After tired boots are unlaced,

After aching wrists are un-taped.

Before the dinners, black ties and a la carte subscriptions,

Before the bruises emerge and the lactate constrictions.

After the sayers have said and the doers have done,

After all those concerned, have accepted who won.

After the hype and after the show,

After the anthems, but before the last blow.

Before Italian fans turned up in blue wigs,

Before textured footballs succeeded the bladders of pigs.

Before kicking tees replaced pint glasses of sand,

Before we knew we had hamstrings, and we just ran on command.

Before there was sport there was untamed aggression,

Before our respect, they undermined to submission.

Before there was humility there were superior tones,

And before there was sportsmanship, there was ...Eddie Jones.