A match fit for a Prince

PERTH - The England-South Africa cup clash was fit for a king - or at least for the third in line to the throne.

Prince Harry, who is working as a jackaroo on an Outback farm, slipped into Subiaco Oval in Perth early yesterday to watch his home side take on the Springboks. He wore a replica of England hero Jonny Wilkinson's No 10 jumper.



Harry was well assisted by a scrum of security staff who split a pack of photographers with an effort that would have made even England's renowned forward pack proud.

He sat with Jayne Woodward, wife of England's coach, and celebrated England's win enthusiastically with her in front of photographers after the game.

It wasn't quite Twickenham, it sure wasn't Ellis Park, but Subiaco Oval didn't look like an Australian sporting venue either.

The invasion of English and South African supporters transformed the AFL venue into a sea of mainly red and white, with a strong shade of green, as the Australian rules heartland was turned into a World Cup frenzy, at least for a night.

Scalpers were understood to be offering tickets for $1500.

Local pubs had been fighting for the tourist dollar all week, with the Leederville Hotel renamed "Bok Town", and an area of Northbridge was called "The English Pub Fest". The Moon and Sixpence proved its allegiance to the mother country by giving away hundreds of English flags during the week.

A Fremantle pub, the Sail and Anchor, truly got into the spirit of proceedings, releasing two new beers for the clash, the Springbok and the Victory Lager.

Patrick Caley from Durban said the pre-match atmosphere was unique to the quadrennial event.

"It is wonderful to see the opposition socialising on a friendly basis," he said. "It is very close to South Africa [which] is why you have got a lot of South Africans who have flown over."

England fan Simon Smedley, 28, expected his team to finally pick up the Webb Ellis Cup, which was tantalisingly on display at the ground.

"It is now or never. It is the best chance they have ever had."