posted Jun 26, 2008

nutadministator

RL is a sport invented as a training exercise for RU sessions. If its such great sport why does nobody play or watch it outside the North of England and Australia/NewZealand (a little bit). Face it its just Rugby for the intellectually challenged

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posted Jun 26, 2008

finbar....
My word you are a closed book

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posted Jun 26, 2008

porridge time

I just get fed up of RL supporters over here banging on about how great it is. People vote with their feet, and not many walk in the direction of RL.

As for being a closed book, I just know what I like, and where I stand. Not sure you do. If I were you I'd turn of the computer and keep my eyes out for snipers. Angola used to be a dangerous place

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posted Jun 26, 2008

Finbar...
Correction, you are not so much a closed book, but rather a blank sheet of A4.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

I think people are over egging the All Blacks performance and undervaluing the English one.

First, they were fresh and England tired after a long season. This was most reflected in Matt Stevens performance.

Second, a number of the veteran players have either retired or been left at home. Others like Strettle and Tindall were coming back from injury.

Thirdly, England made some selection mistakes and missed proper guidance in the No10 position. Certainly Cipriani or Wilkinson would have marshalled the backs better.

The back row combination of Rees/Narraway/Haskell worked well and it is now up to the selectors to find a way to get Tom Croft involved, either as an impact sub or as a lock. Mears did ok, but I prefer to see him off the bench as a high energy player.

In the backs, Ellis will give Wigglesworth and Care top competition. The restoration of Cipriani or Wilkinson will help. The disappointment was not playing Flood at 12, and regressing to the thumper pairing of Noon and Tindall (who seems to have lost it). A decision must also be made on Tait and his best position, a postion he can play regularly at club level and then internationally. Personally I think it should be 15, as long as we selected a more dynamic 13 in Hipkiss or Ollie Smith or Dominic Waldouck.

Autumn tests 22

15. Tait
14. Sackey
13. Hipkiss
12. Flood
11. Strettle
10. Wilkinson (Cipriani injured)
9. Ellis or Care
8. Narraway
7. Rees
6. Haskell
5. Palmer
4. Borthwick (capt)
3. Stevens
2. Hartley
1. Sheridan

16. Wilson (Stevens can move to Loosehead)
17. Mears
18. Croft (can also cover lock)
19. Worsley (covers all backrow positions)
20. Foden (can cover both 9 and 14/15)
21. Barclay (covers 10,12,13 and 15)
22. Banahan (can cover 11/14 and backrow in emergency)

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posted Jun 27, 2008

I agree boksobserver. Will Martin Johnson have an impact? It might be that sending Brian Ashton back to the academy is the RFU's master stroke: he could be the catalyst for bringing on the next generation of players and improving England's standing, but don't hold your breath.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

Same old team selection, same old rubbish. I would like to see the England team from NZ play the Saxons. The full England team would win the forward battle but the Saxons would run rings around them in the backs. They know how to pass and run at the same time. Sounds stupid but it is something England seem to have forgotten.
The main thing, though, is they don't constantly kick away position.
I am not saying the Saxons would win (you never know) but it would show the selectors and coaches a thing or two.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

Interesting idea Moose - lets discount the chance they might get injured and look at what the All Blacks used to do before the season really kicked off; Possibles vs Probables. I think there were no spectators at these games but I have read that they were tooth and claw affairs, and told the selectors and coach a lot about who was up to it.

And tour games really need to be brought back into it, they really do. No warm up as a team (discounting the Barbarians game). Yes the ABs had a few new players and combos to try out.....yet they looked like they knew exactly what they were doing and England looked like (apart from a few loose forwards) headless chickens on beta blockers....

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posted Jun 28, 2008

Matt Dawson's comments on some aspects of England's game being outstanding is such an overstatement and detracts from the issues. Only in England can a side that has been so overwhelmingly anhilated, then believe there are parts to their that were outstanding. Look, the commitment, workrate, and keeping to the basics is the very least that a professional side has an obligation to make when playing another professional side. If you listen to the Welsh side, the Irish side, when they are beaten, they do not talk themselves up. There is an honesty, and ernest appreciation that there were areas to be improved upon, there is an admission that certain tactical elements will be worked on. It is an honesty and realism. When will this England set up and those that support it, stop deluding themselves by talking the side up when it is flat on its arse, and need a complete overhauling to make it work. Johnson has an almost insurmountable task. I wish him well, I don't truly believe he is the right man for the job but history again, and the well-informed rugby supporter will be the decider of that.

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posted Jun 28, 2008

Err, the Welsh team having just having had their *rse's handed to them in similar fashion to England declared they'd easily beat anyone in the NH.

And the Irish team were amongst the favourites for the RWC in some parts.

Of course England fans talk up their team, and the players they see most often. But that's all part of being a fan and believing your team will perform. The English are hardly alone in this.

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