World Cup England have a taste for golf

BORDER='1' STYLE='margin-left:10'> Jonny Wilkinson

Flanker Lawrence Dallaglio plays down his golfing ability but once told me: "Golf can be relaxing, especially to play on great courses in exotic
locations. We never miss the chance when on tour.

"But I'm also a very competitive person and golf gives me that competitive
edge like no other sport apart from rugby."

Matt Dawson, who has won more caps at scrum half than any other England
player, also works hard at his golf game to maintain his 13 handicap. As does team manager Clive
Woodward, who, as you would expect, relies heavily on his experience and course management to keep his handicap low.

England will be out to put Australia under pressure, driving forward and
forcing their opponents to concede penalties - all terms we recognise in a
golfing sense.
But they will also be playing to the rules - and who better to ensure the
regulations are adhered to than Andre Watson, the 45-year-old South African,
who will referee the final.

BORDER='1' STYLE='margin-left:10'> Ref Watson - playing to the Rules

The former provincial player from Stellenbosch has a golf handicap of three
and could probably put every player on the park in the shade when it comes
to golf. Instant respect.

It will be a fascinating tussle, which I for one will not mind giving up my
Saturday morning golf to watch from the edge of my armchair.

I hope and expect England to sneak it with penalties and pressure.

As we often say, the scorecard - or in this case the scoreboard - doesn't
paint pictures. Winning is what matters.