England were coming off the back of a World Cup that resulted in them being 10 points short of winning the thing.

BBC: Six Nations lives up to hype

But it is the last thing Villa wanted, especially as their rematch with Palace will take place in the week leading up their Carling Cup final against Manchester United at the end of February.

BBC: Crystal Palace 2-2 Aston Villa

Why spend the night stepping over pools of vomit when you could watch the entire thing on television, from the comfort of your own home, with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand?

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In football the women's 2007 World Cup attracted an audience of nearly two million on BBC2, but the first thing you hear in our office when we put the women's football on is that 'it's just not as good as the men's game because of the goalkeeping'.

BBC: Here come the girls - Women's Rugby World Cup 2010