posted Nov 13, 2006

Maybe the reason Robbo refuses to go is that no one else would have him? As for MJ: what coaching exprience does he have?

Maybe Dean Ryan would be a better choice? Brian Ashton doesnt strike me as an inspirational leader either, so what are the choices?

As for the team: drop anyone not likely to be playing in the 2011 World Cup now. That should have happened after the last RWC then we would have a young team with 3 years experience going into 2007. Robinson was a joke appointment at the time. He has proved so since.

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posted Nov 13, 2006

Let's face it, a number of the players now are players who couldn't get in the 2001 - 2003 team despite being on the fringes. So they weren't good enough then, why should they be now? Also, it's hard for the new young players (Allen, Flood) because the supposedly experienced ones who might be able to guide them are playing so badly themselves!

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posted Nov 13, 2006

I think dropping anyone who may not play in 2011 is slightly too radical, although I do believe that some of the old-timers need to go, Corry included. However some experience is needed in any side so guys like Cohen and Lewsey will have to step up to the mark, as I'm sure they can do.

Rob Andrew should be taking over completely, at the moment it seems like he's in a bit of a non-position; he should be head coach as well as director of rugby or whatever he is.

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posted Nov 13, 2006

martin johnson was the backbone o englands previous inspiration and it always made us play well. we have noe lost all of that and corry at captain and robinson as head coach is a recipe for disaster. bring back martin johnson and put him as head coach. it is worth a try things cant get worse.

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posted Nov 13, 2006

i am sure martin johnson would pull his extenuous rugby knowledge into play if he was made head coach. the good thing is if anyone put a foot out of line he would give them a good hiding and he is not afraid to do that. he would inspire the unmotivated in the england side and he could use his world cup tactics and put them to good use. bring on MJ

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posted Nov 13, 2006

Remember, in every sport the very best players very rarely make the very best coaches. The reason is simple. The job of a coach is to develop and get the best out of what you have - to get people to perform sometimes beyond their capabilities. When you had everything yourself and things came easy to you, it can be difficult to recognise this, and to deal with those who however talented, couldn't hold a candle to you.

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posted Nov 13, 2006

i believe the RFU missed a trick overlooking Woodward for the Elite directors job. He turned things around once (he had more time then admittedly) - didn't he only leave as the RFU wouldn't give him what he wanted for the national set up? - more breaks, more time with the elite squad.... - it seems to me he's been proven right in amazing fasion. He won a world cup then tbe RFU wouldn't give him the tools to repeat it - maybe the bigwigs at the RFU should shoulder some of the blame?

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posted Nov 14, 2006

I think we should look to put next year's World Cup out of our minds as it's a ticking clock that is bringing out the worst in us all. We've a good chance of making the quarters, and this is all we can expect. Let's stop these ridiculous knee-jerk reactions to our ongoing failures and focus on the long term solution to our gradual slump in form. For the past decade it has been the senior members of the England set up, the Board of the RFU, that has kept us from creating a lasting dynasty of successful rugby. They were the reason Clive had sucha struggle to get his team together, they made the transistion to professionalism so slow and painful, a nd they ultimately caused this farcical position we are now in; World Champions, yet one of the worst senior teams there is.

We need Brian Barwick to resign, we need an overhaul of the old ways, and we need to get a Clive Woodward or a Rob Andrew in at a more senior level. I've little cluse what RA actually does and, from what he's been saying recently, neither does he. AR is a poor choice for manager, but is trying his best. He's just not got the tools nor the ability to create a winning team. Getting rid of him will solve nothing, we need the right man at the top pulling the strings, and we need to focus on building a decent team by 2008, and a strong youth feeding system to help us grow a team that can win the Cup in 2011.

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posted Nov 14, 2006

Hi Matt McConaughey here, some know me as John Anthony 'The Million Dollar Man'. Just working out and picking winners.

This article/statement is absurd. Reading something liek this causes me to question whether the poor fellow that wrote it has lost his marbles?

There is no possible reason to suggest that defeat to Argentina could be 'good for England'. The facts are thus: It has plummetted them to their lowest ranking in World Rugby, the players will have it an all time low, supporters are booing their side a mere 12 months from the world cup and we have a coach who has demonstrated his utter incompetence.

If you are suggesting it is a good thing England lost because it means there will be an upheaval....more fool you. It is too late for that. What wories me more is that if it takes this for the RFU to recognise Robinsons complete incompetence, foolishness and lack of managerial ability then those at the healm of this ship are deluded morons.

I am all for replacing Robinson, but what about the players. The one glaring error for me has to be Andy 'Food' Goode. If the guy couldn't kick he'd be a prop. There is a reason crowds chant "Andy Food, Food, Food" at him.....and it's not because he's a good rugby player. How could an apparently international standard coach not recognise this while everyone else in the country can?

Replace the coach, Rob Andrew needs to start getting tough. Conceed England are on a downward spiral and make the drastic changes required. This World Cup needs to be written-off, lets use it as a learning experience for the younger players, in 4 years time they will have played in a World Cup and have 40-odd caps each. Isn't that where New Zealand are now?

Come on, listen to Matt McConaughey. He's a born winner. This guy picks 82% winners. He's a machine and knows his Rugby Football.

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posted Nov 15, 2006

I think Jake White would be an excellent choice for Robbo's replacement.

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