Freelance Propaganda

Information Hibernation Over

I’ve been in information hibernation mode for the last day or so. You see the World Cup final was played and I only get to watch it on 24 hour delay. In order to avoid a repeat of last weeks debacle of learning the result from well meaning Australians prior to getting to see the result I decided to shut off all real time information.

Just to be absolutely sure I turned off the cellphone and completely dismantled the laptop under the pretense that I’d be able to fix the sound card and monitor cable. Nup. But I couldn’t use the computer all day as it sat in a pile on my desk.

Happily when put back together again she still worked so that I could catch the game late last night.

And what a game. England vs Australia, in Sydney in front of 80,000. What a game! We scored first with a pin-point up-and-under in the corner only to be overhauled by the boot of England’s unbelieveable goal kicker, Johnny Wilkensen and an English try late in the first half—-a rare Australian defensive lapse coming after 10+ phases.

So 14-5 at half time and England looking dominant, as they have all year. But the boys fought magnificantly, frustrating the English attack and controlling the field position, even if we had to concede possession to do it. That’s the power of a kicker like Johnny—-he changes the range on penalty kicks. No other team in the RWC has been able to control the English field position and nullify his boot.

More to the point the Aussies snagged two penalty goals of their own to lead by 14-11 in the last two minutes. Heartbreak for the English as, they gave away a stupid penalty in Flatley’s range. So there he is kicking to tie the the Rugby World Cup final against England and he nailed it, straight over the cross-bar pushing us into overtime.

I feel for the punter who put $250,000 on England to win! Imagine how he felt at this point! And there was more to come.

In Rugby, after 80 minutes of normal time, you usually call a draw a draw, but not in the RWC knockouts where they play 10 minutes more each way, no sudden death. SO the tired players regrouped and faced off once more. England nailed a penalty early in the first period and Australia had their chances, but weren’t able to break the English line. I’d have loved to see Mortlock get more ball and he did almost get through once only to have Johnny hold onto his fingerlaces!

Unbelieveably, with only 2 minutes to go in the second extra time period England did it again, giving away a kickable penalty from a set-piece. I thought that the English captain was going to eat the ref. and the English coaching box just went deathly. Even more so after Flatley knocked it over.

But this time there where two minutes of ‘normal overtime’ left and with the scores tied we where looking at heading into sudden death extra-overtime. But the English regrouped and drove forward off the kick-off. the world was expecting Johnny to hit the field goals that he’d been missing all night. And the English ruck set up perfectly in front the stage was set, but it was tight ball and the Aussies where ready for the charge.

So the scrummy just ducked out the back of the ruck and put in a 15 metre dash, the little talented bastard. I love this stuff as that was the position I used to play. This created the space to give Johnny the best platform to knock over the 3-pointer and seal an historic first world cup for the Northern Hemisphere.

And the first English victory in a world class sporting event since 1966. The commentators had been rejoicing in that all night but to their credit gave the English the props they deserved.

So if you are going to go out, go out like that. Bring on France 2007. And I’m glad to be out of hibernation!