KEY POINTS:
The English lost the final of the Rugby World Cup, lost to Russia in the soccer and took a 5 - 0 hiding from the Aussies in the ashes last year.
So who is the great loser of British sport? The British Times Online website
has published a list of top 50 sporting losers from the isles. "These are the glorious nearly men".
Tennis player Tim Henman has taken out the dubious title of being Britain's number one loser. Henman, ranked in the top 10 for years, never managed to win Wimbledon.
The 2007 English rugby team take out the 44th spot, having gone from despair to delight in six weeks.
Of interest to New Zealanders will be the 2005 Lions languishing at number 46. The Lions were tamed by a blistering All Blacks side losing 3 - 0. They were also beaten by the New Zealand Maori.
The rankings were determined by how close they got to glory, how many attempts, the national expectation, strength in relation to other Britons and their ability to bounce back.
Here's the Time Online's 50 greatest losers in Britsh sport and below we've compiled our list of the top 10 losers in New Zealand sport.
50. Eddie Edwards, skier.
49. Middlesbrough FC 2005-06
48. Darren Clarke, golfer
47. Bobby George, darts player
46. 2005 Lions rugby team
45. Audley Harrison, boxer
44. England rugby team 2007
43. Bomber Graham, boxer
42. Maureen Gardner, runner
41. John Lloyd, tennis
40. Neil Adams, judo
39. Pippa Funnell, jockey
38. Eddie Irvine 1999, formula one driver
37. Matthew Stevens, snooker
36. Scotland rugby team 1991
35. Greg Rusedski, tennis
34. England cricket team 2006-07
33. David Beckham post-Manchester United, soccer
32. Mike Atherton, cricketer.
31. Jon Brown, runner
30. Tom Simpson, cyclist
29. England cricket team 1992
28. Roger Bannister in 1952, runner.
27. Graham Gooch from 1990-95, cricketer
26. Celtic 2002-03, soccer
25. Gordon Pirie, runner.
24. England football team 1996
23. Grantley Goulding, runner
22. Bunny Austin, tennis
21. Ryder Cup team 1999, golf
20. Henry Cooper, boxer
19. Peter Oosterhuis, golfer
18. Ireland rugby team 2004-07
17. England football team 1986-1990
16. England football team 1970
15. England football team 1967
14. Lewis Hamilton, driver
13. Devon Loch, horse
12. Arsenal in Europe, soccer
11. Paula Radcliffe, runner
10. Dai Rees, golfer
9. Frank Bruno, boxer
8. Nigel Mansell, formula one driver
7. Kelly Holmes, runner
6. Steve Backley, athlete
5. England rugby team 1991
4. Jimmy White, snooker player
3. Colin Montgomerie, golfer
2. Stirling Moss, formula one driver
1. Tim Henman, tennis
New Zealand's 10 greatest sporting losers
1. 2007 All Blacks. All the hype, no players in the Super 14 and reconditioning couldn't help the All Blacks who ended up with their worst ever finish.
2. 2003 America's Cup team for getting caned 5-0.
3. 1999 All Blacks for the gut-wrenching loss to France in the semifinal.
4. New Zealand cricket team bowled out for 26 against England in a test at Eden Park, 1955.
5. Silver Ferns heart-breaking one goal loss to Australia in the 1999 World Champs.
6. 2003 All Blacks under John Mitchell who were knocked out in the semifinal in Australia.
7. Hamish Carter for finishing 26th after being touted to win at the 2000 Olympics.
8. David Tua's failed bid for the heavy-weight championship title against Lennox Lewis in 2000.
9. 1991 All Blacks, who got to the semifinal, only to lose to Australia.
10. 1995 All Blacks who made it through to the final, only to lose to South Africa.
