posted Oct 3, 2008

CIAsilkmen, I hope your comment about the ref wasn't directed at the ref at the Irish game because we didn't seem to have a problem playing flowing, attacking rugby. 3 tries in 5 games is a problem with more than just the referees mate!

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posted Oct 3, 2008

SirBurger, No it wasn't because I didn't see the game. From what I've heard we were terrible and deserved to lose and everything you did paid off and Irish played some lovely rugby and always do. But my point was when the ref lets the game flow (or the players actually follow the rules-perhaps that's the problem with Sale) we can play good rugby and we scored too decent tries. The LI game was definately a bad day at the office.

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posted Oct 4, 2008

Guscott asserts that the modern fullback doesn't need to be a specialist in his position. It is a mistaken assumption that began when the All Blacks moved Christian Cullen from center & continued when SCW decided to oust Matt Perry for the clown Balshaw.

FB is probably the most technical role within the backline requiring the individual to be extremely good under the high ball (no easy task when half a ton of steaming beaf with bad intentions is following), even more so now that the ELVs require all rugby teams to inform air traffic control before the start of a game. Their positional sense has to be up there with the best within the team & additionally they are the last line of defence. Quite frankly if England had had a specialist FB over the last couple of years the tries against column would be a great deal lower.

The last decent player in the position was the aforementioned Perry & even the sainted Jason Robinson was found out far too often when at FB. Josh Lewsey made a good fist of it, but, like Robinson, always played his best rugby on the wing.

Martin Johnson would be well advised not to listen to so called experts like Guscott & continue where he started in the summer by nurturing specialists FBs like Gloucester's Morgan & Quinn's Brown.

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posted Oct 5, 2008

Jeremy,
As the build up to the autumn internationals continues, englands new attack coach seems to be saying the right things and sounds like he wants england to play positively. He is obviously johnson's choice, but a few of the coaches have been forced upon him. Do you think this will hinder england?

If reports are correct he wanted Shaun Edwards to replace Mike Ford as defense coach, so does that suggest he doesnt have his first choice defense coach? Apart from the tour of new zealand our defense hasn't really been that bad under Ford. Do we look too closely into who is coaching sometimes because ultimately its the players who have to do the work?!

BobCapeTown

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posted Oct 5, 2008

To add to Bob's (very good) question, many observers see Mike Ford and (in particular) John Wells as obstacles in the quest to try to get England to play more attacking, attractive back-play, and that this contrasted directly with the stance of Brian Ashton. Do you believe this to be the case?

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posted Oct 7, 2008

I understand what you're saying about cipriani not being picked on reputation alone, but what has toby flood done to justify his position?

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posted Oct 8, 2008

Jerry,

In this professional era, do you think you would have stood out as such an outstanding player?
Which of your qualities would you be most thankful for if you had to play again in the modern game?
And....who in the modern game(if you were playing) would you say would be the source of your greatest competition for a place in the England side?

Thanks
Tiffy

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posted Oct 9, 2008

Jerry,
As a Sale fan I completely agree with your comments in respect of how we play. We put a third team out in the EDF cup and nearly beat a virtual full strength Cardiff Blues. We have talent in abundance behind the scrum but seem scared to use it.

We definitely should be more expansive at home and getting more tries on the board.

The Board are puzzled why the stadium isn't sold out - score more tries and you'll fill the ground!!!

We have a very powerful pack but people like Jason White, Seabass and Sheri are almost unstopable if they hit the line at pace as opposed to the old pick and drive at the fringes.

Please Phillipe - coach how you used to play!

Jack

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posted Oct 13, 2008

How safe do you think Dean Ryan position at gloucester is? Alot of talk from the shed is that he's on his way out and with gloucester starting to resemble bath's back line do you think Ashton would be favourite to replace him?

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posted Oct 13, 2008

"How safe do you think Dean Ryan position at gloucester is? Alot of talk from the shed is that he's on his way out and with gloucester starting to resemble bath's back line do you think Ashton would be favourite to replace him?"

Whatever is said in the Shed, Ryan should not go. The start to the season hasn't been ideal, but he's done well for us over the past couple of seasons and there's been continuous improvement. Obviously, we want silverware, but we should give Ryan at least 'til the end of the season to deliver it.

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