Normal service has resumed. The Opium Pushing Slave Traders are whingeing and the Cup is back in the south. Game, set and mouth!

The only reason that the Pushing Traders made the playoffs was that Suzie Barnes did not give Tonga a fair go.

Ai Rui Sheng, Shaghai, PR China

No imagination, no ability to change tactics, no vision, and no cup!

Steve, Auckland, New Zealand

This sounds like the All Blacks for the past 20yrs,.....sorry 24yrs.
When you ban scrummaging, reduce penalties to 1 point along with drop goals, and only play the world cup in New Zealand you might win it again.

Forget the sour grapes I suggest you try some "Gripe Water"

Chris, Weston super Mare, England

The whiff of sour grapes from the Antipodes is still pungent on the breeze I see. Also I'm willing to bet that Leigh of London is not a card carrying daughter of St George.

A crumb of comfort for a our upside down friends then: If you do carry the day and make scrumming obsolete so your hair a doesn't get too ruffled, and your make up smudged, and the World Cup goes to an eight month league Championship competition, then perhaps you'll win it.

You designed your game and it doesn't fit with the world model, ergo, you didn't win the competition. Conform and you might.

Pu Li, Guangxi, China

The Ozzies anmd the New Zealanders can only say "boring rugby"...but it was THE FINAL guys, you were both equal 5th, or 6th...who cares, cup competitions are about winning!

mike, gloucester, uk

hey, they could make the game more exciting for teh spectator by simply playing rugby league instead!

Stevo

stevo, london,

Great Piece Mr Barnes.
And after the fairytale its back to the grindstone .....

Bernie, Auckland, NZ

Well, Mr Barnes, I wonder what happened in your childhood to make you so negative today. Despite everything, we still got to the final. Despite everything, we still played well. SA did look better overall, but we so effectively shackled them that they scored no tries and despite everything, we still came second (ok, not what we went for, but look at where you had us going a just a few short weeks ago).

This is an exciting time for England rugby. A bonded team structure, some excellent "experienced" players and a whole pack of exciting new talent just champing at the bit. How about a little optimism then (or is that not allowed?). The happily ever after is still to come ...

Bring on the Six Nations, I say.

P.S. And who knows; if the TV ref hadn't been an Aussie, Bambi's mother might still be alive today.

Carey Gunn, London, UK

Even more incredible, but for a controversially disallowed try, we could have gone on to win. South Africa nullified us till that point, but England managed to nullify their vaunted backs all the game. Let's face it, Havanna didn't get a sniff. Frankly, some fo the points Simon Barnes makes are typical of the correspondent who criticises from the touchine - who ever built a monument to a critic? Let's give the lads a big cheer - they deserve it. Now it's over my fingernails might even grow back!

D A Littlewood, Sheffield, Yorkshire

boring boring game - congratulations SA

Heather, Wellington, New Zealand

This article describes exactly how I feel in the aftermath of such an electric, absorbing competition. It takes the edge off the disappointment (slightly). I am glad to read there are others who feel the same about France 2007. More tapioca anyone...?

ph, Atlanta, GA

There was never a hope of a try being scored... S Africa only have one attacking tactic.. the intercept try, and England were never going to pass to their wings to facilitate this. Therefore a boring game of England's pack striving to win the ball up front, only to kick it straight back to Monte who never looked like making a mistake. No imagination, no ability to change tactics, no vision, and no cup!

Steve, Auckland, New Zealand

Dear Mr Barnes,

can you (or someone in the team) please write an article which outlines the current world rugby dynamic;

who is in charge of the IRB?
are they the real decision makers in the world game?
what do you think of the experimental rules changes in Australia?
Is tight tesat rugby enjoyable in its current format?
If the IRB want to promote the game, why did it go to NZ instead of Japan?

Andy

PS Your articles are beautifully wriiten, boh in prose and thought - keep it up
S

andy beswick, epsom, surrey

Firstly well done SA.

