DURING the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, a local pundit explained why England would get nowhere in the tournament and beyond. Making no reference to what had been going on off the field in those weeks, he said the English game had become too boring and risk adverse to win a major tournament.
Kick and clap was the insult used to mock the game not only in England but all over the British Isles – Wales went further than anyone in the tournament but were hardly an advert for running rugby.
Now when a kick gets a clap it is usually because the ball has crossed the touchline five o...