Saturday is coming...

Big day in the Rugby World Cup coming up tomorrow. Firstly, England get a chance at salvation playing Australia, and France get a similar opportunity to turn their fortunes around against the AB's. Strangly, possibly the most important match France have played to date in their World Cup Campaign will be played in the Millenium Stadium. If that doesn't show how much back-scratching goes on in the upper echelons of Rugby Union I don't know what does!

Kind of glad to see that Andy Farrell won't be on the field for England on Saturday. His try last week notwithstanding, I fail to rate him as a Union player. He's tough and has that killer look in his eyes but he can't boss the game well enough and fails to spark anything. Ollie Barkley should be the man on, Mike Catt to come on for the last 15mins only if it looks like we might actually win.

England winning would be a massive upset - we've been consistently for a few years now, though there are a few green roots showing now Ashton is in charge. We might have been in a stronger position if Ashton had come in before the rot set in under Robinson but frankly who knows, the younger guys have been slow coming into the squad and we're still fielding guys past their prime. Wilko has looked good on and off over the tournament however, and that boot of his is still a potent weapon. Oh, and Gomersall (sp?) at Scrum Half, please.

As for the AB's, I now have a vested interest in France rediscovering their cutting edge. My recently relocated from NZ brother has bet me £5 that the AB's will win the competition. My money's on the 'boks. The AB's are formidable in strength and depth and Dan Carter is a genius, but I have hopes for French flair and I think the crowd in Wales will be behind Les Bleus... as anyone who has been in the Millenium stadium when Wales are playing can testify, it's a potent force having the Welsh singing you on. That's how I explain the last 6 nations, anyway.

Poor old Wales, though (snigger). No, really, they can be so good but they lack discipline and the lionisation of rugby players in wales stops them being a coherent unit. They are their own worst enemy sometimes.

Come on England!