The article: a seemingly true article now you have read the last page in the book i.e. you can now claim it was never going to happen. But it nearly did: a whiff of chalk difference; the SA No.12 instead of Tait penalised; obstructions noticed - any one of these would have made a difference, a different game (SA having to chase/try to win) and could have made the dream come true. So no, it wasn't a fairytale, it was a potential future that didn't come true. I'm not whingeing about the score, but we shouldn't belittle the potential this team had and nearly realised to an almost perfect timing...

Jon, Sandwich, UK

Congratulations to The 'Boks. They have been good all through the tournament but, on Saturday, they won because the rub of the green went with them (and one or two 'iffy' reffing decisions)!

John Thomas, Plumieux, France

Mr Barnes is the world champion sports writer. Marvelous!! And to the English - squad, management and stout hearted supporters - don't let the bickering and moaning disguise the fact that you guys made it to the final, beating some heavyweighst along the way. No matter that the cup has gone South you'll weather this storm, come back and give many other teams a dogfight they won't forget in a hurry. Well done all.

Bokfan45000001, Johannesburg, RSA

I don't care if this was a well written story, it doesn't change the fact that this was the most boring game of rugby in years, and worst of all it was the World Cup Final. Bring on the rule changes, should be minus 3 for drop goals, minus 5 for penalties unless they are given while the attacking team has the ball and is in-fact attacking, plus 10 points for a try. In this world cup that would have given England about 1 point.

Leigh, London,

Pray, is it legal for a player in touch and by definition not on the field of play, to continue tackling a player from the opposing team? Cueto brushed the touchline, or so the TV referee says, but, the Springbok was clearly over the touchline much before that. And if it is illegal, should that have been a penalty try? Or, is that the labyrinthine laws of rugby take a dim view of only ball-carrying players on or beyond the touchline?

Subin Paul, London,

Great story, but wouldn't we all rather know the real truth of it all. Why didn't England win? What did they do or what didn't they do? One man's words may give us hope, but another man's words can crush it and turn it in to a finger pointing game that solves nothing.

Holly, allegan, Michigan/USA

Absolutely fantastic writing, i love it. Joy to read and so true. Well done to the lads for getting that far. Big respect from the 200+ people watching in Vancouver Canada.

Jay, Vancouver, Canada

You remain my favourite sports writer, Simon.

Pity your country's sports teams most often aren't as talented in their chosen fields.

Grant, Melbourne, Australia

Well written - a very good piece; and this compliment comes from an Aussie!

Lachlan Shaughnessy, Brisbane,

Great article, honest and accurate.

well done to both sides.

Andrew , london, uk

Brilliant piece - entertaining and refreshing.

Victor , London , UK

Mr Barnes, as a South African who has been following your writing for a couple of years now, you are by far and away my favourite sports journalist (in either country).

As always, wonderfully put.

Grant, London, South Africa

Remarkable piece of journalism

c ruffel, Wilton, CT

Always worth reading, Mr Barnes, and an accurate and respectful summary of the occasion.

Robert, Zakynthos, Greece

Well, England did far more than i thought they gave us hope and proved that in sport form can be thrown out the window and guts can take you to heights ...almost. We even have a controversial try! I thought it was .. but i am English ,In the end though unlucky boys, and congratulations to South Africa who were consistent and worthy winners

steve, Sunshie Coast, Australia

For a happy ending to the adventure, our hero needs to stop winning ugly and earn glory in an uplifting final chapter.

rs of ludville, ludville, GA

But you have been critical, haven't you? In my fairy tale, they will live happily ever after, if the bad dragons stop trying to slay them in the press. They were the runners up in a world championship tournament!!! Is that not good enough for you!!!! They may not have been awarded the golden trophy, but they are still princes among men.

Sue, San Antonio, USA

Yes, well done SA. They played well and within their game plan. It was always going to be a game where both teams were going to put their priority on not losing rather than winning. SA was the better team and deserved to win

johnny, cardigan ,

Fantastic article, love all the allusions! :) Very true message though- at least we can be proud of all the effort and determination the lads put in, but South Africa deserved their victory.

Emma, Stafford,

For once a report that does not belittle the opposition and victors' supporters.

Thank you for a touch of journalism

The Clipper, Cambrdige,