5. Ben Spencer – 2019 Rugby World Cup
Bath scrum half Ben Spencer had an unexpected yet unforgettable run out, at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Eddie Jones preferred the scrum half combination of Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz for the trip to Japan, which saw the then Saracen fail to make the cut. Spencer went about his time-off enjoying the Rugby World Cup from afar, as England performed exceptionally well and battled all past the All Blacks for a spot in the final.
However, in the semi-final clash with New Zealand, kiwi-born scrum half Willi Heinz suffered a torn hamstring against his home country. This opened up a vacancy at scrum-half cover, as England returned to the Rugby World Cup Final for the first time since 2007. Spencer got the call from Jones, and was on the plane to Japan a day after teaching a coaching session at his former school of Ivybridge Community College.
Spencer came off the bench with five minutes remaining, as Ben Youngs had an uncharacteristically under-par performance. However, it was too little too late for the replacement scrum half, as Spencer could not commandeer his country to a last-ditch triumph. South Africa had already established a 32-12 lead, with the latest conversion from the boot of Handre Pollard engraving the Springboks onto the Web Ellis trophy for a third time.
Spencer came away from the Rugby World Cup with a runners-up medal, which would have been the last thing he’d expected to receive after being initially let-go by the squad the previous Summer. An unexpected call-up, and a brief five minute cameo that many England fans could have forgotten all about, Ben Spencer’s five minute stint in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final is the ultimate ‘blink and you miss it’ performance, from an England player at the Rugby World Cup.
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