SIX OF THE BEST

The new year’s resolutions are well and truly over and gridlock, snowy Britain seems a distant memory. The early February buzz of the Six Nations rugby tournament is upon us once more.

It all began last night at a packed Millennium Stadium with a crunching tie between the resurgent English and the passionate Welsh. England prevailed in an enthralling game that started the tournament in a fashion that I can only hope continues.

As an avid spectator, I like to be entertained as much as the next person and Friday night was a perfect example of that. With a Rugby World Cup around the corner, this year is incredibly important for the players to not only entertain but put results on the board. This will only lead to confidence and who knows what could happen down under come October.

There have been arguments in the past that the quality of rugby in the tournament is poor compared to our cousins in the southern hemisphere. To some extent I can agree with this however nothing quite beats the atmosphere of the Millennium Stadium or the passion of the Italian fans or the history of England vs. Scotland. This is something that can never diminish so let’s hope for a spectacle in these coming weeks but most of all let’s see the passion the teams and fans produce.

George Jerram

THE GREATEST RIVALRY IN SPORT?...

I am of course talking about England vs Australia, the old enemy or the convicts down under. To them we are the poms, the stuck up boring lot who live in a country with only rain. On whichever side you reside, the rivalry between these two countries has been ongoing for over a century. Once again we are in the middle of the Ashes, a cricket series that is battled out every two years in Australia and England.

Now I can understand why a lot of people are impartial to the obsession with a little red ball and 22 men in white running around a field for 5 days, with the chance that it could end in a draw!

However it doesn’t matter if the contest between these two nations is cricket or bowls, it is ferociously competitive and thoroughly engaging to the eye. Sport is what Australia is all about (and the weather!) and they pride themselves on winning everything. As an Englishman I have seen years of sporting disappointment, be it Rugby or football. There is nothing worse that walking past one of the walkabout pub’s dotted across London to hear a chorus of twangy Australians cheering another England defeat.

Though I may detest their smugness on these occasions, I like nothing better than when England reverse these situations and we get one over the Aussies, especially in their back yard. This may come across as incredibly hypocritical but that is what great rivalry is all about. From the agony to the ecstasy, long may this great sporting confrontation continue (as long as England win!).

George Jerram

FOR THE LOVE OF SPORT OR MONEY?

In recent years money and sport have gone hand in hand. The more cash you have, the more successful you are. This is the case in pretty much every sport; however there are exceptions here and there. Golf is a perfect example of this and the Ryder cup says it all.

There is no doubt a professional golfer who is successful can earn millions in a calendar year and as a consequence enjoy the fruits of his labour. But if you delve into the makeup of the modern day sportsman it is clear to see money is the driving force. This is fair enough as we all need to make a living and there can be few things better than being a professional sportsman

Sportsmen travel the globe looking to make the next buck, but in between updating the bank balance there are a few sporting gems that are there only to produce heroes and special moments. Last week at Celtic Manor, Europe secured victory over USA by the finest of margins. The game between the two golfing superpowers was played with no money exchanged between the players and anyone lucky enough to witness the tournament could see how much it meant to all of them.

In the corporate world we live in, it is so important to remember why any of us start to play sport…for the love of it. The few global events that continue to happen purely for the enjoyment should be commended and continue to set an example to the sporting world. The Barclays premiership and the powers to be should remember and think about this when yet another loan is financed to buy a club.

George Jerram

AFRICA'S WORLD CUP

By George Jerram

The World cup has finally begun and in many peoples eyes it is seen as the greatest sporting show on earth. 32 teams battling it out to be crowned the champions of the world. Will Africa’s 1st Major sporting event be a success? Only time will tell. What is certain is that it will be very different to any of the previous tournaments.

The sights and sounds of South Africa will bring enormous amounts of colour to the tournament. Though the football in the first few days hasn't been anything particularly special the atmospheres have been electric and you can really feel the people of South Africa are embracing every moment.

This has been emphasised with the pure joy that was experienced when South Africa took the lead against Mexico and further more with Ghana’s celebrations against Serbia. As we venture deeper into the competition I can only hope that one of the African teams can produce a special performance and reach the latter stages to mirror the passion of their people.

The England team and supporters should take a leaf out of Africa’s book and just enjoy the spectacle, we might just stand a chance, as in the end it is just a game, a game which is meant to fun.