 19
SH 20Gareth Cooper
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Steve Hansen
----
FB 15Jason Robinson
RW 14Dan Luger
OC 13Will Greenwood
IC 12Charlie Hodgson
LW 11Ben Cohen
FH 10Jonny Wilkinson
SH 9 Andy Gomarsall
N8 8 Richard Hill
OF 7 Neil Back
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Martin Johnson
TP 3 Julian White
HK 2 Steve Thompson
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20Nick Walshe
WG 21Phil Christophers
WG 22James Simpson-Daniel
Coach:
Clive Woodward
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14
OC 13Xavier Garbajosa
IC 12Damien Traille
LW 11Vincent Clerc
FH 10Gérald Merceron
SH 9 Fabien Galthié
N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy
OF 7 Olivier Magne
BF 6
RL 5 Olivier Brouzet
LL 4 Fabien Pelous
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18David Auradou
FL 19
SH 20Dimitri Yachvili
FH 21François Gelez
FB 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
----
FB 15Glenn Metcalfe
RW 14Kenny Logan
OC 13Andy Craig
IC 12Brendan Laney
LW 11Chris Paterson
FH 10
SH 9 Bryan Redpath
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7 Andrew Mower
BF 6 Martin Leslie
RL 5 Stuart Grimes
LL 4 Scott Murray
TP 3
HK 2 Gordon Bulloch
LP 1 Tom Smith
Substitutions:
HK 16Steve Scott
PR 17
LK 18Nathan Hines
N8 19Ross Beattie
SH 20Mike Blair
FH 21
CE 22Kevin Utterson
Coach:
Ian McGeechan
FB 15Girvan Dempsey
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Kevin Maggs
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10David Humphreys
SH 9
N8 8 Anthony Foley
OF 7 Keith Gleeson
BF 6
RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
FB 22
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan

Round 2

FB 15Paolo Vaccari
RW 14Mauro Bergamasco
OC 13Cristian Stoica
IC 12Giovanni Raineri
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9 Alessandro Troncon
N8 8
OF 7 Aaron Persico
BF 6 Andrea de Rossi
RL 5 Marco Bortolami
LL 4 Cristian Bezzi
TP 3
HK 2 Carlo Festuccia
LP 1 Giampiero de Carli
Substitutions:
HK 16Andrea Moretti
PR 17
LK 18Mark Giacheri
FL 19
SH 20Juan Manuel Queirolo
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
John Kirwan
FB 15Geordan Murphy
RW 14
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll
IC 12Kevin Maggs
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10David Humphreys
SH 9
N8 8 Anthony Foley
OF 7 Keith Gleeson
BF 6
RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21Paul Burke
CE 22
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
----
FB 15Kevin Morgan
RW 14
OC 13Mark Taylor
IC 12
LW 11Gareth Thomas
FH 10Ceri Sweeney
SH 9 Gareth Cooper
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Dafydd Jones
RL 5
LL 4 Robert Sidoli
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Dwayne Peel
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Steve Hansen
FB 15
RW 14
OC 13Will Greenwood
IC 12Charlie Hodgson
LW 11Ben Cohen
FH 10
SH 9 Kyran Bracken
N8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Martin Johnson
TP 3 Robbie Morris
HK 2 Steve Thompson
LP 1 Graham Rowntree
Substitutions:
HK 16Mark Regan
PR 17Mike Worsley
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
WG 21
WG 22
Coach:
Clive Woodward
----
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14Aurélien Rougerie
OC 13Xavier Garbajosa
IC 12Damien Traille
LW 11
FH 10François Gelez
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Olivier Magne
BF 6 Serge Betsen
RL 5
LL 4 Fabien Pelous
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20
FH 21Gérald Merceron
FB 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15Glenn Metcalfe
RW 14Chris Paterson
OC 13Gregor Townsend
IC 12Kevin Utterson
LW 11Kenny Logan
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7
BF 6 Martin Leslie
RL 5 Stuart Grimes
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Gordon Bulloch
LP 1 Tom Smith
Substitutions:
HK 16Steve Scott
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21Gordon Ross
CE 22
Coach:
Ian McGeechan

