WHAT DO RUGBY EXPERTS KNOW?

The answer is probably quite a lot, nonetheless just as this panel of experts determine England is the best side in the world, and France is second, the results from last night come along, which suggest that they are among the best, but it is somewhat problematic to say England is the best, and on recent results more so to suggest that Les Blues should occupy the second spot.

Australia won. Not by much, it is true. And equally England did play well, scoring more tries. Even, if England have the potential to be the best, they still have to deliver, and that means kicking penalties. Australia won 21-18.

Meanwhile the French are the French. They lost last week to Argentina, and yesterday to the All Blacks by 45-6. There is a lopsided scoreline. The French crowd cheered the New Zealanders, even staying mostly quite during the haka, and booed their own side is the biggest score ever achieved by the All Blacks.

The Springboks had a walk in the park over Scotland. As the Italians did over the USA.

Only when England have an unbroken chain of victories over the major sides, including others such as Wales and Argentina, will I acknowledge them as best in the world. Bottom line: it is about performance not potential.

About these ads