AFTER the peak, the pique. It could apply almost as much to Clive Woodward as to Craig Bellamy, except that Woodward's anger was both justified and controlled.

Like the naughty schoolboy, we will deal with Bellamy later. First, in contrast to the usual fits of pique coming from people who have hit rock bottom, Woodward was able to denounce the thugs of South Africa from a position of resounding strength.

Like his team, the England rugby coach rose above his right to go ballistic and bashed the bolshie Boks with controlled aggression.

He would not have been wrong had he labelled them an absolute disgrace, instead he noted that some of the comments coming from them concerning revenge were not exactly good for world peace.

The danger is that when the teams next meet in the group stage of the World Cup next October all hell will break loose and the fall-out will wreck England's chances of lifting the trophy.

Had last Saturday's match been in the World Cup, Jonny Wilkinson would be taking no further part. The Springboks targeted him the last time they played England, and it was no surprise that they did it again. Such calculated thuggery has no place in sport and those guilty of it should be banned for a year, not a paltry 23 days, as was Jannes Labuschagne's fate.

Rob Andrew must be furious to be left without his inspirational captain just when Newcastle Falcons have slipped to the bottom of the Zurich Premiership. The only consolation is that Wilkinson is likely to miss only one league game, at home to Bristol on Sunday, as a run of European and cup games follows.

PERHAPS with a little lateral thinking another consolation can be found in the arrival of South Africa's most-capped player, the highly-respected Mark Andrews, to help the Falcons in the New Year.

Would he be coming were the rand not so weak that South Africans can find greater financial security from an English club contract?

Six or seven internationals have left home for that reason, while political pressures have also contributed to the decline of the team since Nelson Mandela so memorably donned the No 6 shirt when they won the 1995 World Cup.

The requirement to have two coloured players in the team and two on the bench is seen by some as discrimination in reverse. In the long-term it may encourage more coloureds to play the game, but in the short term it is encouraging a weakened team to resort to Saturday's desperate measures.

TWO months ago I compared the Falcons' reliance on academy products with the similar strategy employed by Durham County Cricket Club. It is laudable, but too risky when both clubs are still at a relatively immature stage.

They seem to have acknowledged this with the Falcons signing Mark Andrews and Durham taking on all-rounder Vince Wells.

If the Falcons are not already well adrift when Andrews arrives in mid-January I think he will prove an enormously successful acquisition. Wells I'm less sure about. We'll have to hope he doesn't start to show signs of his 37 years.

A TALE of two boxers this week. Audley Harrison proved utterly predictable by travelling all the way to the United States to overcome another absolute no-hoper in 129 seconds, while Michael Watson provided the most sensational and heart-warming news.

Eleven years after surprising doctors by coming out of a 40-day coma following his world title fight with Chris Eubank, he has announced that he is to take part in next year's London Marathon.

It is expected to take him five days, but this extraordinary fighter is determined to do it, even though he will need the help of his constant carer.

FOR sheer courage, the challenge Watson has set himself compares with the deeds of Ellen MacArthur, hailed by the French as the greatest English sailor since Nelson.

In winning the solo transatlantic race, the Route du Rhum, in 13 days 13 hours 47 minutes, she beat the record by two days, despite encountering the worst storm she had ever seen.

This is an achievement of Paula Radcliffe proportions, and while Paula remains a certainty for Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday week, Ellen must be worthy of an honourable mention.

AND so to Bellamy, who shed the tears of a clown after going from super-hero against Feyenoord to arch villain against Inter Milan in the space of eight Champions League minutes.

The tears will bring him no sympathy. He belongs to that highly talented but ill-disciplined breed of young footballers who either think they are above the law or are too stupid to learn their lessons.

It's the same with Ian Bowyer and Alan Smith, and look what's happening to Leeds.

It is no consolation to say that Newcastle had already realised their wildest dream by reaching the second phase.

Bellamy ensured that the dream quickly became a nightmare and it would do him no harm to observe how the England rugby players dealt with the South Africans' provocation.

Published: 29/11/2002