But of all the games he has seen, one sticks out above them all – the 2003 final in Sydney. And one moment, too – the Jonny Wilkinson drop goal that made England world champions.

So how was it for a Welshman describing one of the great moments of English sport?

“As a broadcasting experience 2003 was very, very special. I can still see that drop goal,” explained Taylor, who is once again getting ready to spearhead ITV’s coverage from France.

“My great pride in the commentary on the drop goal was that we called exactly what England were going to do after Elton Flatley had scored his penalty to level the scores.

“I said they had one more chance. They’ve got to get a line-out, set it up a couple of times and then give Wilkinson and chance to go for a drop goal.

“When it happened the whole stadium went crazy. I’m not exactly sure what I said, but I couldn’t get out what I wanted to say. I had been thinking of the great Kenneth Wolstenholme commentary from the 1966 soccer World Cup final game at Wembley and I wish I had said ‘they won’t even be daring to think it’s all over’.

“There was another great line I had in mind along the lines of  ‘If the left one don’t get you then the right one will’, but I just got caught up in the moment.

“In my bathroom at home I’ve got a signed picture of Jonny Wilkinson kicking that goal with a chart underneath it that shows ITV had 85% of the available TV audience at that moment.

“That type of figure is just unheard of in these days of multi-channels. The official viewing figure was recorded as 16 million, but at ITV we only count a pub or club as one viewer.

“In real terms the audience was probably between 20-25 million. As a broadcaster those are the days you live for.”

Taylor had been on duty in Brisbane for England’s quarter-final match and found himself caught up in the emotion of the occasion as Wales stunned the rugby world with their all action style.

“That was the most difficult game of the lot. I was screaming at half-time because Wales were going so well and we didn’t want the break,” admitted Taylor.

“I wanted them to play 80 minutes straight through. I feel utterly and totally Welsh, but professionally I am the ‘caller’ and have to be totally impartial when I’m commentating. Sometimes I get complaints after doing a Welsh game because people feel I am biased against Wales.”

He will be at the Millennium Stadium for the vital Pool B clash between Wales and Australia this month, but will also be covering Portugal and Georgia in the opening round.

“They are the ones that you really have to do your homework on. I’ve seen all the summer internationals and the bigger nations don’t cause commentators much difficulty,” said Taylor.

“But trying to get your tongue around some of the names of the players in the unknown nations can be a bit of a challenge. So, too, can be recognising who is who.”

And his tip for the title?

“I don’t think any bookie would have given you odds on New Zealand not winning the World Cup again for 20 years after they won the title in 1987. It is incredible to think that has happened,” said Taylor.

“There is huge pressure on the All Blacks, but they have been the best team in the world for the past year or more. They are the favourites, no doubt about that, but the other countries have learned how to play against them and I don’t think they are as far ahead as they were a year ago.”