tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post4977063992226084366..comments2024-03-28T22:45:51.014+00:00Comments on Capitalists@Work: RWC: the Dogs that Didn't Bark at EnglandCityUnslickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15929544047783163175noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-54217281097070662002015-10-05T21:17:20.252+01:002015-10-05T21:17:20.252+01:00Y Ddraig Goch, ok but without running through a li...<b>Y Ddraig Goch</b>, ok but without running through a list of England-qualified players 2015 to see whether there are enough of (potential) world class, many a general has had to go into battle with what he's given<br /><br />by 2003 Woodward had the services of half a dozen world class players: but (with the obvious exception of Robinson) doesn't he have a claim to having made them thus? <br /><br />maybe not Johnson, maybe not Dallaglio (outright forces of nature); but Hill, Wilkinson, Lewsey, Dawson, even Greenwood could all be argued as products of his time in charge<br /><br />(and his specific match instructions: how many of them really shone for the Lions?)Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-82251811699906766382015-10-05T14:43:23.150+01:002015-10-05T14:43:23.150+01:00I'm not convinced that the who-wears-which-shi...<br />I'm not convinced that the who-wears-which-shirt debate is the important one.<br /><br />Since Saturday I've read several articles explaining what the author thought<br />was wrong with England's team selections. It all sounded pretty convincing to<br />me. And it sounded equally convincing when I was reading much the same<br />thing at the end of Brian Ashton's term. Since Woodward left, England have had<br />four coaches, all of whom have been regarded as failures, despite promising<br />starts. One or two screw-ups can happen, but four? Consecutively? I can see<br />two plausible explanations<br /><br />- The England player base, for whatever reason, is not that good, and so<br /> capable coaches try to make the best of it and end up taking the blame for<br /> structural problems.<br /><br />- These coaches genuinely were sub-standard. In which case the RFU's<br /> <i>process</i> for appointing coaches is fundamentally broken. It may be<br /> that Lancaster has to go, but the people and structures responsible for<br /> appointing him - and his predecessors - need to go first.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I'm Welsh. I should have been delighted by the result on Saturday<br />- but I wasn't. Lancaster is a capable man in a difficult job and my<br />impression is that he and Robson are taking the heat for a rather different<br />problem.<br />Y Ddraig Gochnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-12189723992071288892015-10-05T14:05:56.410+01:002015-10-05T14:05:56.410+01:00hovis - the difference between Brown & Farrell...hovis - the difference between Brown & Farrell is that Brown is a world-class full-back; Farrell is not a world-class fly-half. Brown has also shown massive improvement in his temperament in the last year or two.<br /><br />Nick - most welcome; I found it most illuminating. It's not to say that Burgess *couldn't* be an international centre, but he's certainly not one *now*.Kynonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-46516155550761919532015-10-05T12:50:20.139+01:002015-10-05T12:50:20.139+01:00Don't follow rugby much but always watch 6N an...Don't follow rugby much but always watch 6N and WC - so from an occaisional fair weather follower's view:<br /><br />I have to agree with the Farrell haters - seems of little use bar some kicking, otherwise a petualant little prick in both Wales and Aus games - doesnt help his cause his Dad's on the coaching staff, (a whiff of nepotism would hang in the air even if there weren't questions of merit).<br /><br />I don't follow enough everyone says Brown is aggresive but he also seems to need to be lippy / angry to be aggressive - shouldnt need to go there to get in that space - bin him too.<br /><br />Ok youngish looking team but none seem to have the controlled thuggish presence of a Dallaglio/Johnson.hovisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-26148966151960920152015-10-05T11:39:01.635+01:002015-10-05T11:39:01.635+01:00Kynon - thanks for that D'Arcy reference, a go...<b>Kynon</b> - thanks for that D'Arcy reference, a good readNick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-15061063291686680912015-10-05T10:58:45.571+01:002015-10-05T10:58:45.571+01:00As a (technically) neutral Scot (and one who hasn&...As a (technically) neutral Scot (and one who hasn't actually seen the game yet - I was at an evening function instead), I truly don't understand much of the English selection. I have been saying this since well before the RWC.