In the aftermath of England’s sobering defeat against France in the Rugby World Cup Quarter final there is one dark thought that lurks deep in the consciences of all England fans. It is not the realisation that, no matter how much he did as a player, Martin Johnson may not be the man to take England forward, or that this World Cup has called into question the whole ethos of the rugby player attitude off the field: it is something far far worse than that. Looking through the four remaining sides, who on earth do England fans support now? Minus the ‘Auld Enemy’ the four sides left competing for the William Webb Ellis Trophy could not leave the English fans with less appetite to get up in the early hours next weekend to cheer them on towards the Eden Park final.
Although on the face of it the French would not be anyone’s second favourite team they are fast becoming England’s brothers in controversy. Putting aside the Hundred Years War, Napoleon and French Coach Marc Liรจvremont’s quotes during the 6 Nations in March that the thing which unites all the teams in the 6 Nations is hatred of the English maybe now is the time to extend a hand of friendship over the channel. Pilloried by the media for both on and off the field issues, their coach dividing opinion back at home and a qualifying campaign that up to now will be remembered with no fondness the French World Cup so far has looked like one long attempt to outdo anything that England could do. Struggling through their group with the odd flash of promise mirrored the way the English progressed and it would be the natural progression for the English fan to go from one media circus to another. If the English fan was to start following Les Bleus for the next two weeks in New Zealand then they will be guaranteed another two weeks of in fighting, false dawns and media castigation and they could well have a world cup winners trophy to show for it at the end.
Having finished 4th in this season’s 6 Nations you would have got long odds on Wales being the final home nation left in the tournament. Yet that brutal fitness camp in Poland and the alcohol ban, which has kept Welsh players off the back pages have turned Wales into genuine finalists in waiting. Although an instant comparison would be premature, this Welsh side is bringing hope to the Valley’s that Wales may be on the cusp of returning to the running, world beating days of JPR Williams and the rest of that Welsh side of the seventies. In the same way that the French copied England’s rollercoaster campaign the Welsh by comparison are being somewhat boring and stable. Minus the perma-tanned Gavin Henson and the golf buggy antics of Andy Powell this campaign should be regarded as being a bit tame for the England fans to get behind. If the French campaign would be like watching an episode of Eastenders, the Welsh campaign would be more like a quiet afternoon with the Archers.
Ten years ago, even the merest contemplation of sympathy or support for an Australian sports team would have been unthinkable. The victory in the 2003 World Cup was made all the sweeter by the fact that it was against the pomp and swagger of the Australians. English grit and determination against Australian Hubris. But now all that has changed, Australian cricket is in fast decline, the football team seems to be stalling and rugby is all that the sporting nation has to hang its hat on. The Australian people are looking back on the late 90’s and early 00’s much like a man on the brink of his middle age crisis, the memories of the great times are still there, but the future looks uncertain. For Australia the Webb Ellis trophy is the convertible Porsche and the trophy twenty year old girlfriend, it will paper over the cracks and give a sense of happiness but the root cause of the troubles will still remain. Given the destruction of the Aussie cricketers in the Ashes, Australia as a nation needs this world cup victory to restore its sporting image. Throughout the nineties the Australian’s were characteristically reserved and humble about their sporting victories, and never sought to rub English faces into the dirt whenever they were defeated. Now that the tables, well at least in cricket seem to be turning, it would be only fair for the British to show the Australians that same courtesy and cheer them on to victory. Or on the other hand great pleasure could be taken in their every defeat. I think everybody knows which will be more fun.
And so finally the hosts and champions elect for every world cup since 1987. No team in the world is under the kind of pressure that they are under; no player in any sport in the world is under the pressure that Dan Carter’s replacement is under. This victory would be all the more poignant especially given the devastation caused by the New Zealand earthquake earlier this year. Victory at Eden Park in two weeks would be a huge pick-me-up for the entire nation, a victory that would transcend sport. However, supporting New Zealand from now on would be too easy. Since when did English people cheer on the overwhelming favourite over the gallant loser? If Tim Henman had won Wimbledon his legacy would have been lessened. What is better in the heart of an Englishman, a Tiger Woods of a Tim Henman, a man who can win at ease or a man who will never win, but always gives the impression of being so close to winning? So much as New Zealand deserve English support, it would actually be entirely un-English to support them.
So, there you have it. For the next two weeks as a nation we should stand behind our Gallic neighbours and cheer them on to world cup glory. As the saying goes ‘plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose’. Switching allegiances from les rosbifs to les bleus would seem a massive change, but given how the two nations have performed so far both on and off the pitch, would it be any change really? After all who really wants to see the Australian’s win?
