Backs against the wall stuff
Fraser Nelson 11:43am
Does politics imitate rugby? I just heard Martin Corry on Sky saying how England pulled itself together midway through the tournament. Heading for defeat, the players brainstormed with the coach, had what Nick Easter called a "clear the air meeting" changed their style, and at the last minute found their strengths and got to the final. Same with the Tories in Blackpool. They, and England's rugby team, play best when they are ten points behind. The problem for both is finding these strengths when they are close enough to win.
I watched the game from a pub in Southampton, where everyone - Poles and all - joined in the national anthem. How proud Brown would be, I thought. Then Brown came on screen and they all started booing. Britishness, but not quite as he’d like it.
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CG
October 21st, 2007 8:34pm Report this commentspeaking as a patriotic Briton, I was glad that England lost. That team and their sport, with its history of bigotry, do not represent me.
Tapestry
October 22nd, 2007 1:45am Report this commentDelighted that Johnny Wilkinson walked straight past Brown without acknowledging the slime bucket. If he'd get out of that bureaucrat suit occasionally and try looking normal, it might help. On other blogs, in pubs across Britain, Brown was greeted with cries of W....R. Shame he didn't hold any elections. He'll be kicked from here to eternity when he eventually has to face the electorate. Meanwhile keep politics and politiciians out of sport.
John Whitworth
October 22nd, 2007 8:28am Report this commentDear me. What a sad person CG is. What is the history of bigotry in rugby, by th e way? That somehow escaped me. I should cheer for England EVEN at football - if there were ever anything to cheer about.
Fraser Nelson
October 22nd, 2007 10:01am Report this commentTapestry, I've been struck by this national "boo Brown" moment - I've now heard quite a few stories myself about the spontaneous (and, as you say, strikingly abusive) reaction his picture seems to have triggered. Thing is: would have they reacted differently to Cameron? I suspect only Charles Kennedy would have got away with muscling in on a national sporting event in that brazen pitch-invading way. I suspect it was Brown's conviction/delusion that he is the father of the nation which led him on to the pitch. It's no place for any politician. He - and anyone other than the head of state - should stay in the terraces.
David Lindsay
October 22nd, 2007 2:04pm Report this commentToffs don't like Brown? Who'd have thought it!
John Whitworth
October 22nd, 2007 5:43pm Report this commentNobody likes Brown. Not in England anyway. Do you like Brown, David Lindsay? The masn's just so unlikeable.
Frank Leader
October 23rd, 2007 1:55am Report this commentOf course we lost. The loser bottler Brown was there.
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