England's Rugby Union team have been beaten 3 - 0 in their test series in New Zealand. After two apparently near misses in the first two tests, England were taken to the cleaners in the third test and lost 36 - 13. They were hammered in the first half of this match but improved in the second half. Nevertheless, it was not a great performance. This was New Zealand's seventeenth successive international victory — a world record. So, we were playing a goodish side lead by Richie McCaw, the 16st 10lb captain; one of the all time greats of rugby union with 126 caps to his name. But, at least England looked like they were trying, seemed to understand the object of the game and they are getting better. This is a young side, still rated 4th in the world behind — predictably — New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. But they are not far behind Australia and on a good day they can beat either Australia or South Africa. If they carry on making progress, they will get there in time for the World Cup in 2015. They won in 2003 and they can do it again — and I believe that the players believe that they can do it.
Unlike the football team, our rugby players will have to fight hard against the best teams in the world. The footballers have to fight hard against week-end pub sides and would still be unable to guarantee a win.
Richie McCaw is one of the finest rugby players around today and he earns about £420, 000 per annum in a sport where you can expect to get knocked about a bit and will certainly take a hammering in a career as long as McCaw's. Wayne Rooney does not need to expect to get knocked around but collects McCaw's annual salary twice in three weeks. He is being paid at a rate over 35 times as high as McCaw. You know it makes sense.
Do not despair England; you can still come good for the World Cup.
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