Round 3

FB 15Geordan Murphy
RW 14John Kelly
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll
IC 12Kevin Maggs
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10David Humphreys
SH 9 Peter Stringer
N8 8 Anthony Foley
OF 7 Keith Gleeson
BF 6
RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2 Shane Byrne
LP 1 Marcus Horan
Substitutions:
HK 16Frankie Sheahan
PR 17Reggie Corrigan
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Guy Easterby
FH 21Ronan O'Gara
FB 22Girvan Dempsey
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14Aurélien Rougerie
OC 13Xavier Garbajosa
IC 12Damien Traille
LW 11Vincent Clerc
FH 10François Gelez
SH 9 Dimitri Yachvili
N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy
OF 7 Olivier Magne
BF 6
RL 5 Olivier Brouzet
LL 4 Fabien Pelous
TP 3
HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez
LP 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca
Substitutions:
HK 16Jean-Baptiste Rué
PR 17
LK 18David Auradou
N8 19
SH 20Mathieu Barrau
FH 21Gérald Merceron
FB 22Thomas Castaignède
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
----
FB 15Glenn Metcalfe
RW 14Chris Paterson
OC 13James McLaren
IC 12
LW 11Kenny Logan
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7 Andrew Mower
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Scott Murray
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Tom Smith
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Ian McGeechan
FB 15
RW 14Rhys Williams
OC 13Mark Taylor
IC 12
LW 11Gareth Thomas
FH 10Stephen Jones
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Dafydd Jones
RL 5
LL 4 Robert Sidoli
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Steve Hansen
Notes:

----

FB 15
RW 14James Simpson-Daniel
OC 12Mike Tindall
IC 13Will Greenwood
LW 11Dan Luger
FH 10
SH 9 Matt Dawson
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 Joe Worsley
RL 5
LL 4 Danny Grewcock
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Graham Rowntree
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Clive Woodward
FB 15Mirco Bergamasco
RW 14Nicola Mazzucato
OC 13
IC 12Giovanni Raineri
LW 11Denis Dallan
FH 10Ramiro Pez
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Aaron Persico
BF 6 Andrea de Rossi
RL 5
LL 4 Cristian Bezzi
TP 3 Ramiro Martínez
HK 2
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22Andrea Masi
Coach:
John Kirwan

Round 4

FB 15Rhys Williams
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Tom Shanklin
LW 11Gareth Thomas
FH 10Stephen Jones
SH 9
N8 8 Dafydd Jones
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Colin Charvis
RL 5 Gareth Llewellyn
LL 4 Robert Sidoli
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18Steve Williams
FL 19Gavin Thomas
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
Steve Hansen
FB 15Geordan Murphy
RW 14Justin Bishop
OC 13Brian O'Driscoll
IC 12Kevin Maggs
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10
SH 9 Peter Stringer
N8 8
OF 7 Keith Gleeson
BF 6
RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2 Shane Byrne
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16Frankie Sheahan
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20Guy Easterby
FH 21
WG 22John Kelly
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
----
FB 15Josh Lewsey
RW 14Jason Robinson
OC 12
IC 13Will Greenwood
LW 11Ben Cohen
FH 10
SH 9 Matt Dawson
N8 8
OF 7 Neil Back
BF 6 Richard Hill
RL 5
LL 4 Martin Johnson
TP 3 Jason Leonard
HK 2 Steve Thompson
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16Mark Regan
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Andy Gomarsall
FH 21
WG 22
Coach:
Clive Woodward
FB 15Glenn Metcalfe
RW 14Chris Paterson
OC 13
IC 12Andy Craig
LW 11Kenny Logan
FH 10Gregor Townsend
SH 9 Bryan Redpath
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7
BF 6 Jason White
RL 5 Nathan Hines
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2 Gordon Bulloch
LP 1 Tom Smith
Substitutions:
HK 16Robbie Russell
PR 17
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20Mike Blair
FH 21Gordon Ross
CE 22
Coach:
Ian McGeechan
----
FB 15Mirco Bergamasco
RW 14
OC 13
IC 12Giovanni Raineri
LW 11Denis Dallan
FH 10Ramiro Pez
SH 9
N8 8 Matthew Phillips
OF 7 Aaron Persico
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Cristian Bezzi
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
CE 22
Coach:
John Kirwan
FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14Aurélien Rougerie
OC 13Thomas Castaignède
IC 12Damien Traille
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Olivier Magne
BF 6 Serge Betsen
RL 5
LL 4 Fabien Pelous
TP 3 Sylvain Marconnet
HK 2
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
WG 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte

