Travel Tips

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM is sung from the heart

That the Rugby World Cup has been the best ever tournament can no longer be doubted. And I would contend that the Saturday of this weekend will go down in history as the best day of this best ever tournament.

Picture the scene: two games featuring the supposedly mighty, unconquerable Southern hemisphere teams, against two Northern hemisphere teams guilty of underachievement before, and in, the tournament. The undisputed tournament favourites New Zealand v the underperforming French. And the Australians versus those white clad heroes from England (as you may have gathered, this will turn out to be a somewhat biased account of the day-those from a Southern Hemisphere may like to skip to the end of this piece).

And I was there….

England 12-10 Australia

Rip up that form book; delete those tributes to great Australian rugby because on this day in history, the Australians were bought to their knees by English beef, brawn and brain. Good bye Aussie!! All those that bragged about Australia merely having to turn up became pretty silent at final whistle. Love it love it.

As a spectacle of flowing rugby, then this wouldn’t rate in the top 100. As a game of intensity, of steely will and of tactical nous and execution then it was in the top 10-ever. England’s game plan was to win in the pack-Australia have a scrum weakness and boy was it ever exposed. They were outmuscled, out thought and out played. Oh such a glorious day.

France 20-18 New Zealand

I will be the first to admit that as an Englishman, we and the French have not always seen eye to eye. Indeed, despite the important lesson we taught them at Agincourt, they have been a source of some angst to us English. Arrogant, annoying, winning football world cups and David Ginola-probably Gods true gift to women-all being sent to try. However, on this epic Saturday night, all of Europe came together to cheer on our brave boys in blue. ‘Allez les Blues’ ringing throughout Marseille in every accent-most surprisingly English.

And Oh La La did they Allez. The pre tournament favourites were bullied, harried and finally exposed to a try of genius to be sent home with tales between legs to contemplate another supreme piece of choking in the Rugby World Cup. Such drama, such delight.

Sadly, this new found love of our garlic eating, froggy friends changes now though, and old enmities can return as the Semi Final-England v France looms….we look forward to the Rost Bif abuse!! Roll on Paris….

But Quarter Final weekend was not over, so a little drained we made our way to the third game on the Sunday:

South Africa 37-20 Fiji

A free flowing game of Rugby, which from a spectator’s point of view, was made all the more enjoyable by the Boks underestimating the dangerous Fijians. Hence, it was touch and go until the last 10-15 minutes. The Fijians played sevens rugby throughout, with a joyous lack of respect, and had the crowd believing that a third upset could be about to unfurl.

End to end rugby, soft hands and jinking feet making a marvellous game for those many neutrals in the crowd .But South Africa showed why they are now tournament favourites. Belligerent defence, powerful forwards and even some flair from the much maligned backs. It’s hard to see past SA as world champions but we said that about New Zealand….

Incidentally, there is no truth in the rumour that the English supporters enjoyed the miserable faces on those Welsh visitors who had anticipated that they would be watching their team in the game-not Fiji-and hence were in Marseille and at the game.

Argentina 19-13 Scotland

Goodness, Scotland lost.

And so we move back to Paris for the Semi Finals. These games mean that the final will feature one from the Northern Hemisphere, and one from the south. For the sake of this web site we are hoping for an England v South African final. But given the nature of this tournament, don’t bet against Argentina just yet, and Donna will be there….

...and Donna was there....

ENG 14 -9 FRA

The elation began on Saturday evening with England making it through to the finals next weekend. Jonny performed as only Jonny can using his drop kicks to secure Englands place, whilst Lewsey began it with an early try.

High from Saturday nights outcome and filled with optimism of South Africa's ability to join England for the finale on the 20th October made it easy to make that 5am start.
Off to Dover to catch a break of day ferry over to enjoy the hospitality of our French neighbours, albeit they were a little quiet after the previous nights defeat.

By mid afternoon we were ensconsed in the Parisian World Cup Rugby atmosphere, Saffers everywhere, Argies rating their chances and banter that only rugby fans can exchange and smile over.

After a satisfying meal, plenty of traditional SA music we reluctantly left Paris and headed out to Stade de France to watch the match - Oh and what a game!

Intoxicated not by alcohol but by excitement, glee and the desire to win, spirits were high.

RSA 37 -13 ARG

Game on - and was it, I'll say so! Bryan Habana doing what he does so well, took the ball all the way down the line, Percy Montgomery kicked 17 points and with Fourie du Preez and Danie Rossouw making try's South Africa secured their place against England in the finals.
What a great outcome to this cup.

After the start England made to these games, who ever thought they would be here in the finals defending their title against a team who deserves to take home the Webb Ellis cup themselves, to put the Springboks back where they belong, at the top.

Each team will be striving to gain the cup for the second time, the battle will be unmissable.

20th October will be RWC fes day at our home ... the outcome means one of us will be elated and the other just delighted.

....what a finale!

Nerves on edge, Saffers and a Blighty gathered around the TV supping Castles/Fosters and wors rolls to calm the tension between us all.

Fiesty talk, each declaring our faith in our respective teams to win, knowing that it was going to be a close call and that it would take just that little bit extra or a lucky break to put one of them in the lead.

It was as expected,e ven when the Boks took the lead we were not ensured of winning the match and knew that it would take just a try to bring it all back again to an even pegging.

Not a try scored, a kicking game was what won Springboks World title and the prize of the Webb Ellis, what a boost for the country. Who knows what will happen to the SA rugby team in the future with politics interfering with it but for the time being it does not matter, The Boks are taking the cup back to SA for a 4 year duration at least.

The match was not a walk over and we did not expect it to be, a great game of rugby to end this World fight for this glorious title.

WELL DONE THE SPRINGBOKS. YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007


For someone who loathes sport, is away for the weekend with me in Florence enjoying all that is art, this lady was amazing. Lyn was under pressure to spend a two hour period tucked away in a backstreet pub watching a SA match, she did it with the minimum of complaint and I do even recall a moment of support from her when a try was scored! Here you can witness her attempting to steal my shirt in order to become a fully fledged Bok supporter - ok, ok so she stole it to lure me out of the pub...but one has to say, that is friendship!

Where in the world can't you go to follow sport, how it brings us together, whether it's in a one horse town in the desert or in a hidden cove in Italy, sport is the language of the human race.