In 2008, Englishman Johnny Fisher tried to stop Wallabies legend David Pocock and Quade Cooper at the U20 World Championship in Wales.
Now, Fisher dons the Wallabies crest as assistant coach, aiming to reverse that 18-13 scoreline and plot England’s demise on Monday (AEDT) at Twickenham.
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38-year-old Fisher was one of Les Kiss’ first appointments to his Wallabies coaching staff, having formed a bond during Kiss’ time at London Irish.
Before coaching, the back-rower played for England across U20, Sevens and Saxons (their equivalent of Australia A) levels during a successful career in the Premiership.
Fisher pulled on the English jersey in 2015 to face the Barbarians, but missed selection for that year’s World Cup.
Injury ended his career abruptly, with Fisher left to reflect on his return to England for the first time since joining the Wallabies.
“When I came in [to this room] and I sat back down, the last time that I was in this room was in 2015, the night before I played for England against the Barbarians when Stuart Lancaster had asked me to speak to the rest of the group on what it meant for me to play in an England jersey,” Fisher told reporters from their South West London base.
“There was a minute there where he was talking and I was very aware of where I was so it's a full circle moment for all of us. It’s special.”
Fisher coached a host of England’s current squad during his time at London Irish.
Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet and George Martin are amongst several in the England squad who have been coached by the London native.
Not that he thinks that’ll make a difference.
“I think if I'm being frank, this group of players are very experienced and very experienced playing at Twickenham and have previously won at Twickenham. They don't need me to tell them what to expect in that regard,” he insists.
“They know what to expect. I think they understand the English team and English mentality but without being cliché, I think we're very much focused on our game.”
A large part of that will be their success two years ago at Twickenham, but there’s also a host of Wallabies with their own English roots.
Outside backs Max Jorgensen and Harry Potter were born in England, with Potter playing several years in the Premiership.
Potter and new call-up James Ramm were even courted as part of wider England training squads before returning home to claim the gold jersey.
Then there’s Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper, all of whom have spent time at English clubs.
Les Kiss’ time in England goes without saying, where he recruited Fisher to come down to Queensland to join the Reds.
The rest is history for a man who spent the last World Cup cheering against the Wallabies.
"I fell in love with the game really was when I was with a group of friends watching that 2003 World Cup final, so to be here with the prospect of next year's [event], having fallen in love with the game at that point, it's surreal," Fisher said when appointed.
