I watch too much sport. Far too much. Sport is the only thing on my TV. I’m sure I take many top sporting events for granted. I take a passing interest and really don’t really invest any take emotion to the outcome (except when Arsenal play Chelsea). But last night was different.
England v Wales in the rugby World Cup, before a packed Twickenham ticked all the boxes for what you want to see from a sporting heavyweight contest. It was thrilling and the climax literally make you breathless. How England managed to lose, I’ll never know. The Welsh players (well the one’s still standing) were giants however and they deserved the win following such a courageous, brave effort.
I watched the match alone at home and just wished I was in a pub to savour the occasion. I was shouting and screaming during the final quarter, when you could just sense the game was slipping away from England. Wise heads were needed amongst the English senior players. But they just got caught up in the emotion of the occasion. I guess you could hardly blame them but game management is not a strength of this team. I can’t imagine a Kiwi or Australian team would make the same, repeated mistakes. It would be awful if the hosts didn’t make the knockout stage but I fear England will miss out. Will be a crying shame. But at least they can claim to have taken part in the match of the tournament.