Don't believe everything you see in the press. For those that have been following the Rugby World Cup in Australia, one of the most intriguing off-the-pitch events has been the hostility directed at the England team.

The Australian ran a full page picture of star England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson with the headline "Is that all you've got?" Another story called an English fan a "Pommy bastard". And then there have been numerous printed stories and TV bulletins about the "arrogant" English team.

Even a request by a press officer for camera crews to stand in one place while the team was practising was broadcast on the main news as evidence of the Brits' disgusting attitude.

It seems though that while the Australian media cannot hide its revulsion to an English sports team wiping the floor with everyone else, the good, honest citizens of Down Under recognise brilliance when they see it.

A poll on the Sydney Morning Heralds website shows what real sports the Aussies are. In response to the question: How would you describe the English rugby team's performance last night? Bruces are given a choice of:

• Scintillating
• 
  
• Stupefying
• 
  
• Clinical
• 
  
• Cynical
• 
  
• Very northern hemisphere
• 
  
• Dull, dull, dull

Incredibly, out of the 40,008 respondents that have voted so far, an amazing 83 per cent have gone for "Scintillating", next being "Dull, dull, dull" with just seven per cent.

Truly a generous gesture from a country that is going to be thrashed on its own home ground on Saturday when England and Australia meet in the final.

What seems all the more remarkable though is that at least 35,000 of those votes have come in the past eight hours - a time when most Australians would be dozing having consumed a few too many coldies last night.

And then there's this email which has been going around: "The Aussie Pomie bashing of 'dull, dull, dull' has reduced from 52% to 50% of the votes already! If we can make Scintillating the top rating then it's certainly going to confuse the Aussies. Get voting and pass it along. ;o)."

What can it mean? One thing is for certain though - the online poll never lies. ®

Related link
That poll in full

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