THE first shots have been fired well ahead of Friday's start to the Rugby Union World Cup - and yes, I did say rugby union World Cup and not, as some publications declare, the Rugby World Cup.

Calling the tournament by that foreshortened name is nothing less than a kick in the scrum for Rugby League - remember, that other oval-ball game that suffers from scant media coverage.

I mean, there was one national newspaper that did not even mention the elimination play-off humdinger between Wigan and St Helens, yet there was Twickenham-type acreage of coverage for the impending World Cup when it was still seven days' hence. Who says old school ties do not flap with an overbearing influence.

But back to the state of the union. It's global extravaganza opens on Friday with the pool 'A' duel between hosts Australia and Argentina.

But before the first ball was launched a war of words was detonated between pool 'C' opponents England - second favourites for the tournament - and South Africa, whose stock over the last year has degraded amid accusations of a physical approach straying beyond the limits of fair play.

Springboks' skipper Corne Krige initiated a quite unexpected attack on his England counterpart Martin Johnson, who was branded 'the dirtiest captain' in the international arena. That's got to rank as one of the heftiest pots calling the kettle black examples in history. Krige is hardly snow white. Even if he was, he must - in Mae West's lexicon - have drifted.

Since the outburst, Krige has retracted his remarks, blaming a journalist for the publication of his verdict in that other favourite sporting pastime of 'shooting the messenger'.

However contrite the snow-white Krige is, his remarks have further stoked the incendiary nature of England's showdown with South Africa at the Subiaco Oval on October 18. Indeed, his slagging off of Johnson - if it was indeed meant for private consumption why mention it to a reporter? - might just be the ploy by which the struggling Springboks aim to undermine England, who humiliated them last season.

Get the mighty whites raged up, crank up the physical pressure still more, and then hope England forget the ruthless professionalism that has earned them the world number one ranking and instead engage in a free-for-all.

Somehow, I cannot see Krige's cri de coeur cutting much ice within the England camp. Coach Clive Woodward has assembled a squad, whose dedication to their arts - they are no strangers themselves to mixing it - has touched impressive levels.

Far better for England to do the business on the Subiaco pitch and so demoralise the Springboks that their verbose skipper will think twice about opening his mush to even put his gum-shield in.

FROM red rose to three lions, another England will hog the headlines between now and Saturday and you can bet the lion's share will revolve around the soap opera saga that is David Beckham.

Mercifully, the urgent weekend medical bulletin from Real Madrid was that England's white knight captain had successfully come through 87 minutes of action for the 'Galacticos' in their La Liga clash against Espanyol.

Wow, 87 minutes, surely that must mean he will now be ready to pull on his other white shirt to lead England out against Turkey in their group nine final qualifier in Istanbul, where a draw would be enough to clinch a place in next year's European championship. Hallelujah, cry 'Beckham' for England and St George, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.

Meanwhile, there's the none too small matter of a certain Michael Owen being rated as only 50:50 to lead the England attack. For all Beckham's occasional inspiring performances, England's chances of winning in Istanbul will be more harmed if Owen, rather than Beckham, is missing. Come on, let's get real for once.

Agree or disagree? Then hit back at tony.kelly@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:14 Tuesday, October 07, 2003