Wynne Gray: Let's get behind South Africa's World Cup dream

Wynne Gray

So the Sanzar deal is done. After what seemed to be an inordinate amount of haggling, delays and threats from the Southern Hemisphere allies, they have agreed to continue their alliance.

While they have rediscovered their sporting friendship, perhaps New Zealand and Australia should agree to support South Africa as host of the 2015 World Cup when the issue comes up for a vote shortly. Maybe that was part of the deal. And why not? It should have been after Australia voted for Japan rather than their Sanzar ally, New Zealand, to host the 2011 event.

England are making a concerted push for the next event and speaking glowingly about the soccer stadiums they will use and the marvels of Twickenham. No thanks. Of the world tournaments so far, those in the UK in 1991 and 1999 were probably the least memorable because of the lack of hype and the absence of facilities.

They can bang on as much as they like about shifting matches, gaining huge crowds and coining it at Wembley, Old Trafford and Co but they are grounds without any great rugby connections. Twickenham, at least, is a rugby arena with a huge capacity and atmosphere. But it is not a favourite, you are just too far away from the action in comparison to several great venues in France and the great cauldrons in Cardiff and Brisbane.

By 2015 it will be 20 years since South Africa hosted their one and only World Cup. One country, usually great conditions - apart from the Durban downpour which swamped the Springboks v France shootout in 1995 - marvellous stadiums.

South Africa is preparing to host next year's soccer World Cup which will be a further learning curve in any plans to stage rugby's big show in 2015.

Arguments will be delivered that the 2015 tournament should be held, by rotation, in the Northern Hemisphere after New Zealand's next hosting stint. It is time to break that cycle, time for South Africa to hold another tournament. Even in that magnificent last tournament in France, it was fatuous that there were still games awarded to Scotland and Wales.

Japan is back as a contender to host the 2015 event after being supported by a huge chunk of the British media to win the ballot for the 2011 tournament. It will be intriguing to see if the same media contingent again support Japan, this time ahead of England.

Surely, they would have to argue that, if South Africa is not the appropriate venue, then the new frontier in Japan makes more sense than taking the tournament back to Britain.