They might as well attend to details. Pass the ball accurately, preferably in front of someone who is already running fast, that sort of thing. Hell, they could even practise it.
But such things basically involve individual skills. What's needed at the team level? It's all changed a lot since I played when on-field decisions were made by the skipper (preferably a back) or the pack leader. I saw reference the other day to England having two vice-captains on the pitch. What on earth is that about?
If they can strike early, silence the crowd (or better get them on the player's backs), then they are in with a good shout. I've seen them do it before.
OTOH if France get a couple of early tries and the crowd get going it could be a painful evening.
Was Ford injured or dropped? Missed kicks cost them the game. But you could also say that when you have a good pack , why kick away possession with two minutes to go? Surely they could have kept recycling for two minutes?
Wonderful game though. Wasn't that Boris Johnson's son who came on and wound up the crowd?
All of us were correct on this one. England did have it in them, when they played with the right degree of verve and determination.
(Clearly, a couple of wayward decisions**, kicks and indiscretions cost the match - but a French fan will tell you how they, too could have had more on the scoreboard: life's like that. Like a snooker match that goes down to the last black ball: if it's that close, either side could have won.)
I'd say the players were playing for each other, & was reminded of England's campaign in RWC 2007, when the useless Brian Ashton was head coach but the team was chock full of talent, including several veterans of the 2003 triumphs. After some very ropey performances in the opening rounds (e.g. being nilled by S.A.) and Ashton not having a clue what to do, by all accounts the senior players just took over the show and the team reached the finals - when the scoreline flattered the winners (S.A. again).
If Borthwick himself knew how to conjure that performance, he'd have done so two matches earlier in the cycle. He has to go, & now. And a manager selected who knows how to coach Pollock: that little twat has the most amazing skills - several of which he displayed last night - but he doesn't know how to deploy them. Worse, I think he's always looking to use them for solo glory. That often comes off in the Prem, but it'll rarely work the same way against a serious international defence. The coach that can harness Henry can inevitably also manage the other egos in the squad. ____________ ** but IIRC, not Anon's complaint @ 7:10. yes, Chessum should have veered right towards the posts - but that wasn't one of the missed conversions!
I know he got the kick, but after those two earlier misses Chessum should have known better. OTOH he made and scored the try purely by taking the risk which came off.
OT, but thinking about the fuel based potential inflation, and the general consensus that interest rate reductions are off the table, I imagine if this goes on, everything will get more expensive because almost everything is made in the Far East. In which case interest rates will stay high.
So all through the late 80s, 90s and noughties, when inflation was low and we were done with economic cycles, our low inflation was because of Far East productivity and interest rates should have been much higher. No wonder property was a good buy.
Have we reached maxi sport on radio - two brands of rugby - male and female football how many competitions - male and female god knows how many types of cricket. Golf . darts , snooker athletics, curling . Several equinine activities Sailing , What about tiddly winks!
I watch football but only as highlights. Watching a full game tends to be boring: too much passing the ball from side to side among the backs, too many unrefereed mauls in the goal box.
I prefer rugby as full matches. I used to watch a fair bit of test cricket but it vanished from the channels we have. I do not watch the Olympics, or cycling, or drats, or the Boat Race. Nor the gee-gees save for the National occasionally.
I sometimes wonder: those wonderful big football and rugby stadiums. Why don't they host rodeos over the summer? They always look like fun.
Englands performance yesterday was high risk, entertaining, edge of the seat stuff. The real Itoge was on parade - at last - & this stiffened the spine of the team, allowing the playmakers to do their stuff. Genge cost the team - penalty try awarded & whilst sent off, France scored two tries. Altogether though, the best team performance since the first half of the match v NZ at the World Cup in Japan....
They might as well attend to details. Pass the ball accurately, preferably in front of someone who is already running fast, that sort of thing. Hell, they could even practise it.
ReplyDeleteBut such things basically involve individual skills. What's needed at the team level? It's all changed a lot since I played when on-field decisions were made by the skipper (preferably a back) or the pack leader. I saw reference the other day to England having two vice-captains on the pitch. What on earth is that about?