<br /><br />1 - Dan Cole is grossly overrated, and is endlessly wheeling/pulling down the scrum.<br />2 - I would love to see Joe Marler scrummage straight for once.<br />3 - The "no overseas players" is cutting off one's nose to spite the face. Armitage (Steffon) is the nearest thing England have to a world-class openside. Given that some of the top teams are now taking the approach of putting two in the starting XV, for England to play none is insanity.<br />4 - the Burgess Experiment - he's not an international centre. Gordon D'Arcy's article in the Irish Times last week laid out the reasons for this in excruciating detail. Even his club think he's a 6, for crying out loud!<br />5 - To answer the original question: 10/12/13 - Ford, Burrell, Joseph (perhaps Slade in place of Burrell). Ford had one mediocre game, and has disappeared from sight. Farrell has had lots of games like that. I completely agree that he is wooden, unimaginative, and frankly a temperamental liability. AFAICS, he is in there only because he has a better kicking record, and because his dad is on the coaching team.<br /><br />I think that will do for now - apologies for the essay!Kynonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-70893545611401913272015-10-04T22:51:15.197+01:002015-10-04T22:51:15.197+01:00My brother, a lifelong rugby man and one who takes...My brother, a lifelong rugby man and one who takes a holiday for the duration of any World Cup wherever it may be (recent schedule, Friday night Cardiff for the All Blacks v Georgia, thence to MK for Japan v Samoa than a dash to Twickers for the Oz game, says of England - they're good, but not as good as they think they are. Elby the Beserkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060519682739666145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-16788353162760004882015-10-04T18:30:37.716+01:002015-10-04T18:30:37.716+01:00And here was I thinking I'd read all the postm...And here was I thinking I'd read all the postmortems. Good to see Nick doing his:<br /><br />I have been boring my rugby drinking buds for three years predicting that, at a crucial moment in the RWC, England will be down to 14 with Farrell cooling his heels in the bin. For all intents and purposes we may have seen it already.)<br />James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-58386633360806492922015-10-04T16:43:36.494+01:002015-10-04T16:43:36.494+01:00Starting to be Premier league footballers.
Even th...Starting to be Premier league footballers.<br />Even the Scottish got called out for diving.andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07311993288675111834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-75856541296887162432015-10-04T12:36:04.716+01:002015-10-04T12:36:04.716+01:00The only England player good enough to get into th...The only England player good enough to get into that Wallaby side was the second row, Launchbury. (Even Brown had a stinker.)<br /><br />Otherwise they played like boys. A break is made and .... nothing: the rest of the side ("team" would be much too strong a word) is miles away, enjoying a nice doze. Outscrummed, outmauled, outrucked and outbacked.deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-41423244751641567622015-10-04T11:39:16.561+01:002015-10-04T11:39:16.561+01:00Out with a wimper
In the land of non competitive s...Out with a wimper<br />In the land of non competitive sport, shouldn't we be aloud to just continue because it's just not fair.Suffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-3921227432372043462015-10-03T22:46:42.146+01:002015-10-03T22:46:42.146+01:00Very prophetic ND, will Farrell get a free pass ag...Very prophetic ND, will Farrell get a free pass again?<br /><br />However, turns out the midfield wasn't necessarily the issue. England totally mullered at the breakdown. <br /><br />roymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11040387761432476794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-76432131956913201232015-10-03T22:37:06.822+01:002015-10-03T22:37:06.822+01:00It was men against boys. Glad to see that the dud...It was men against boys. Glad to see that the dud English prop got duly penalised.deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-33054959599520683702015-10-03T21:49:34.386+01:002015-10-03T21:49:34.386+01:00Balls, typing through misty eyes. Farrell didn'...Balls, typing through misty eyes. Farrell didn't make em, but he's just got sent off. Needlessly.john millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-56603492470768727502015-10-03T21:46:53.642+01:002015-10-03T21:46:53.642+01:00Well. now I do have a problem with Farrell.
