They are united in holy matrimony but come Saturday evening, rugby-mad couple Jonathan Brookes and his wife Linda will be trading barbs from separate corners as their respective nations, England and South Africa, clash in the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup final.
And as you would expect, the war of words has already begun.
"England will certainly win this game," says Jonathan boldly. "South Africa will wonder what they need to do to beat us and I see us winning it by 12," he adds.
His declaration is shot down by Linda who says: "We are the only team unbeaten till now. They haven't got a hope."
The two teams did meet in the group stages last month where England were at the receiving end of a 36-0 drubbing by the Springboks, but Jonathan, who plays for the Dubai Exiles, stressed the improvement Brian Ashton's men have made since then. "I was disappointed by their performance in that match. But they have spent some time together and improved game by game. England are playing to prove people wrong where as South Africa are playing to prove people right because all the expectation and pressure is on them," says Jonathan.
Linda believes that result will not have any bearing on Saturday's outcome at the Stade de France. "It was just four weeks ago but that was the group stage, Saturday is where it all counts," she says, before adding, "also England won [the final] the last time, so it's only fair that we win it this time".
The couple who live at The Lakes in New Dubai are taking precautions for the match, for the sake of their relationship.
"We will watch it together but on different sides of the room. We have not actually decided where we will watch it but it will be with a group of English and South African friends," says Jonathan.
Apart from the disappointment of defeat, there is another reason why neither wants to end up losing. "Whoever wins on Saturday, there will be a forfeit of some kind for the loser," reveals Linda.
The Brookes' also have a three-year-old son James who Jonathan says will be wearing an England shirt, to which Linda candidly replies: "Funny enough, we have a deal not to persuade James in anyway. But he does know the words of Sweet Chariot and he can also say: ‘Go Boker'."
