Star comment: Curtain up on rugby spectacle
Tonight the curtain is rising on a great sporting festival which is being given some added zest by the prospect that this is one World Cup that England might, just might, actually win.
Stand by for weeks of action, with thumping hits, spectacular tries, and a blaze of colour in the stands as the rugby-playing world struts its stuff in this showcase of the union game.
There are some things that you will not see. Referees' decisions will be accepted – if the players have any sense. Because if players show dissent, the opponents get another 10 metres' march as punishment.
Players who have hands, legs, feet, or whatever brush against their heads will not theatrically drop to the ground like fallen trees clutching their faces in apparent agony (if the hand which made a connection with their head was a clenched fist they will instead probably return the compliment).
In the stands, supporters of the opposing teams will mix freely, brought together by a common love of the game, and an enjoyment of the spectacle.
There will be plenty of patriotism, but no malign tribalism of the sort which for so long so besmirched the image of football, although things are now far better than they once were.
Today the once amateur world of rugby is a sport of big money, though the big stars of rugby still lag well behind their football counterparts in the league of financial rewards.
It has been said rugby is a sport for ruffians played by gentlemen, and football is a sport for gentlemen played by ruffians.
That too is unsustainable in explaining the differences in culture as modern footballers – with exceptions – are far from being ruffians.
The show is a real boon for the United Kingdom with fixtures being held far and wide and giving everybody a chance to join in the fun in some way and, if they are a business, get involved in the tide of enthusiasm.
For instance, Scott Shepley of a family butchers in Market Drayton has launched a new sausage called "England Rugby World Cup Sam Burgess Banger."
We hope Sam Burgess likes it. Because if you've seen how big he is, you wouldn't want to upset him.
The stage is set. New stars are about to be born.
And England fans will dream of a winning drop goal in the final seconds of extra time at Twickers on October 31.
Bring it on!
