Congratulations to both teams on the game, I really enjoyed it.

As a Frenchman, I know what a rugby match where England is playing is usually like and this is just what I was expecting: you get Jonny Wilkinson, devoted English rugby fans, the British Premier and Princes William and Harry. Of yeah, and by the end of the game, you are able to sing Sweet Charriot just like any self-respecting English fan.

Rugby is a bit special as fans from opposing sides tend to fraternize much more than they would do in football (soccer) games. So, you usually get to learn colorful songs in English and French (and Gaelic) after several games.

South African rugby fans were there too. Quite a few of them had actually traveled from London where they reside. Yet, they were not the only ones rooting for South Africa.

Quite a few French guys and girls were quite happy that South Africa won. First, it was the best team in this year’s competition. Second, the English had beaten the French in the previous match, so obviously there was some Schadenfreude in the air. Had it been England vs. New Zealand, I would have rooted for the English, because they would have the worthy underdog.

It was funny to hear an English fan shout at us : "Yo, French people, stop booing England, You should be supporting us, You are Europeans, not Africans !". Being taught about being more Europhile by an English person, this was hilarious ! (no hate mail, sense of humour needed here).
It’s OK, I did hum Sweet Charriot as well 

The English team was good; the score was really close for a long time. Cueto was not lucky with his knee touching the line and Jonny Wilkinson was still pretty impressive.

My French huguenots cousins were there playing for South Africa : Du Plessis, Du Preez, André, Jacques, François, etc. 

Montgomery and Habana for South Africa were brilliant.

Jonny Wilikinson vs. François Steyn

Andy Gomarsall  gets the ball

South African Wall

Getting upclose and personal

Cueto’s knee hit the field first

Habana, brilliant player

Percy Montgomery wants to hi to his Mum through the TV camera

South Africans impressed by Jonny Wilkinson

Prince William and Prince Harry roor for their team

Prince William and Prince Harry worried

Captain John Smit and Presidents M’beki and Sarkozy

Jonny Wilkinson’s sadness

In order to foster teamwork, the managers of the South African rugby team submitted their players to strange physical training.

These very rare photos show some of the things that the Springboks had to go through:

- Cross an ice-cold stream, naked, while hanging to a raft
- Stand in the water, naked, at night, for hours, while singing the national anthem
- Jump fully clothed into the water, from a helicopter, 30 feet high above the water level.

All this happened in a military camp called Kamp Staaldraad ("Camp Barbwire").

For the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the training was less brutal and the team has now made it to the final game (against England).

Chabal will face the English team this weekend. He knows a few them quite well: Chabal plays in the UK, for the Sale Sharks. His nickname is Seabass.

Here is the picture that very francophile Sun published this morning. Its tiltle was "French Monster Eats Babies".

Well, in the meantime, the English team is busy rehearsing a scene that they will play after meeting Chabal: healing their bruises an ice bath (see picture).

One of English girls’ favorite players is James Haskell. The 23-year old is a flanker in the Wasps rugby team. He made it to the English national team for the first time in March 2007 against France. But this time, he will not be on the field against the French.

With a great body, James Haskell has attracted quite a few followers. He even has his official website: http://www.jameshaskell.com/

Here are a few pic of this rugby player: