Since their peak at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, stock in the England team has fallen so alarmingly Gordon Brown should consider the 'Red Rose brigade' a serious candidate for nationalisation.
And as with the banks, nobody it would seem is to blame. I've found solace in various justifications over the years. It's the coaches' fault. We need to blood younger more exciting players. Our players are exhausted, give them more down time. Injuries. The coaches again.
Having passed through Anger, Denial, Bargaining and Depression I've finally arrived at the final stage - Acceptance. Last week, it finally dawned on me: We are simply hopeless.
So, it's fair to say I'm looking forward to Saturday's game against reigning 6 Nations champions Wales in Cardiff about as much as, well, the England team probably.
In light of such pessimism I'm tempted by a cheeky bet on the Welsh, who are currently 7-1 to beat England by 16-20 points and a very tempting 8-1 to win by a margin of 21-25 points. A return of £40 for a £5 stake would certainly cushion the blow, but is it right? Or is it as a colleague of mine argues, ‘blood money'!?
Disappointingly the bookies haven't come up with any comedy bets for this weekend's matches. So, what else can we bet on during England's inevitable humiliation on Saturday?
