Bragging light

It's time to stand aside, Australia - New Zealand are our No 1 sporting rival

- Emma John

Do we talk about England and Australia's sporting rivalry too much? In the past couple of weeks, we haven't had much choice.

The rugby league Kangaroos have been hopping about between London, Liverpool and Leeds, while the Wallabies grazed on the Twickenham turf. In F1, Bristol-born Lando Norris has been getting booed on track during his relentless comeback against his Melburnian McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. And that personal battle has reached its climax just in time for the much-hyped men's Ashes - with England kicking off their tour in Perth to already hysterical headlines.

This weekend brings a pause in hostilities. One Ashes series has ended, another is yet to begin. A gap in the calendar before back-to-back grands prix leaves Lando quietly teetering at the top of the drivers' table. And into that small air pocket - if the Pom-bashing and Aussie-baiting has left a breath of oxygen - come the Kiwis. Tomorrow New Zealand's rugby union team will run out against England in west London. And by the time we know the result, the Silver Ferns will be taking to the netball court on the other side of the city, in the first of a three-match series against the Roses.

Both fixtures are pulse-quickening prospects. The All Blacks will want and expect another win towards a clean sweep of their autumn internationals - so will Steve Borthwick's unbeaten England. The netball will be no less tooth-and-nail. The Roses have won three of their last five meetings, the Silver Ferns two.