English rugby yet again starts to peak at the right time

As I am not an expert on Rugby, this article may not be as accurate as some of my other articles, however, I do follow the sport and always have a keen eye on it when the Six Nations or the World Cup is involved. To me, certainly in recent years since I have been following, England seem to always come good just before the World Cup... that tends to be a good sign, in Rugby anyway.

In all the other sports England compete in, the World Cup is built up so much and we always expect ourselves to have a good chance to win it, what ever the sport. Football is a classic example, Cricket is another. You could argue is a fair statement as we are up there as one of the best in the World on paper in those sports and should be successful in such tournaments, but in Football and Cricket it seems, we never turn up, that is evident currently in the Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with England going in as one of the favourites after a fantastic few years on the pitch, but the team is choking, which is all too regular (for what ever reason).

 

Martin Johnson looking to win
the World Cup as a player and a coach



However, although the England Rugby team isn't expected to win the World Cup as much as the national side is in Football and Cricket, that seems to be the reason for why they have been surprisingly successful in recent tournaments (although in 2003 there was huge expectation). The 2007 World Cup however, England went into it as Champions, although, no-one would have predicted after losing their opening game (ironically to South Africa) 36-0, that they would meet South Africa again in the final. They may have lost that final in 2007, which was a poor game, it showed that if a team goes into a competition with less expectation, that can lead to the team playing more freely and with less pressure on their shoulders from back home.That looked to be the case in 2007, and arguably in 2003 with such teams as the All Blacks and Australia around.



Chris Ashton has become integral
to England's hopes

 With England doing so well in the Six Nations this year, peoples hopes are risen again, as after the previous two World Cups, the England team has been largely unsuccessful and not lived up to the expectations and reputation they had worked so hard to achieve.

With such victories against Australia last Autumn, and impressive wins over Wales, Italy and France, they are well on their way to becoming a force to be reckoned with again, but they are by no means favorites for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, which could be a positive once again.

An interesting fact that has caught my attention is that the last time England won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations was in 2003.. surely that isn't a sign!? England, if they can win their last two Six Nations games at home to Scotland and away to Ireland, which will be extremely tough, and win the Grand Slam, then people will start to talk about 2003 once again.





Can England win the World Cup this September.. why not!?

(Oh, and the head coach is Martin Johnson.. remember him?)