Today’s Rob Andrew Column
Rob Andrew MBE is the RFU’s Elite Rugby Director. Throughout the 2007 Rugby World Cup he will be writing his own weekly column exclusively for rfu.com.
This week, with the nation firmly in the grips of rugby fever, Rob reveals some of the more bizarre offers that have landed on his desk as a result of England’s already remarkable achievements.
Rob Andrew Column
16 October 2007
Few would have believed it at the start, but England are through to the World Cup final. Thirty six days after losing 36-0 to South Africa in the pool stage, the two teams meet again in the same place and at the same time.
The whole world is talking about how remarkable England’s performances on the pitch have been, but it’s been the consequences off the field that have most astounded me.
Suddenly, every man and his dog seem to have an opinion. Over the last four weeks I’ve been inundated with e-mails, letters and phone calls from fans all over the world chipping in with their advice. Sports psychologists on TV are trying to explain how important Kenny Rogers’ singing is to the team and I’ve even had psychics pushing their predictions or offering their powers. The media may have pretty much given up making predictions but the guy in the pub certainly hasn’t and even my mum has her thoughts on who should be in the team!
The entire nation is gripped by rugby fever and it seems now that everyone has an opinion on the team or selection or has had a go at predicting the outcomes. That’s what sport can do – that’s what this group of players has done.
Their achievements so far have been remarkable, they have already done something special over the last four weeks and they should enjoy their achievements.
They know they will have to step it up on Saturday. Clearly, we are still the underdogs – even more so than last week. Over the past 12 months, South Africa have won four of our five meetings, including the two big defeats in the summer, when we lost by 58-10 and 55-22, and most recently the pool match.
But as I’ve said all along you don’t win World Cups in the pool matches. South Africa may be the favourites but England have nothing to lose.
They know they have one more game to pull off the most exceptional comeback ever in the rugby world and possibly match anything ever achieved in sport and they are thriving on it.
Even now, after all the surprises this tournament has sprung and with the form book out of the window, everyone thinks they have the answer. But hardly anyone has got it right, except Brian Ashton, the support team and the players.
And you know what? It actually doesn’t matter what the psychics think. Or what 80,000 spectators think, or the tens of millions watching TV or even what I think. The only people that matter are the guys who will spend this week preparing for the biggest game of their lives – the players and the management.
To them, this is just one more game. They’ve already played four finals and although this happens to be the last one, as far as they are concerned this week is no different. The routine stays the same.
As far as the result goes, the world can think what it likes. This group of players have already shown that in 80 minutes of rugby, they really can shock the world.
Rob
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