You were denied that try by the television referee in the World Cup final. Does it still hurt?


It's always going to be in the back of my mind. Rob Andrew was speaking to the boys in the dressing room after the final. He had been in a similar situation in 1991 [when England lost to Australia] and said that losing in a World Cup final is something that you will not forget for the rest of your life. Given what happened with that try, for me the memory will only be stronger. (Watch the incident here and judge for yourself)


You said afterwards it was a try. Are you still convinced of that?


I am, absolutely. There was no definite view to prove that it wasn't a try but there were 101 views to prove that it was. In that situation, the benefit of the doubt must go to the attacking side. In any other game, it would have been given.
I don't know how many people have told me that they're certain it was a try. It happens all the time, whether I'm at an event, in the street, or just putting petrol in the car. People will come up to you and want to talk about the try. It's nice that people are interested, that they're passionate about what we did. But it shows you the depth of feeling over the decision.

Follow up:

As a result of it, Sky Sports have placed a camera at a new angle in the corner of every ground in the Guinness Premiership. Was this necessary?


Absolutely. The new camera angle will ensure that there are no more 50-50 decisions. Funnily enough, I scored a try for Sale in an almost identical position at the weekend and it was referred to the television umpire, who was able to give it. If we'd had the same camera in the World Cup final, the decision wouldn't have gone against us.


The Rugby Football Association will publish the results of their World Cup review next month. Would you like to see Brian Ashton retained as head coach?


I don't want to speak about that.


Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt were keen to give their opinions of Ashton after the tournament. Were they right to do so?


I believe players have the right to say whatever they want to say. If they want to say something positive, they will. If they want to be negative, they will. Everybody should be able to speak their mind. There will be consequences but they will have considered them beforehand.


England's footballers have been accused of not showing as much passion as the rugby team did. Is that fair?


I don't think it is. What you see on television is only one per cent of what a player is putting in day to day. Yes, footballers will be judged on how they play, just as rugby players will, but I don't think you can make a judgment on the level of players' passion just from watching them on television. That's not fair.


You've played mostly on the wing but played full back for England during the World Cup and have been picked there again for Sale this weekend. Which position do you prefer?


I don't mind. I'm playing at full back this weekend but I've played wing in the last three or four games for Sale. We're fortunate that we have three or four guys at the club who can switch between wing and full back, which can be quite effective.


If I was being highly critical, I'd say I probably need to play a little more at full back. I enjoy it there. I enjoy the freedom of it and running into the line and the other aspects of that position that you don't have on the wing. But I have spent 90 per cent of my career on the wing and had a lot of success there. Playing on the wing is almost second nature to me.


Source: Times Online