Woodward’s Holy Trinity were just untouchable

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Iconic Rugby Pictures: PART 19 England’s three amigos adopt battle formation November 22, 2003

What happening here?

It’s November 22, 2003 at the Olympic Stadium Sydney and the famed England back row of Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill and Neil Back are taking it to the Aussies in the World Cup final. The three musketeers had been at the heart of everything good in Clive Woodward’s England team for the previous four years and now came the ultimate Test.

What’s the story behind the picture?

It seems obvious now that this illustrious trio be teamed up but England had faffed around for a while finding reasons to avoid the “obvious”. First, during the first half of his career, England weren’t really convinced that Neil Back was big enough to play international rugby and never gave him their full backing. It took the arrival of Clive Woodward for Back to be considered as a long-term proposition.

And then there was the versatility of Dallaglio and Hill. Hill could – and did – play Test rugby in all three back row positions as indeed did Dallaglio. But how to utilise their diverse talents? Both were probably natural blindsides but once Woodward decided he simply wanted his best three back rowers on the park the debate centred on which of them was best suited to No.8.

The other factor was that none of the trio were particularly tall at Test level but England still needed a lineout option at the tail. The spring-heeled Dallaglio was the obvious choice for that role and that was possibly the clincher.

It wasn’t an instant success. They made their England debut in this formation against South Africa in 1997 and got well beaten 29-11 but it went better a week later with a memorable 26-26 draw against New Zealand. Then came a defeat against France in Paris before the trio finally tasted victory again Wales – but an injury to Hill saw them split for the following two games when first Dean Ryan and then Tony Diprose played at No.8 and Dallaglio went to flanker

As late as February, 1999 Woodward was still considering his options and went with Hill at No.8 against Scotland with Dallaglio at 6, but after England scraped home 24-21, the England coach finally made his mind up. The dye was cast. The Holy Trinity was in place.

What happened next?

Their story is pretty much England’s story of this era. There were multiple disappointments along the way – three missed Grand Slams and an underwhelming 1999 World Cup – but they were also part of an England group determined not to let the ‘moment’ pass them. Back and Dallaglio were serial winners with their clubs, Dallaglio and Hill were members of that great England U21 team that had travelled to Australia in 1993 and beaten them with plenty to spare. They had all been around the block and although perhaps nearing the end of their careers they were hungry and, at international level, still unfulfilled.

As a unit they improved every year and by 2003 they were the best back row unit in the world and ultra reliable. England’s allcourt game plan depended on the linking and recycling abilities of the back row and they were never found wanting.

Why is the picture ironic?

I noticed during lockdown somebody tweeted this picture and Back proudly replied “that’s a keeper”. Whether by chance or design it’s a beautifully composed triptych and conveys their individuality and that feeling of hunting as a pack. The whole was always greater than the sum of the parts with this combination.

Dallaglio was always front of house, aggressive, full on. A player who initiated stuff, enjoyed the limelight and possessed the air of an enforcer. A great leader even if his career as England’s captain was brought to an abrupt halt after the News of the World sting in 1999.

Behind him the other two automatically took up station, slotting into their accustomed roles. They knew what was needed and what comes next. Back – and I am sure it was just a momentary thing but the impression is nonetheless strong – has even closed his eyes. He knew exactly what was happening, he could do this blindfolded. The old routine. Follow Lol, be on hand for an offload if needed but above all else get to the breakdown first.

Hillie meanwhile is puffing his cheeks with the effort of getting up in support. Not blessed with the natural pace of Backie, he needed to work a little harder but that strapping on his left thigh also needs to be noted. Hill pulled up lame with a nasty hamstring strain in the first game of the World Cup against Georgia and didn’t play again until the France semi-final a week before this picture. Woodward prized his services so highly that he wanted – needed – him back for the crunch games at the business end.

Remember ‘Hilda’ was the only player Woodward never dropped during his seven-year reign.

Footnote: This was the last time the three amigos played together. This was Back’s England swansong and although Woodward was keen to reunite them for the 2005 Lions series his plans were thwarted by a serious tour-ending injury to Dallaglio in the first game against Bay of Plenty. Hill picked up a careerthreatening knee injury in the ill-fated first Test which was also Back’s last international appearance. The party was over.