posted Sep 23, 2007

Wayway - I'm not living in the past. England are a POOR side and will not get past Australia, if they beat Tonga, which is debatable.

I took umbridge at your comments that Wilkinson is a fundamentally flawed FH. Because they are clearly rubbish.

If he was good enough in 2002-2003 then he can't be 'fundamentally flawed'.

He can, of course, be performing poorly.

For the record, I thought he was good yesterday. Not great, but good.

His kicking for territory was woeful. His kick to make the try excellent. His use of the ball in hand so-so. His defence solid as always. His running with the ball good, making a second try.

By no means a brilliant performance. By no means a poor one.

Hardly unexpected seeing as he hasn't played any rugby in weeks.

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posted Sep 23, 2007

We're all a happy English bunch today aren't we!
Five points earned in the game, qualification in our own hands, the frowards scrummaged well and the backs made some yardage.
Come on cheer up we could be Irish!!!

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posted Sep 23, 2007

Good Lord! Wilkinson missed a coupe of penalties and clearance kicks! The useless layabout should be dropped, no, HANGED!!!!!!

The fact that he kicked four penalties, three conversions, two drop goals and set up 2 tries (three is you count the miss-out pass to Corry for the 1st one) is neither here nor there.

Yes, I agree he looked a bit rusty, but generally he had a good all-round game.

Barkley looked indecisive, but I would persevere with him. Tait, I feel, suffered as a result. Even so, I'd give Hipkiss a run next week. Tait is our most versatile bench option.

The backrow still concerns me. We desperately need some pace in there in the form of Moody or Rees. Personally, I'd go for Moody AND Rees.

Anyway, I'm feeling a lot more confident about reaching the QFs than I was 24 hours ago. Especially when I saw Tonga come within a bounce of a ball of turning the whole group on its head. And if the same XV trotted out next week I wouldn't be too horrified.

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posted Sep 23, 2007

I try resist the temptation to try to pick the "ideal team"

The art of winning at WC should be to pick(almost) any 15 blokes from a squad of 30 and they go out and execute a game plan, but with enough flair to switch to (or invent)a plan B, or even plan C if needed.

When are England forwards going to wake up to the fact that they are a match for anyone WHEN THEY STAY ON THEIR FEET?

Criticism of the back row. - Collectively they need pace and Moody seems to be the only one with a turn of speed - if only his brain could work as fast as his feet!
The result is giving away daft penalties.

Worsley got through loads of the grunt work but the telling moment was when he was almost clean through and stopped (seemingly to look for support) instead of doing as Corry had done - bulldoze over.

I despair of the backs, but how many times in the last 10 years have England fans said that? The continuing story there has been flashes of brilliance punctuated by mind numbing mediocrity. Yesterday we got all of that in the space of 80 minutes but the frustration comes from knowing that collectively they CAN do it. Now let's see it for the whole game, rather than 20 minute flashes.

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posted Sep 23, 2007

Gents

Am I the only one out there who think the worst thing too happen on Sat was an England win?

When are we ever going too learn, the whole team looks tired, uninspired and clueless. If we would of lost at least then the RFU would have to do something and the whole English game but we wonder on blind to the fact that we are picking the wrong players and in the wrong positions.
We will go through to the next round and then lose by a couple of scores then everyone can pat therselves on the back and say well we didnt do too bad did we.

Not good enough England spent £1000 on going to Nantes and to be honest I think it might be time to start supporting another team, perhaps Argentina hey, at least they play with their heads up, have a nice kit and sing some interesting songs, cant say that about England.

Very fed up from Bristol.

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posted Sep 24, 2007

Artesian - fine, go and support the Argies.
Changing tack somewhat, can anybody tell me of a decent boozer for next friday's match - i will be in paris from about 10.00 am so will have plenty of time to find it - do the english have a regular haunt near p des p from the old days? This is never a problem in dublin but it's my first trip to france - please help!

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posted Sep 24, 2007

"Am I the only one out there who think the worst thing too happen on Sat was an England win?"

Yes.

After this WC (even if we win it, which ain't gonna happen) Vickery, Corry, Robbo, Gommersal, Shaw, Dayglo, Regan etc. are all going to be retired.

WHATEVER happens, the team that takes the field in the 6N will not look ANYTHING like this one.

So win or lose, England will change.

There's nothing to be gained from us going out in the group stages except for a bunch of smiling Aussies and Celts.

PS - The Aussies are, I reckon, just a bit nervous right now. They *know* they are the better team, but they can't be sure they won't blow it in the 1/4s. Not totally sure....

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posted Sep 24, 2007

I reckon you could be right about the Aussies. But we do need a fully functioning Wilko to even get near. Yes the forwards will get more than their share of ball but what on earth will we do with it? I'd go with Moody and Rees and if we lose on penaties at least we can blame the ref!

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posted Sep 24, 2007

For Chriskipper:

Go to the Frog n' Rosbif - 116 rue Saint Denis, 75002 - metro line 4, stop named "Etinne Marcel".

I have been in Paris for 6 years and this is my 'rugby pub'.

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posted Sep 29, 2007

Tait.His ‘mistakes’.I was going to be expansive,but I’m going for quiet brevity.I’m sure Ashton has seen it; him saying,he was confident all players will perform well,in their positions; but it won’t lie down with the media.

The first one I find basic -Scrum Half makes a three on two; Tait marks his man,allowing the said man easy access.A foreward misses his tackle,but does all that is required of him,by forcing a large sidestep,inside [from a talented half back],slowing him into the covering forewards (note Tait and Cueto blocking his search for an outside pass).Perfect play; construed as a mistake.

The Cueto cut inside,is more complex and requires frame by frame study. I truly hope Cueto has.Tait makes strong options available,by slowing the game down: he then manipulates the Centre,telegraphs the options to the opposing Winger,drawing him into the tackle.Such was the timing,he had to concentrate on the two opponents: by then,Cueto,not being up to the play shown,had taken the classic ploy of the switch: Tait drew both players and passed to an unmarked Cueto! Deft,close contact,skills required of England if they are to take on the Southern Hemisphere teams,in this ‘gain line’ rugby (which is another gripe of mine: at least players are pressure kicking,more,without being harassed for ‘losing valuable possession’).

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