Mathew Tait on England, South Africa, World Cups in Paris, and his return to Dubai Sevens

As Mathew Tait sits at a table discussing his latest career reinvention, the TVs in the Sideliner’s Sports Lounge provide a reminder of one of his previous ones.

The screens in the first-floor lounge of the pavilion at The Sevens, Dubai, are showing re-runs of the weekend action from the Rugby World Cup, 5,500 kilometres away in France.

While Tait might want to stay on message and promote the forthcoming Emirates Dubai Sevens, of which he is general manager and festival director, it is hard not to let the mind wander.

It is 16 years now since he lit up rugby’s biggest stage, playing a starring role in what was an eventual defeat for England against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup final in Paris.

Coincidentally, the two countries are set to meet again at the Stade de France this Sunday, this time in a semi-final.

The parallels are striking. A much-derided England side playing no-frills rugby and hitting out at the doubters after making it to the business end of the competition. Then starting out as distance second favourites against a fearsome Springboks side.

Ultimately, the Boks were too good back then. But Tait was central to a valiant England rearguard which might have been successful, were it not for a fleck of touchline paint on the boot of England wing Mark Cueto.

Just after half-time, Tait set off on a mazy solo run which took him to within inches of the South Africa try line. What followed was the most hotly-debated television match official review in World Cup final history – and no try for England.

“I was really fortunate to have had the run that I did, but to pull up a bit short,” Tait said. “I could have retired on the back of that and sailed off into the sunset.

“But Mark Cueto’s foot was in touch. He