THOSE cocky, arrogant Aussies - I wish we were more like them.

Not that I'm condoning a country whose two biggest exports over the past decade have been Home and Away, and Kylie's bum. Okay, Kylie was a bad example, but you get my drift.

But when it comes to sport, we're lights years behind. We're a second-class nation in comparison.

No wonder Pommie-bashing has become a national sport Down Under this week as England prepare to take on the host nation in tomorrow's World Cup final.

And here's the reason why. Listen to this guy.

"I find it interesting that England is a sports-mad country, maybe even more crazy about sport than the Australians.

"And yet we don't take our sport seriously, which is our own fault. Here, in Australia, this country is just fantastic at bringing out the best in its sporting talent. We're not at that level in our country.

"We have got the players in every sport back in England, no doubt about it. We just need to invest in our talent like the Aussies do."

Were these the words of a government minister or one of our many failed sportsmen? No, they were uttered by Clive Woodward - the man charged with beating the Aussies, and bringing the Webb Ellis Trophy to our shores for the first time.

How can the Aussies fail to feel confident and cocky when they hear England's coach singing their praises.

The simple truth is, the Aussies are willing to invest in sport. This country is not.

The only reason England are in the World Cup final tomorrow is because the Rugby Football Union took the bull by the horns and ploughed money into the game.

In 1987, when England travelled to the first World Cup, the squad consisted of policemen, solicitors and teachers. The total players' expenses for the tournament was £20,000.

At the same time, the Aussies players were full-time. The foundation was already there, and four years later, they lifted the World Cup.

Now the England team has the biggest financial backing of any team in the tournament - and for the first time since 1966, we have a shot at a World Cup.

Look at other sports.

In cricket, all Aussie talent is funnelled through academies, and nurtured. The same goes for athletics, swimming and tennis.

What's the result? The Aussies thrash us 4-1 in the Ashes, and the same score in the Davis Cup. Lleyton Hewitt wins a Wimbledon title, while thousands pack Henman Hill to watch Our Tim fail year after year. Throw in 400m Olympic champion Cathy Freeman, and, in the 'Thorpedo', the best swimmer in the world, and you see my point.

The Aussie football team even beat us this year - can we get any lower?

It's about time we stopped hiding behind our jingoism, stopped waving our Union Jacks in the hope a world champion will appear from thin air, and actually invest in sport.

One crowing Aussie's theory for his country's dominance over England was succinct: "We are genetically superior. While the English were transporting their toughest and most resourceful citizens over here, they were roaming around castles, chasing foxes."

It's that type of arrogance which makes you hope we stuff the Aussies good and proper - and there's a good chance because we have invested in the game internationally, if not so much at grassroots level.

Now all we need is a lot more swimming pools, tennis courts, athletic tracks, and the coaches and academies that go with it, and 10 years down the line we may shut those load-mouth Aussies up for good.