I was talking to Paul, our bearded Australian barman here at the GUINNESS¨ Rugby Football Club and he was reminding me of Australia's world dominance in sport. Reigning World Champions in rugby and cricket... Ian Thorpe leaving the competition in the shallow end in the Olympic swimming pool... embarrassing England 3-1 at football... they even won a Gold medal at the last Winter Olympics!
However, instead of conceding to Paul that Australia simply never lose, I delved into the record books and uncovered a myriad of reasons for optimism!
FACT Yes, the last time the British Lions toured Australia, they did lose. But! Who can forget 'that pass' from Campese in 1989 which gifted Ieuan Evans the series-winning try? (Paul can!)
FACT England can't win against Australia at rugby? I beg to differ! England has beaten Australia the last 4 TIMES IN A ROW! Including June this year with a 25-14 thumping in Melbourne! Take that, Paul!
FACT The last time Australia lost a World Cup rugby match was against... England! (25-22 in South Africa in 1995)
FACT Back in 1996, Nick Faldo came from 6 SHOTS DOWN to take the Masters golf title by 5 shots from Australia's 'Great White Shark' Greg Norman
FACT During the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, Great Britain couldn't stop beating the Aussies! Jason Queally took Gold in the men's 1km cycling time trial, while Shane Kelly of Australia only came third! In the rowing, the British coxless four of Cracknell, Redgrave, Foster and Pinsent won Gold - the Aussies took Bronze. And in sailing, Ben Ainslie won Gold for G.B. in the laser class. Australia's Michael Blackburn was... you guessed it, third!
FACT Tim Henman may struggle against Australians most of the time but he did beat the mighty Mark Philippoussis in the final of the Adelaide International Series way back in 2001!
FACT Who can ever forget the victorious British men's hockey team at the 1988 Olympics! A Sean Kerly hat-trick ensured a 3-2 defeat of Australia in the semis (and we took care of the Germans 3-1 in the final)
FACT Ian Botham destroyed Australia to virtually win cricket's Ashes single-handed in 1981 (always makes Paul wince just to think of it!)
FACT Back in 1980, England won Gold at the 4th World Crown Green Bowling Championships. At the event, held in Victoria, Australia, the home team came second!
FACT England's Neil Hodgson won the World Superbikes Championship this year. Australia's Troy Corser didn't.
FACT Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan continued Britain's dominance of world snooker, with a 5-1 thrashing of Australia's Quinten Hann at the British Open this month
FACT In Formula 1, Jenson Button may only have finished 9th in the World Championship - but Australia's Mark Webber finished 10th!
FACT At the last World Swimming Championships, Australia won the women's 4x200m freestyle relay. Then Australia were disqualified and we got the Gold!
The Australian team weren't the only ones crying (Paul's tears were falling into his GUINNESS¨!)
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