2003, A RWC Final like no other.

As Australia and England took centre stage, at Sydney's Olympic stadium to contest the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, there was a tangible difference between the two outfits. The like of which, we would never see again at a World Cup. A difference that perhaps symbolises the final stages of the transition of elite rugby from an amateur to a professional game.

If the use of the word 'outfits' hasn't already given it away, I am of course referencing the disparity between the playing jerseys of the two adversaries. In the green and gold corner, you had a Wallaby outfit in a traditional Canterbury of New Zealand cotton rugby shirt, complete with white collar. At the other end of the spectrum, were Clive Woodward's men in their light, tight fitting, sweat removing, Nike jerseys. 

This new high spec number, unveiled just before the tournament, blew away one of the game's age old traditions. Rugby shirts until that point were as a rule, cotton, loose fitting with button up collars, that's just how it was. This shift away from the norm epitomised Woodward's forward thinking approach that had driven up levels of professionalism within English rugby. It was he who had contacted Nike directly, to raise concerns that the traditional baggy cotton shirt was allowing opposition to make scrag tackles on the likes of the elusive Jason Robinson, that otherwise would never have been made. If I recall correctly South Africa and France were also beneficiaries of the new technology. Probably much to the annoyance of Mr Clive.

On that late November evening in Sydney, It was the men in the light, tight and white that surfaced from the depths of extra time as champions. Thanks more to Jonny's predators than any special benefits derived from the Nike figure hugger. That said, Wilkinson would probably of dropped the winning goal in a pair of Wellington boots. 

Fast forward four years, and once more it was Canterbury v Nike in the final, as South Africa squared up against reigning champs England. The Canterbury offering on this occasion, was a far cry from that worn by the defeated Wallabies four years prior. It was gun and gut tight, and topped off with rubber pimples on the chest designed to aid grip. The cotton jerseys so synonymous with the history of Rugby Union were themselves now history. All teams had by that point cottoned on to the importance of seeking performance efficiencies wherever possible. Pardon the pun! 

The process of unveiling and marketing new jerseys, for this years tournament is now well underway, and we can expect to hear a variety of claims on how jerseys have any number of characteristics that have been scientifically proven to enhance various aspects of performance. Yes, all this technology may be great for those intending to wear the jersey in a test match, but for most fans it has little practical relevance. I see it as a crying shame that only a couple of brands are still choosing to produce a cotton and collar style option for fans, who perhaps can't boast the same athletic shape as their heroes. 

Would an Australian victory back in 2003 have proved the fit of the kit to be irrelevant, and in turn saved the classic jersey from its subsequent demise? The answer has to be a resounding no. Particularly given that an Irish side in a baggy green number knocked over the snug shirted world champions in the the 2004 six nations. Once the concept had been introduced, the spread of the tight fit trend was inevitable and irreversible. The pressures and expectations of the professional era have forced Rugby Union sides to innovate and evolve in order to retain a competitive edge. The relegation of certain traditions to the archives has and will continue to be an unfortunate byproduct of this evolution.