ROB Carruthers is in a perfect position to compare and contrast England and Australia and the reasons which lie behind their sporting achievements.

For the 32-year-old Aussie, born and bred in Melbourne, is the manager of the Walkabout pub in Southampton city centre.

And it was there that Carruthers and his fellow Aussies celebrated wildly following their country's first-ever win over England in a senior football international.

Carruthers, left, believes England's climate doesn't help them produce champions, and also claims the government need to invest more if we are ever to win World Cups.

Lest we forget, and despite England being a nation who love their sport - almost everyone in the country plays or watches at least one sport - we have only ever produced one football World Cup winning team. We have never won the cricket or rugby world cups, though we have lost in the final of both.

Indeed, the last time a successful British sporting team really captured the public's interest was in the 1988 Olympics when our men's hockey team struck gold.

Before any golfers write in regarding the 2002 Ryder Cup winning team, that did contain several Europeans.

Asked about his country's successes, Carruthers said: "The weather does play a huge part.

"From a very young age you know it's nice and sunny outside so if you're a kid you want to go out and play. And what do you play - sport.

"It evolves from there, it just keeps going. Athleticism amongst Australian children is a way of life.

"All kids play sport in school in Australia. I played some sport almost every day, and it wasn't just one sport.

"I had the chance to play football, tennis, volleyball, basketball and tennis when I was at school.

"But I wouldn't say we're a naturally athletic nation such as the West Indians. Their build and agility makes them ideal for sports like sprinting or basketball.

"I don't think there's any difference between the Australians, English or the French.

"I think it starts with the weather and the sporting culture has built around that.

"In England, and I've been here six years, I would say it's very much a pub culture. And why do people go to the pub at times - because the weather is so bad outside!

"We're a very passionate sporting nation. We simply love sport, all sports. When I was young I played everything and watched everything I could.

"Kids in Australia play four or five sports and then end up concentrating on the one they're the best at. It's why a lot of Aussie Rules players are international class sprinters."

Carruthers added: "You (the English) need to get the children playing more sport at schools, encourage them to play more sport. If the weather's not too good, encourage them to play indoor sports like basketball and volleyball.

"Perhaps there is too much concentration on football in this country, and not enough time spent encouraging kids to play other sports."

Apart from a sunny climate, Australia is also blessed with a government who has ploughed millions into building facilities and setting up coaching programmes around the country.

"The facilities are first class," Carruthers said. "I have seen some of the stuff in this country, and it's not the same.

"There's a lot of great football stadiums in England, but you would probably find as many stadiums like them in the whole of Melbourne.

"Small cities like Bendigo, which have a population of 30 or 40,000, have as many swimming pools, hockey pitches, cricket pitches and tennis courts as a city the size of Southampton. The only thing it wouldn't have is the football stadium.

"And that's a small country city about two hours from Melbourne I'm talking about.

"Australia is associated with sporting success. I'm not saying sport is the be all and end all but it certainly raises the profile of the country, which helps in many ways.

"The Sydney Olympics raised the awareness in many ways, in terms of tourism. It has a roll-on effect.

"Before Australia won the America's Cup in 1982 Perth was seen as a bit of a sleepy city 4,000 miles away from Melbourne.

"But winning an international sailing tournament transformed Perth and its satellite city of Freemantle.

"Sporting success certainly raises national pride. Me and my staff were really happy the other night - none of us expected we'd win, and there was real pride that we had done."

Asked if there were any sports Australia weren't very good at, Carruthers remarked: "I don't think we're that good at tennis*, though we do produce a good player every now and again.

"We're okay at basketball - one of the top five in the world - but not so good at volleyball.

"Even bowls, we're bloody good at bowls! It shocked me a few years ago when I found out we were the world champions in that - that's your grandma's game, but loads of youngsters were playing.

"We're certainly not very good at snooker, and that's a popular English game.

"We're not very good at athletics, track and field - sprinting, javelin, shot putt, discus. There's only really Cathy Freeman among the sprinters, and we haven't had anyone like her in the country for a long time.

"We do seem to be good at teamsports, not so good at individual sports. I guess 'mateship' is a big thing in Australia - from a young age you're in the street with your friends and neighbours playing cricket with a bat and a garbage can for the stumps."

He summed up: "The government here needs to grab sport by the scruff of the neck and target the grassroots, the kids.

"If they are serious about producing English sporting winners, they have to put in the investment. That's what they do in Australia - it's the government paying for the kids to have their bats and balls."

Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter, Pat Cash ... if only England could not be 'that good' at tennis either!

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