WORLD CUP DIARY:TOMORROW MORNING, England's Jonny Wilkinson will make his 16th start at outhalf in a World Cup match when he lines out against Romania, a competition record for starts in that position, beating the 15 registered by Australias Michael Lynagh.

MARK CUETO yesterday claimed multi-millionaire Premier League footballers are the only people who truly understand what the England rugby team are going through at the World Cup. The Manchester United fan is finding it difficult to cope with the attention he receives on the streets of New Zealand. The Sale wing recently re-Tweeted a message from Rio Ferdinand which read: “Let’s try + help/push our England rugby team not ruin them!”

Asked if a siege mentality had developed within the squad following the reaction to that now infamous night out, Cueto said: “Maybe a little. You’ve only got to read some of the things the footballers are writing. They seem to be the only people at the minute who sympathise with the position we’re in.”