MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND SOME PRE MATCH NERVES

A quick posting today as we are just a couple of hours away from what could well be the game of the tournament. The only comment I will pass about the match is on the controversy surrounding my mate and fellow blogger Mark Ronnie Regan. I know he has purposely not posted anything up about it pre match because he doesn’t want to cause any trouble before the game. I must say that it is amazing that the opposition should complain about who the other team has picked. Ronnie is no angel but then who is when the play in the front row! All this would have done was motivate him even more, although I am sure he is aware that the ref will be keeping a close eye on him.

It is fantastic to be out in Marseille for this England Australia quarter final. Last night was a great way to warm up with a fantastic dinner at the beautiful Petit Nice right in the heart of Marseille and overlooking the Med.

David Campese is out her with the VU party and was a fantastic dinner companion for us last night, even if he is Australian. One of the moments of the night was when a young kid came up to me and said “excuse me Mr Campese can I have your authograph.” Last time I looked in the mirror I did not think I looked that Australian!

There has been good news for me recently when I won a battle with the great British train authorities which has allowed a classic train I chartered to travel back to London from the quarter final in Cardiff tonight. At one stage the people who were once called British Rail said that no trains would be running from Cardiff to London after the match because of engineering work. That left my group on the classic train with the prospect of a bus journey home. However after a letter writing and media campaign in Wales I got the decision reversed something I never managed as a player. Even the Daily Mail did an article about my triumph. I suppose it will make some of the Irish fans on that trip a bit happier!

Finally I have heard that some guys blogging on the BBC website have started a game called Ubogu where they try to say my name as many times as they can without taking a breath. I think this is taking BBC journalism to new heights. Anyway the record is 72. See if you can beat it and come on England!