Round 5

FB 15Clément Poitrenaud
RW 14
OC 13Thomas Castaignède
IC 12Damien Traille
LW 11Xavier Garbajosa
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Olivier Magne
BF 6 Serge Betsen
RL 5
LL 4 Fabien Pelous
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
WG 22
Coach:
Bernard Laporte
FB 15Rhys Williams
RW 14Craig Morgan
OC 13Mark Taylor
IC 12
LW 11
FH 10Stephen Jones
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Martyn Williams
BF 6 Colin Charvis
RL 5
LL 4 Robert Sidoli
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
CE 21
CE 22Matthew Watkins
Coach:
Steve Hansen
----
FB 15Glenn Metcalfe
RW 14Chris Paterson
OC 13James McLaren
IC 12Andy Craig
LW 11Kenny Logan
FH 10Gregor Townsend
SH 9 Bryan Redpath
N8 8 Simon Taylor
OF 7 Andrew Mower
BF 6
RL 5 Nathan Hines
LL 4
TP 3 Bruce Douglas
HK 2
LP 1 Tom Smith
Substitutions:
HK 16
PR 17Gavin Kerr
LK 18
N8 19
SH 20Mike Blair
FH 21Gordon Ross
CE 22Kevin Utterson
Coach:
Ian McGeechan
FB 15Mirco Bergamasco
RW 14
OC 13Andrea Masi
IC 12Giovanni Raineri
LW 11Denis Dallan
FH 10Ramiro Pez
SH 9 Alessandro Troncon
N8 8
OF 7 Aaron Persico
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Cristian Bezzi
TP 3
HK 2 Carlo Festuccia
LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero
Substitutions:
HK 16Fabio Ongaro
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Matteo Mazzantini
FH 21
WG 22Nicola Mazzucato
Coach:
John Kirwan
----
FB 15Geordan Murphy
RW 14Justin Bishop
OC 13
IC 12Kevin Maggs
LW 11Denis Hickie
FH 10
SH 9 Peter Stringer
N8 8 Anthony Foley
OF 7 Keith Gleeson
BF 6
RL 5 Malcolm O'Kelly
LL 4
TP 3 John Hayes
HK 2 Shane Byrne
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16Frankie Sheahan
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20Guy Easterby
FH 21
FB 22
Coach:
Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Josh Lewsey
RW 14Jason Robinson
OC 12
IC 13Will Greenwood
LW 11Ben Cohen
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio
OF 7 Neil Back
BF 6
RL 5
LL 4 Martin Johnson
TP 3 Jason Leonard
HK 2 Steve Thompson
LP 1
Substitutions:
HK 16Dorian West
PR 17
LK 18
FL 19
SH 20
FH 21
WG 22
Coach:
Clive Woodward

Red carpet incident

The deciding game between Ireland and England was overshadowed by an incident in the pre-game ceremonies in which the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, had to walk on the grass instead of the red carpet to meet the Irish team. England had lined up on the left-hand side when facing the tunnel, which was said to be Ireland's lucky side. When asked to move his team, England captain Martin Johnson refused, so Ireland lined up to the left of them, with no team now on the right hand side, leaving insufficient red carpet on that side. A day after the game the Irish Rugby Football Union sent a written apology to the president for the England team's failure to "follow established and communicated protocol", while the Rugby Football Union also sent her a "full and unreserved apology".[2] Having dismissed it at the time as "a fuss about nothing", Johnson later explained ahead of meeting the president again in Ireland for the 2011 Championship that he had lined up on that side as it was customary to line up on the side you warmed up on, that he had no prior knowledge of the protocol, and his subsequent refusal to move was because the request came from some "random guy", rather than the match referee.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Norman . Harris . Scots on rampage . The Guardian . Guardian News & Media . 8 March 2003 . 21 April 2019 .
  2. News: RUGBY: Rugby apology for McAleese. UTV. 31 March 2003. 19 March 2011.
  3. News: 18 March 2011. Irish Examiner. 19 March 2011. 19 March 2011.