I fancy an out of left field win for England. If Itoge is in a state to play (which he hasn't been since the death of his Mother)
ReplyDeleteIf they can strike early, silence the crowd (or better get them on the player's backs), then they are in with a good shout. I've seen them do it before.
ReplyDeleteOTOH if France get a couple of early tries and the crowd get going it could be a painful evening.
I've just watched the Ireland v Scotland match. It occurs to me that there are now three codes: Rugby Union, Rugby League, and Rugby England.
ReplyDeleteWas Ford injured or dropped? Missed kicks cost them the game. But you could also say that when you have a good pack , why kick away possession with two minutes to go? Surely they could have kept recycling for two minutes?
ReplyDeleteWonderful game though. Wasn't that Boris Johnson's son who came on and wound up the crowd?
And why on earth didn't that guy get closer under the posts instead of flopping down? He had time and he knew the kicks were an issue...
DeleteI agree: I shouted at the telly. "Schoolboy error" people will say. "Not at my ruddy school" I would reply.
DeleteAll of us were correct on this one. England did have it in them, when they played with the right degree of verve and determination.
ReplyDelete(Clearly, a couple of wayward decisions**, kicks and indiscretions cost the match - but a French fan will tell you how they, too could have had more on the scoreboard: life's like that. Like a snooker match that goes down to the last black ball: if it's that close, either side could have won.)
I'd say the players were playing for each other, & was reminded of England's campaign in RWC 2007, when the useless Brian Ashton was head coach but the team was chock full of talent, including several veterans of the 2003 triumphs. After some very ropey performances in the opening rounds (e.g. being nilled by S.A.) and Ashton not having a clue what to do, by all accounts the senior players just took over the show and the team reached the finals - when the scoreline flattered the winners (S.A. again).
If Borthwick himself knew how to conjure that performance, he'd have done so two matches earlier in the cycle. He has to go, & now. And a manager selected who knows how to coach Pollock: that little twat has the most amazing skills - several of which he displayed last night - but he doesn't know how to deploy them. Worse, I think he's always looking to use them for solo glory. That often comes off in the Prem, but it'll rarely work the same way against a serious international defence. The coach that can harness Henry can inevitably also manage the other egos in the squad.
____________
** but IIRC, not Anon's complaint @ 7:10. yes, Chessum should have veered right towards the posts - but that wasn't one of the missed conversions!
I know he got the kick, but after those two earlier misses Chessum should have known better. OTOH he made and scored the try purely by taking the risk which came off.
DeleteOT, but thinking about the fuel based potential inflation, and the general consensus that interest rate reductions are off the table, I imagine if this goes on, everything will get more expensive because almost everything is made in the Far East. In which case interest rates will stay high.
So all through the late 80s, 90s and noughties, when inflation was low and we were done with economic cycles, our low inflation was because of Far East productivity and interest rates should have been much higher. No wonder property was a good buy.
Have we reached maxi sport on radio - two brands of rugby - male and female football how many competitions - male and female god knows how many types of cricket. Golf . darts , snooker athletics, curling . Several equinine activities Sailing , What about tiddly winks!
ReplyDeleteMakes me dizzy!!!!
I watch football but only as highlights. Watching a full game tends to be boring: too much passing the ball from side to side among the backs, too many unrefereed mauls in the goal box.
DeleteI prefer rugby as full matches. I used to watch a fair bit of test cricket but it vanished from the channels we have. I do not watch the Olympics, or cycling, or drats, or the Boat Race. Nor the gee-gees save for the National occasionally.
I sometimes wonder: those wonderful big football and rugby stadiums. Why don't they host rodeos over the summer? They always look like fun.
Englands performance yesterday was high risk, entertaining, edge of the seat stuff. The real Itoge was on parade - at last - & this stiffened the spine of the team, allowing the playmakers to do their stuff. Genge cost the team - penalty try awarded & whilst sent off, France scored two tries. Altogether though, the best team performance since the first half of the match v NZ at the World Cup in Japan....
ReplyDeleteBorthwick still has to go