For those late comers it was a question of standing room only, as the Enfield Ignatians’ clubhouse rocked in feverish anticipation of the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa.

Catching the mood, the Ignatians’ backstage team did a wonderful job, as did the kitchen staff, off a short turnaround, as the clubhouse had staged a Halloween party only the previous evening.

Quickly gone were the witches cauldrons and assorted ghouls, and, in their place, the club was proudly festooned in the white and red livery of the flag of St George.

Determined to enjoy the occasion, the club laid on its breakfast service until a few minutes before the 9am kick-off, in addition to opening the bar. Could 2003 be about to repeat itself?

The assembled throng roared its approval as England threatened an unlikely comeback, but the hoarse throats eventually gave way to the polite ripple of applause as the superiority of the Springboks ultimately told.

Initially, it was hard to get away from the anti-climax of events in the Japanese arena, but ultimately rugby did what it does best as the bonhomie and the banter eventually returned.

It was great to see so many old friends such as former club captains Rob Wyer and Steve Warren, whereas former first team prop, Shaun Quinn, made the long distance commute from Kent! Of course there were many more…

Transcending the barrier of national loyalties to support England doesn’t always come easily, but dyed in the wool Scotsman, Jock Fay, made the ultimate sacrifice. No, we won’t tell Nicola…

Entering the spirit of the occasion, he wore a badge proudly proclaiming that he had become ‘an honorary Englishman’, but with the ‘generous’ disclaimer that it was only for 24 hours!

Still, Ignatians had the unconditional support of Colombia and the island of Ireland. How could it all go wrong? It did and the Ulsterman next to me reflected: “I had hoped for a green victory [in the tournament] but, the trouble was, it was the wrong kind of green.”

Still, it seems only right to congratulate the Springboks and, although we live to fight another day, the journey to the final for many has been a wonderful and unifying one.