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Winning the World Cup may be the highlight of Jason Robinson\u2019s career but even two decades later the cross code star has yet to watch a rerun of England\u2019s historic victory over Australia.<\/p>\n
Robinson was a central figure in the 20-17 victory, showing his acceleration to outpace Wallabies Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor and touch down in the left corner shortly before half-time.<\/p>\n
It was to be England\u2019s only try on a gripping Sydney evening that was ultimately decided by Jonny Wilkinson\u2019s drop-goal with 28 seconds of extra-time remaining.<\/p>\n
I go to events and forever see the clips with me sliding in, Jonny’s kick and Johnno (Martin Johnson) lifting the trophy etc, but I’ve not watched the game<\/p>\n
Yet beyond snatched highlights showing the most compelling moments, Robinson relies on memory alone to shape his recollection of the pinnacle of English rugby history.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go to events and forever see the clips with me sliding in, Jonny\u2019s kick and Johnno (Martin Johnson) lifting the trophy etc, but I\u2019ve not watched the game,\u201d Robinson told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I\u2019ve ever done is play a game and then it\u2019s on to the next game, the next game, the next game. That\u2019s how life has been. I\u2019ve probably been conditioned not to get attached to any one game.<\/p>\n
\u201cFunnily enough my eight-year-old wants to watch the final so at some point I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll stick it on and watch it in full.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome games, you think they\u2019re better than they are. And then you watch them and see that you weren\u2019t that great! I might be seeing that in the 2003 game.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was far from the end of Robinson\u2019s career and only a year later he became the first black man to captain England, with the last of his 51 caps won in the 2007 World Cup final defeat by South Africa.<\/p>\n
The boots were eventually hung up in 2011 having paused retirement in order to play for lower league Fylde and while a spell in coaching was quickly aborted, he has continued to find work as a motivational speaker and brand ambassador.<\/p>\n
For all that has happened since, however, it was that momentous night in 2003 that had the biggest impact on his own life while also touching a multitude of others.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hard for your life not to change. You come back and see the impact that it\u2019s made on grassroots sport and the impact it had on fans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to Downing Street and Buckingham Palace and getting honours. You go somewhere and can\u2019t buy a pint \u2013 everyone wants to buy you a drink \u2013 and you\u2019re not paying for restaurant bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had an exposure that we\u2019d never had before and we were being recognised far more than ever before.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was good because it gave rugby a massive boost because it was the first time we\u2019d won anything since 1966. It was fantastic for us as players and we got lots of opportunities off the back of it.<\/p>\n
There are very few days when someone doesn’t come to me and say ‘I remember where I was when…<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are very few days when someone doesn\u2019t come to me and say \u2018I remember where I was when\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they start to tell the stories of what it meant to them and what they did as a result of it. That just shows that even 20 years on it\u2019s still had such an impact, it\u2019s been huge.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s the 20th anniversary, I\u2019m seeing a lot more of the boys. We\u2019re doing a lot of stuff together and that\u2019s been brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get back together and start to reminisce, you learn stuff from each other even after 20 years \u2013 things like how you felt. It was a special time. The comeraderie is still strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are that special group to have won the World Cup and we\u2019ll always be the first ones to have done it from the northern hemisphere. Winning it is the ultimate.\u201d<\/p>\n