What Martin Johnson said to England teammates before the 2003 World Cup final speaks volumes

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby captains, didn’t deliver any stirring speech ahead of the clash with Australia in Sydney. His leadership style was different—quiet but immensely effective.

That day, Johnson led England to a historic victory, with Jonny Wilkinson sealing the win with a famous drop goal in extra time.

Reflecting on what it meant to be a captain in such a high-stakes match, Johnson explained his approach to leadership.

"I'm not expected to make an awesome speech before games. They are all motivated to play; players don't follow me. If I wasn't there, they wouldn't scratch their heads and go, 'What do we do now?'" he said.

Johnson emphasized that at the international level, being captain is more about the technical aspects of the game rather than motivational speeches. “Being captain, at international level, is all about technicalities and how we're going to play,” he added.

While Johnson preferred to keep things simple, he admitted there were times when he could sense the team wasn’t quite ready. "There are always days when the team is flat," he revealed.

For Johnson, the key to effective communication lies in brevity. "There is an incredible risk of people saying the same thing for the sake of saying it, and then saying it three or four times," he explained. "The skill is getting your message across in the fewest possible words. You've got to cut through the crap."

Johnson also challenged the romanticized idea of playing for the entire country, suggesting that the true motivation lies within the team. "When you play international sport, you are playing for the whole country to a degree, but the real motivation is that I am playing for these guys on the pitch," he said.

"Whether it is Leicester, England, or the British Lions—that is who you are really playing for."

Take a look at how some of the key players look now:

A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand 'Raging Bull', with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.

Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including 'Celebrity MasterChef', which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.

Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup's and the Six Nations.

Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the 'School of Hard Knocks' TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti's London office. Greenwood's family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne's research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.

Tindall, who earned an impressive 75 caps for England, held the distinction of being the final player from the 2003 squad to retire when he bid farewell to his playing career in 2014. Adding a touch of royalty to his life, he tied the knot with Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, in 2011.

Since then, he's frequently spotted alongside royalty at various sporting events and public engagements, embodying a blend of athletic prowess and regal connections. He also presents The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby podcast.

Kay amassed 62 caps for England throughout his eight-year international career, retiring in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has contributed as an analyst for various prominent broadcasters and held a role as a non-executive director at Leicester Tigers from 2014 to 2021.

The openside flanker for England in 2003 transitioned to coaching roles post-retirement, notably at Leeds Carnegie and Rugby Lions. His tenure culminated in leading an undefeated 2011/12 season with Rugby Lions in the fifth tier, securing both a league title and cup victory. His last full-time coaching position was at Edinburgh, concluding in 2013.

Dallaglio has followed in the footsteps of Wilkinson and Dawson, becoming a well-known rugby pundit. He provided coverage for the Rugby World Cup on ITV in 2011.

Additionally, he is renowned for his philanthropic efforts, having founded the Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation. This organisation aims to empower young people through sport and supports teenage cancer trusts by raising funds.

Cohen ended his rugby career with Sale Sharks, having previously also represented Northampton Saints and French club Brive. An inspirational activist, the former winger founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation in 2011, which works on raising awareness regarding the impacts of bullying and implements “real-world work to stop it”. Cohen is an leading activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2013 was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. 

Due to having a hearing issue called tinnitus, Cohen is clinically deaf. He lacks approxmiatly 30% of his hearing in both ears, and he is a campaigner for increased accessibility within rugby for hard of hearing people. Cohen met his partner Kristina Rihanoff on TV show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and the pair have since had a daughter together. Cohen has appeared on numerous reality TV shows, including The Jump, The Celebrity Chase and has worked with charity Sports Relief. 

Since retiring from playing, two of England's victorious 2003 front-rowers have embarked on distinct paths. Hooker Thompson opted for a lifestyle change, relocating to Dubai. At 45 years old, he assumed ambassadorial roles for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and was appointed as a sports ambassador for Transguard, a security and facilities management services company.

However, Thompson's journey took a poignant turn when he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in December 2020. In a significant gesture, on September 23, 2021, he publicly expressed his desire to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Regarded as one of England's finest wingers in history, this dual-code legend left an indelible mark by scoring his team's sole try against Australia on that historic occasion. Since then, he has reconnected with rugby league in a coaching role, serving as joint operations manager for the Jamaica national team.