The Breakdown | England’s juggernaut must be wary of wheels coming off as World Cup stakes rise

Red Roses know there is no such thing as a dead cert in sport as they try to avoid more World Cup heartbreakIt was the basketball great Kobe Bryant who best summed up the precarious status of the dead cert. His multi-talented LA Lakers team came into the 2004 NBA finals as clear favourites to beat the less fashionable Detroit Pistons only to lose 4-1 in the series. “Talent doesn’t get it done, you have to be able to execute,” reflected Bryant. “When you have talent and you execute, that’s when you win.”In other words there is no such thing in sport as an absolute certainty, no matter how good you are. Pretty much everyone is assuming England’s women will prevail at the current Rugby World Cup on the basis they have been unbeatable for the last few years. A record-equalling 30 wins on the trot, however, does not automatically guarantee fulfilment over the next three weekends. The knockout stages have arrived and, to a great extent, the tournament starts here. Continue reading...

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