Donal Lenihan on 'Unbreakable': We laughed at old times, secretly relieved we could all still do so

Watching the documentary on England's 2003 World Cup winners proved a fairly harrowing watch. On the surface, they were hard-nosed, mentally strong and highly committed group of 'unbreakable' men. We now know different 

OLD FRIENDS: Gathering at the IRFU's 150th anniversary bash in Dublin were (from left): Hugo MacNeill, Trevor Ringland, Michael Bradley, Philip Danaher, Michael Kiernan, Mick Galwey, and Donal Lenihan.

HAVING worked closely with several members of the England squad on the 2001 Lions tour who, two years later, became the only northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, I was drawn to the 'Unbreakable' documentary which aired on TNT Sport last week.

To be honest I found it a difficult watch, particularly given that three of the English players I grew to know best in Phil Vickery, Ben Cohen and Jason Robinson were central characters in describing the challenges faced by so many of that exceptional squad since Martin Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in Stadium Australia in Sydney.