Like most sport lovers, I sat up and watched the Wallabies v England the other night and went to bed slightly disappointed at what I witnessed but begrudgingly impressed with the Pommy forwards.

I actually learnt a lot the other night as I am the first to admit I don’t know the finer points of the game, nor do I really want to learn them. But I did pick up this much.

Normally not a big fan of George Gregan, as I think he holds the ball in the ruck far too long (I have no idea what that means but I heard someone in a tweed jacket say it once), but I saw him do a couple great front on tackles the other night that saved tries.

I actually defended him the next day when someone was bagging him about being ineffective because, in my opinion, it would be hard for a back to go forward when your forwards are going past you at pace in the wrong direction.

It is a wonder they didn’t get gravel rash on their knees, they were going backwards that much.

I also learnt that Pommy pretty boy Johnny Wilkinson is pretty tough and, in reality, if he would have taken all his opportunities they would have won by more.

The fact is that the Poms played better than us in one game, it just happened to be a vital one. That is why rugby in this country should be about winning the next match they play, not a grand preparation for four years for the World Cup.

Still, it could be worse, we could be Kiwis.

Australia can still win something though.

Don’t forget tomorrow we play the dreaded Kiwi league team in Wellington, shown live on Channel Nine.

I reckon the last thing coach Ricky Stuart would have wanted was the All Blacks to be knocked out of the RWC because their countrymen in the other code will be wanting to prove a point now. Should be a cracker.

With all due respect to anyone who has represented at the Olympics, I can’t help but wonder why anyone would be surprised about the Marion Jones debacle.

After finally admitting steroid use, after it was long suspected, she was given a two-year ban from the sport.

She is 32, so her career is probably over anyway.

Surely a lifetime ban would be more appropriate, or at least no official contact at any level within the sport.

Then again, the weak punishment doesn’t surprise me because I have long been of the belief that there are certainly some bad examples set in the Olympic organisation.

One only has to look at the way the IOC selects the host nations for the grand event. It n my simple mind, it all starts at the top and filters down.

While I am on fiascos, what about Evander Holyfield – who is knocking on the door of his 45th birthday – lining-up in Moscow tonight for a shot at his fifth world title?

Now, I wouldn’t be bagging Evander if he was sitting beside me.

Having a casual look at his recent record, it could be said he deserves his shot as he has had four wins in a row.

What that record doesn’t tell you is that those wins were against guys who are classed as ‘journeymen’ in boxing circles, or in my terms, battlers.

It also doesn’t tell you that he was knocked out in his three previous fights against ranked contenders. Very sad, is all I can say.

The NRL Snipe is still getting over the grand final after spending around 10 hours coming and going at airports on the big weekend.

He ran across former Redcliffe legends Wally Fullerton-Smith, Steve Bleakley, Terry Webb and former Bronco star Steve Renouf on the Monday.

“They were all travelling together, while Steve Renouf looked as fresh and dapper as usual, the Reddy boys looked like they had played,” he said.

The Snipe also commented about paying seven bucks for a stubby and reckons he is going to set up a pub at the airport.

Tonight, if you are an Aussie or Kiwi with nothing to do because some other guys are playing rugby, you could do something different and go to the Woombye Pub for a game of Texas Hold ’Em with a difference.

Apart from a chance to win something, you can be helping one of the Coast’s biggest hearts, Cheryl Ryan, whose passion of building a hospital in Northern India is coming to fruition.

She starts construction in February and nights like tonight are critical for funding. Give her a ring to book on 0438003759.