October 21, 2007
The best team won on the day.
Not much else to say really. Except, perhaps, to point out that the South African fans in the Wellington at Waterloo last night were very cool (the Rose & Springbok has closed down and the Bok Bar had 100 people queuing outside, as did the Walkabout and the Maple Leaf, so we crossed the Thames and still the pub was packed!).
I wish Australian fans could learn from South African fans.
I wish English fans could learn from them. At least all the soccer fans who became rugby fans for a night.
Booing national anthems and jeering when the worthy champions pick up their trophy is churlish.
It's my birthday today and I would have been very happy to have woken up knowing that England were still World Champs, but I'm pleased that they did so well and answered so many critics (including me) in such a determined fashion.
We're not bottlers and I'm proud of that. The All Blacks have shown once more that they can't take the pressure, the Wallabies have shown once more that they can't take the pressure, the French have shown once more that they can't take the pressure - all three teams were tipped to win the Web Ellis Cup, but on the day they didn't look anything like winners.
I'll stand toe-to-toe with supporters of any of those three teams to argue that both England and third-placed Argentina played better when it mattered. Argentina ripped up the form book and has turned its plea to be included in an annual tournament into a deafening roar. England were nine points away from retaining the title and were arguably denied a stunning try (I need to watch the replays to decide, but from what I've seen it looks as though Cueto's foot glanced the line nanoseconds before he touched down).
Congratulations to the Springboks.
Maybe Lewis Hamilton can bring home the bacon today?
Anyway, onwards and upwards. I'm having a birthday party next Friday at the Waterloo Bar & Kitchen. Naturally all three of my avid readers are welcome to come along. Do send me an email at dom (at) dompannell.com if you're planning to turn up as I'm paying for food for my guests, generous lad that I am. You can buy your own booze, 'cos I'm not stupid.
Posted by dompannell at October 21, 2007 9:34 AM