To co...Well. now I do have a problem with Farrell.<br /><br />To commit 3 atrocious errors in the first three minutes must be some sort of record.john millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-16507035698859388392015-10-03T12:34:19.375+01:002015-10-03T12:34:19.375+01:00Well, I'd choose Cipriani, Slade and Kyle East...Well, I'd choose Cipriani, Slade and Kyle Eastmond. They'd be fun to watch. Sebastian Weetabixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-46364937547885261402015-10-02T23:28:55.500+01:002015-10-02T23:28:55.500+01:00Dear God, looking at some older posts I learn ther...Dear God, looking at some older posts I learn there exists a "form captain". What?<br /><br />I'm rather sceptical about having a front five forward as skipper: he has his head buried too much. But that's only a generalisation, not a universal rule. Certainly I found it not too bad to skipper from the back row. Ideally you'd hope for a natural skipper at full back: he sees the whole play in front of him. Or at least I did the only time I played there. He'd have to rely on his pack leader a lot, though, being so far from the forwards. I did have a few games as a scrum-half: I was far too busy scurrying to have been a skipper, I thought.<br /><br />I like the purported Aussie approach: pick your team and then appoint a skipper from amongst them. I see no sign that their cricket team ever uses this approach though.deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-39064840431411695752015-10-02T23:14:17.418+01:002015-10-02T23:14:17.418+01:00dearieme, the trouble is, we've been spoiled, ...<b>dearieme</b>, the trouble is, we've been spoiled, we know what a real captain looks like and it's Martin JohnsonNick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-13724826798178357102015-10-02T23:05:48.501+01:002015-10-02T23:05:48.501+01:00Is Robshaw picked as a flanker, or is he picked as...Is Robshaw picked as a flanker, or is he picked as captain? If the latter, it's just another case of Englishmen being barmy about "Captain of England" - they even pretend that the captain matters in soccer, for heaven's sake!<br /><br />Some day I must find out what Englishmen mean by "Captain of School", but I suspect it'll just be another piece of barminess.<br /><br />Anyway, however bad Robshaw is he can't be as bad a skipper as that oaf Carling was.<br /><br />Anyway, fly-half and centres: no idea. More important, will that boring-in prop get off with his nonsense again?deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-9218780893465491242015-10-02T22:39:33.746+01:002015-10-02T22:39:33.746+01:00No-one rising to the bait then!
OK, here's mi...No-one rising to the bait then!<br /><br />OK, here's mine.<br /><br />(i) from t'squad:<br />10 = Goode<br />12 = Slade <br />13 = Nowell<br />Slade covers 10 if Goode hurt<br />bench: Burgess and, OK, Farrell, <i>faute de mieux</i><br />- I seriously doubt if Joseph is 100%<br /><br />(ii) from the ranks of the qualified<br />10 = Cipriani<br />12 = Slade<br />13 = DalyNick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-90438296697781018072015-10-02T17:27:09.959+01:002015-10-02T17:27:09.959+01:00As a neutral Scot (hah!) I have been puzzled by La...As a neutral Scot (hah!) I have been puzzled by Lancaster's selections since the start. Who in their right mind would pick Robshaw? He barely holds his position in the Harlequins XV. Armitage is miles better. Then there's Cipriani, too. But the highest amusement is watching him put Burgess in at centre. And Farrell is just a hot headed twat. England is the only country putting out a 2nd XV (possibly even 3rd) by choice. The mind boggles. <br /><br />I look forward to the collective mental breakdown of the home counties tomorrow. Now they appear to have an acceptable scrummage, Australia are going to crucify them. The England front row is not up to the job but curiously no-one seems to have noticed.Sebastian Weetabixnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-34309067332049151732015-10-02T17:02:40.651+01:002015-10-02T17:02:40.651+01:00Don't ask me, I support Wales. I thought Engla...Don't ask me, I support Wales. I thought England had the upper hand until half time - points from a try plus not one but two drop-goals, compared with Wales' penalties (isn't there too much penalty-kicking in rugby these days?) Missed the second half alas, look forward to watching it on Youtube to see why the tide turned.<br /><br />Fiji was exciting. NZ coach has given them a very disciplined defence to add to their loose-limbed flair in attack.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-35980800907848961892015-10-02T14:09:41.058+01:002015-10-02T14:09:41.058+01:00Might have to agree with John,
England crumpled u...Might have to agree with John,<br /><br />England crumpled under the pressure last week. The pressure this week is an order of magnitude greater now....<br /><br />One thing that was driving me up the wall was the penalty count. 12! 7 in range. That is just crazy - all the preparation in the world goes out the window.<br /><br />Agree about Farrell. When did this start and why hasnt old man farrell given him a kicking for it?roymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11040387761432476794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-46553212987957304152015-10-02T13:08:08.832+01:002015-10-02T13:08:08.832+01:00I don't have a problem with Farrel, but the su...I don't have a problem with Farrel, but the substitutions were barmy. England were doing alright with Farrell playing in his best position.<br /><br />After the subs, everyone seemed to lose the plot.<br /><br />But no, England won't recover to losing to the Welsh second eleven, who admittedly played brilliantly, and Australia will crucify them.John millernoreply@blogger.com