Thompson to strike a blow for ‘fat boys’

STEVE THOMPSON will strike a blow for the “fat boys” of rugby when he lines up for England in the World Cup final against Australia.

The Northampton star was transformed five years ago from an ordinary club flanker into an extraordinary international hooker by his club coach, Scotland's Ian McGeechan.

For the last 18 months he has been the spearhead of England's formidable front row. On Saturday, lifting the Webb Ellis trophy at the Telstra stadium would complete a remarkable journey for Thompson taking him from obscurity to what he considers the most elite club in the world the World Cup-winning front row.

"I know everyone says the front row is a little club on its own," said Thompson. "I didn't believe it at first, but it's true.

"You can't be quite right to ram your head into someone and then keep doing it and actually enjoy it. I think that's the scary part.

"Yes, we are a bit freaky but that's what keeps the game going. It's brilliant that there is a place in the game for fat boys like us.

"There's not another club like it in the world," he added.

Thompson illustrates the camaraderie by noting the reaction of New Zealand prop Kees Meuuws who stopped pushing when Australian opposite number Ben Darwin indicated his distress in the semi-final with the chilling scream of "Neck, neck".

Darwin is recovering in hospital with a prolapsed disc and may never play again. But it could have been so much worse.

"If he'd wanted to he could have done him some serious damage but as soon as he heard the word 'neck' everyone stopped," said Thompson. He admits getting "uptight" in the first couple of games of this World Cup but insists he has since learned to chill out. "I'm just seeing Saturday as another game," he said. "I speak to some of my friends on the phone and they say 'Gee, you're in a World Cup final' but it hasn't felt like that yet."