Rugby World Cup

[subaqua]

Don't write us off yet ( France). The English had a smile on their faces when they found out they were playing us in the QF. They are not smiling now!
The exciting thing about the french team for the french head coach is that you he never knows what they are going to do or how well they will play. That is a headache for the welsh coach too and will not be resolved until next saturday.
May the best team win!

Corrected

looking forward to the game , much more than the Ireland Wales Game.

 

[Chromatic]

Hopefully about 7.

Time for a total clear out of the old guard.

+1 to this, and including the coaching staff, most of whom should be shown the door this morning. Not only the old guard who are past their best too, there are some in this squad who just aren't good enough.

There also needs to be a realisation that size and strength are not more important than skill and technique.

Whilst we're at it there also needs to be a policy of picking specialist players in each position. For instance, the back row are not all interchangeable as the current England set up seems to think. This is the sort of thinking that results in putting a stand off in the centre in the most important game of the campaign, putting on a lock forward to replace a back row, all with predicatble results.

 

[Beebo]

There also needs to be a realisation that size and strength are not more important than skill and technique.

You would think that MJ would be well aware of this as he played during the "should England play Neil Back era", which ended with the realisation that a good little one is better than an average big one.

 

[Chromatic]

You would think that MJ would be well aware of this as he played during the "should England play Neil Back era", which ended with the realisation that a good little one is better than an average big one.

One would have thought so, but despite the evidence for this being demonstrated to MJ in recent games he seems not to have taken the fact on board.

 

[trustysteed]

If Wales win, it won't be a victory for the Northern Hemisphere, it will be a lowering of standards by the Tri-Nations teams.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You would think that MJ would be well aware of this as he played during the "should England play Neil Back era", which ended with the realisation that a good little one is better than an average big one.

A good little 'un will always come second to a good big 'un. MJ's fatal flaw was in thinking that simply being a big 'un makes you a good big 'un.

That and picking captains who exhibit zero leadership on the pitch, and consistently preparing teams with no plan B when plan A comes up short. I assume the farce we executed against France was our Plan B in action.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hopefully about 7.

Time for a total clear out of the old guard.

I admire your optimism. I reckon it will be 5 or fewer once injuries, loss of form and the next wave take their toll.

 

[Chromatic]

A good little 'un will always come second to a good big 'un. MJ's fatal flaw was in thinking that simply being a big 'un makes you a good big 'un.

That and picking captains who exhibit zero leadership on the pitch, and consistently preparing teams with no plan B when plan A comes up short. I assume the farce we executed against France was our Plan B in action.

Everything you say here is spot on Greg.

 

[Dayvo]

... and consistently preparing teams with no plan B when plan A comes up short. I assume the farce we executed against France was our Plan B in action.

Plan A!? WTF was that?

 

[trustysteed]

England's abysmal showing is due to this sort of mentality by twunts.

 

[brokenflipflop]

England should stick to what they're good at.........

Finn and Laser class Yachting.....

 

[brokenflipflop]

England's abysmal showing is due to this sort of mentality by twunts.

Getting dicked on every once in a while is character building and sorts the mard arses out from the real men.

I should know, I get dicked on all the time but I still turn out every week

 

[trustysteed]

I should know, I get dicked on all the time but I still turn out every week

being a rent boy does have disadvantages.... ;-0

 

[brokenflipflop]

being a rent boy does have disadvantages.... ;-0

true true

 

[lukesdad]

If Wales win, it won't be a victory for the Northern Hemisphere, it will be a lowering of standards by the Tri-Nations teams.

Really ? sounds like sour grapes to me