The mysterious letter sent to Wales' head coach after 'cocky' English train conversation

To this day, it remains a curious episode.

There Graham Henry was, head coach of Wales, preparing for his first Five Nations joust against England — Johnson, Hill, Back, Dallaglio, Wilkinson and all, a formidable crew who would go on to win the World Cup four years later, under the stewardship of Clive Woodward.

Wales had beaten France in Paris in their previous game but were still seen as underdogs against their Grand Slam-seeking neighbours in 1999. A couple of months earlier, after all, they had started the championship with defeats by Ireland and Scotland. England, by contrast, were developing into a powerful side who had beaten world champions South Africa five months earlier and put 60 points on Wales the previous season.

They were strongly fancied to win at Wembley.

Then, during the week of the game, an email arrived at the Welsh Rugby Union’s headquarters. Sent from London, it was addressed to Wales’ head coach. In his book, Graham Henry, The X Factor, the New Zealander called it an “amazing letter”.

Fair play, it was more than a bit startling, detailing how the writer had been on a train in London when he heard five men talking about rugby and supposedly detailing the strategy England would take against Wales in the coming game.

The listener began taking notes.

In his book, Henry wrote about England having 'whipped the Welsh' by 60 points a year earlier and claimed they 'plainly didn’t see us as too much of a threat on their march to Five Nations."

He continued: “This attitude appeared to be confirmed by an amazing letter I received in the week prior to the match. Addressed to me, it was emailed to the Welsh Rugby Union from London.”

He then went on to reveal the contents of the missive.

“To Graham Henry, the