With all this war going on and Scotland washing away in storm Babet, we’ve almost forgotten two very important facts.
1. Proper football returns again after the poxy ‘international break’.
2. England are in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup!!! Tonight!!!

In the ‘other’ semi-final, the one good-thinking, right-minded, world-conscious Inglish people don’t give a shit about, The All Blacks thrashed the Argies. Not really a surprise in the result but a massive result in the manner and magnitude of the victory. Because the All Blacks, having appeared to struggle a bit, losing to France early on, not playing to their maximum potential, poor in form, suddenly showed everybody that this current team is worthy of the shirt. Oh. My. God, they’re worthy. Fast and powerful. Yet, as so often with those pesky Kiwis, amazingly skilful. You have to admire them and hate them, in equal measures.

But tonight it’s not about ‘them’. It’s England playing South Africa in an attempt to right the holy wrong which was the last World Cup Final when we lost to the horrible ‘Boks’ because… they must have cheated. Cheated us, cheated rugby, cheated GOD!!! There is no other reason they could have won that game.

And really, there was no reason they should have won last Sunday’s game against France in their quarter final. England had already breezed past Fiji in their own one, so we were just watching to ‘see who England were going to beat next week’. And with almost the same certainty that ‘next week’ has now arrived, that match between France and the horrible Saffers was possibly the best rugby match I’ve seen. But like ‘everrrrrr’!!! The final of the 2003 World Cup was brilliant but mainly emotionally because we won it. And it was against the Aussies. In Sydney. But last Sunday night was simply incredible. The first 30 minutes saw six tries, 3 each, with the French re-defining ‘quick’ rugby and yet unable to keep up such pressure without leaving holes, which those Boks flew into en masse. It was so intense I almost spilled my tea. Nearly fell off the sofa. I was THAT engaged. And South Africa won. By one single point. After 80 minutes of, basically, holding my breath.

But we can beat them! (He says with all the confidence of a young child standing up against a tank). And reach the final.

Happy Saturday

A xxxx