Come on you England, you noble Englishmen ….

Okay. This is where the footy creeps in - along with the humour, and more than a bit of strident nationalism. British comedian Rik Mayall died this week, and in a timely resurrection, his fans are trying to get his 'Noble England' 2010 football anthem to the top of the UK charts.

Watch Rik Mayall as a fearsome, bloodied King Henry V firing up a 5-a-side bunch of wimps to take the field for 'noble England', in a wonderful adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Once more unto the breach…': (and I'm not even a Rik Mayall fan!):

Once more onto the pitch, dear friends,
once more to raise up these walls with our English cheer ...
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, …
Those men of grosser blood - teach them how to play
you GOOD players whose limbs were made in England!
Show us here the mettle of your footwork
Let us swear that you are worth your breeding.

Of course - my prayer is that 'noble England' will show its 'goodness' and its mettle through fair, vigorous play, and not foul. Bravery is not just shown on the battlefield and through physical prowess.

This song is England's answer to the haka. If the All Whites had this in 2010 (remember Ryan Nelsen's: 'Skinny white boys doing the haka? Very intimidating.'), I'm sure it would have impelled them to victory, and not just mighty noble draws!

So come Sunday (NZT), 'Cry "God a win for England, and Saint George!"' - and for the Queen, bless her, 'cause it's her official birthday on the day this game (vs Italy) will be played in Brazil, and in dear England (14 June).

Come on you England, you noble Englishmen … .