"Your boys played well," grinned the man holding my name-board at the
airport, with a clear smirk on his face in reference to England's
28-10 win over USA, which was anything but inspiring. Then, in a master
of understatement, said: "It's a big one on Friday."

When Jonny Wilkinson kicked England to victory at Sydney four years
ago the cricket team was in Sri Lanka. The time difference meant they
weren't playing and the squad huddled around a TV in their hotel and
roared every kick. This time they will have a prior engagement to deal
with first, against none other than their fiercest rivals.

England-Australia in cricket is a clash as eagerly awaited as
England-South Africa in rugby, even when it's played over 20 overs.
However, a superb piece of planning (or good fortune) means the
Twenty20 encounter is due to run between 2pm-5pm (South African time)
which should give everyone plenty of time to find a suitable venue
before the 8pm kick-off in France. It will be an occasion when
everyone will agree that a 'quick game is a good game'.