Next step is to painstakingly reconstruct the circumstances from 2003. I have to check photo evidence – I know I was wearing one of the dark away shirts, but I have two versions…. Must also hang St George cross on the deck, find the CD with Land of Hope and Glory, and print pictures of the 22 man squad and pin up to the LEFT of the TV.

DURING THE GAME
It’s going to be tough. In 2003 there were times when I had to hide in the basement, when I just couldn’t take it. That was in the last quarter – I guess I hope it is just as close at that point for this game.

Tricky timing dilemma – here in Minneapolis kick off is 2pm, and we’re joining some neighbours for dinner at 6 (haven’t met them before, and don’t want to make a bad first impression). So really need to keep the nerve medicine intake steady. I wonder what time the liquor store opens.

Stealing a famous quote – come on boys, give ‘em f*** all

Over confident, over hyped, and (soon) overrun!

Come on boys, 80 minutes of the heart and passion we all know you have – England Expects…and will not be disappointed. Swing low…………..

My Schedule (I am 3 hours ahead of Paris): 8am – wake, explain (again) to American wife how important today is

9am – walk the dogs on campus – hang cross of St George on front door

9:30 – explain (again) to wife how monumental this is – bemused looks; 10:30 – stomach begins to churn – not this nervous since I played in Dubai 7s

11:45 – Lunch not looking too appealing – how can I eat? Too nervous – some sort of empathy with the Boys in Paris

12:30 – watch BBC and the thousands flocking to the City of Love. See the choir at Waterloo station – shivers down the spine – times like this being an expat is not great – explain to wife why I seem a little misty-eyed

2:30pm – call mates to check they have beer and meat for the pre-game barbecue

2:32 – call mates to see if they are also shi**ing it; 3:36 pm – sitting in office writing this blog – had to get out of house to avoid another explanation of the importance of the day

Look ahead: home at 5pm, pace the house, open a beer, nerves all over the place, call friends in UK and hear the throng of a distant London boozer, 8pm friends arrive, discuss game and chances, 8:32 decide England will win, 8:40 decide England will fall apart, explain to wife the mood swing, 9pm fire up barbecue, eat, drink, be merry, discuss game, a few beers in and realise England WILL win, 10:30, get TV on and viewing spot on couch, 10:46, pace floor, look for support from friends, 10:55, stand and sing national Anthem, those shivers return, stomach on a day out at Alton Towers, whistle blows, here we go…come on boys, DO US PROUD………………..

1. Take a leaf out the Aussies book from 2003 and be a gracious loser because you’re not great at the pre-game chat and

2. Log back onto this blog on Sunday/Monday, we’ll all be beside ourselves waiting to hear your balanced point of view imbetween some heavy duty gloating.

Fans tearing strips out of each other is for football my friend, banter is all good because it based around respect, something you seem to have bypassed.

I agree the Boks are favourites but you never know. Let’s just hope for a great game.

We recognise that player for player, we’re not the team we were in 2003 and maybe we don’t have the wealth of talent that other teams have enjoyed, but as Sophocles once wrote, he that bonds with his brothers shall conquer adversity. Allez les Blancs

i just feel we are all round a better team, apart from JW and the big guy sheridan, i struggle to see where any england players would get into the bok team