As if England have not received enough plaudits for the winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Britain's Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has immortalised their efforts in a little ditty entitled - yes, you've guessed it - 'A Song For Jonny'.

Unfortunately for Motion and poetry buffs everywhere, the ode makes its long-awaited debut following England's 19-13 defeat to Ireland in the RBS Six Nations.

But such setbacks shouldn't stand in the way of literary achievement - if they did we would never have heard of the demise of the Light Brigade, right?

Motion put the delay of the poem's publication down to a technical hitch - he simply couldn't find a word that rhymed with Wilkinson.

"I stuck to first names in the end," confessed the Poet Laureate.

"I wrote it as a kind of joke, a self-evident light-hearted thing. There is no point being po-faced about these things.

"But it was a difficult poem to write because of the Wilkinson rhyme problem."

So, without further ado, we bring you ...

A Song For Jonny - Andrew Motion
 
O Jonny the power of your boot
And the accurate heart-stopping route
Of your goal as it ghosts
Through Australian posts
Is a triumph we gladly salute.

O Martin the height of your leap
And the gritty possession you keep
Of the slippery ball
In the ruck and the maul
Is enough to make patriots weep.

O Jason the speed of your feet
And their side-stepping hop-scotching beat
As you touch down and score
While the terraces roar
Is the thing that makes chariots sweet.

O forwards and backs you have all
Shown us wonderful ways to walk tall
And together with Clive
You will help us survive
Our losses with other-shaped balls.

* Well, could you do any better? Send us your offerings!

From our readers ...

O England - Andrew Martin

O England we knew of your greatness on earth,
Going to Sydney, Canberra and don't forget Perth.
Winning old Ellis, with Jonny's right boot,
Frankly the Irish thought this was all such a hoot.
 
So Six Nations time came round once again,
Would Englands power and dominance obtain?
First game back at Twickenham, March 6 it twas,
The Irish had revenge as their number one cause.
 
England were certain, the Irish could be contained,
O'Driscoll had other ideas, his legacy reigned.
The ref blew the whistle, the game had begun,
But Swing Low O England, was not being sung!
 
The Final whistle blew, 19-13 to the green,
Lawrence and Clive looked exceedingly mean.
Ireland's Call sang out, we had done it, we'd won,
O England what happened? Had we just spoiled your fun?

Good to the Last Drop - James Straffon

Oh Jonny what price your thrice-striped studded shoe,
The one that kicked the leather out of the Kangaroo?

And if I could place the celebrated ball in a pawnshop,
You know, the one immortalised by that last-minute drop,
Who would dare name a sum for such a full-stop?

If truth be told, such things are truly unique and priceless,
Not just for the glint of the famed golden chalice,

For they also brought back the spirit of one Webb Ellis.