After last week's totally unexpected (but on the day richly-deserved) 12-10 defeat of Australia we now play France, the conquererors of the All Blacks, in the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. Winners to meet either South Africa or Argentina. Just running through my pre-game checklist ... Beer out of the fridge and warming up nicely on the sideboard? Check. Fish and chips ordered? Check CD of Winston Churchill's wartime speeches on the CD player? Check. Spitfire flypast organised? Er, probably pushing it a bit. Anyway, just hope it's a good game. I've got a nice bottle of Chateau Lafite put aside in case I need to toast a French victory!
Woo hoo! 14-9! The English tractor stopped the French Ferrari! (Yes I know Ferraris aren't French but I can't think of a fast sexy French car.) If Cleveland got to the Superbowl it couldn't be any more unexpected - and Cleveland have an offense. South Africa next Saturday in the final. Dare we dream?
Bring on the South Africans It will be a totally different game to the one where they thrashed us 39-0 in the early stages of the tournament. We'll be up for this and there'll be thousands of English fans in the stadium cheering them on, you can start dreaming Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Come on England! Will be a surprising turnout if we win, considering what happened last time we played them *cough*.
On Saturday you will see the might of the green machine: England: 18 South-Africa: 41 Biggest winning margin in wc final history! GO SPRINGBOKS!