Rugby - Hands Off Black!

[finbar]

Glad to read your verdict. I could only listen to the game on 5 Live, so I could only draw conclusions from the commentary. Even A. Goode is blaming the luck of the Irish. (I was also surprised, again based only on commentary, that he was awarded MOTM) But this is one of the problems when there are contentious officials' decisions - they cloud the issue, they allow excuses. Only clear-minded souls like us seem to be able to cut through the bullsh*t!

EDIT. Oh, I just noticed that Turnip was thrilled with England's 7s silver medal at the CG and that it bodes well for England's next tour of Australia. The man is a moron.

[Havak]

He really is. IQ is definitely a fundamental problem for the man.

In all honesty only the first try was truly contentious for me - the ball was in touch before the try was scored. Cohen's inept attempt to get near the ball was inexcusable however (but 'anyone can slip' was the apologists verdict).

The second try was down to Meers and Borthwick stupidity and not shenanigans at the line out as as seems to be being suggested by parts of the England camp. We telgraphed an inappropriate call and the irish number 8 capitalised - simple as that.

I thought the third irish try was superbly taken - but there are hints of obstruction early in the move apparently.

Goode played okay - he tried more variety than Hodgson has been doing. It isn't his fault the centres were standing flat and banging ball straight all the time. He did only get MoM because the TV pundit Brian Moore (former english hooker) picked it and England looked likely to sneak victory at that time.

I also think the Irish fans who seem to think they played England off the park are suffering a touch of the Robinsons. They took their chances well but were on the back foot for much of the game. A competent side would have buried them.

The 7s bodes well for the summer tour? That really does sum him up. For me the 7s suggested that Lund, Varndell and Tait are worth giving some game time in the senior XV - I wouldn't claim much more than that yet.

[finbar]

J**** wants C**** back as England coach. Cop that, Turnip!

[Havak]

Mixed feelings about that one myself. It certainly properly tells turnip where he stands in the rugby world but it's also Clive he is promoting.

I think they must have caught him at an unguarded moment!

this is worth a read I think

[finbar]

Yes, very interesting. Good solid sense. Who are the coaches he's talking about? Ashton and Melville? J**** is obviously the man. Whether he wants it - yet - is another matter.

[Havak]

Jonno has a lot to offer certainly - I hope he wants to be involved in some capacity.

Brian Ashton - current (and also former) Bath head coach, former Ireland coach and the backs coach for England from 1998-2002 (their 'expansive' period you might say) and Academy manager until 2005. He doesn't believe in 'safe' rugby the way turnip so slavishly does (as an aside he once coached turnip at Bath).

Nigel Melville - former head coach of Wasps and Gloucester. Smart rugby brain. Nice guy (too nice probably - got out manouvered at Glaws by an ambitious subordinate IMO).

I'd be happy with either guy taking the helm - with Jonno involved somewhere of course.

[ravagon]

Hmmm. After that 'crack' a page or so back about Marshall I would just like to express my enthusiastic support for the retention of that Master Coach Andy Robinson.

Oh, er, yeah, "with Jonno involved somewhere of course"

[Havak]

Why thank you.

Marshall is a fantastic player, way too good for Leeds, but he is guilty of both things I 'cracked' about at times.

As for turnip you get your wish as one of his big bosses, Francis Baron, has again backed him to lead England into the World cup. I can find no positives in the situation - it is no comfort that they will be forced to sack him after the RWC.

Sometimes the RFU is stubborn to the point of self imolation.

*edit* Nice line Finbar - you should be a writer.

[finbar]

Western Farce supporter.

[Havak]

I'll let you read this yourselves. The added emphasis is mine:

England can retain the World Cup despite their dismal performance in the Six Nations, insists the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union.

But Francis Baron admits Andy Robinson is not guaranteed to remain coach.

He said: "I believe we have the playing talent and know we have the coaching talent (to win the World Cup).

"We do have time to do it but, boy, have we made it a tough mountain to climb. Our job now is to get the right decisions taken."

The RFU is currently involved in a review of England's performance in the Six Nations and Baron admitted Robinson, who is contracted to the end of the 2007 World Cup, was not guaranteed to keep his job.

"We've got a complete review and all issues will be looked at," Baron told BBC Radio Five Live.

"Andy is our head coach, he has a contract through to the World Cup and it's my intention he honours his contract.

"But everything's up for review at the moment."

Baron was due to meet England coach Andy Robinson this week to review the Six Nations campaign.

England finished fourth in the competition after losing to Scotland, France and Ireland in their final three games.

Robinson will write his own report on England's performance after the meeting, with his views then submitted to the Club England sub-committee.

Their recommendations will finally go before the 13-man RFU management board, chaired by Martyn Thomas.

So where is this coaching talent in tunrips team hiding?

[finbar]

But I love the double-speak. He intends that Turnip honour his contract. If it's not torn up in the meantime. Reading all that, though, I have to say that it sounds like Turnip is history.

[Havak]

I can only hope you are right and that they are letting the 6N fade into the background before quietly booting him. My fear however is that he may lead England to back to back stuffings by Knuckles in June (it is two tests I think) and then still spout the same old nonsense of 'moving in the right direction'.

Talk about pressure though - having to go to Aus and possibly win to keep your job.

*edit* Leeds were thumped 28-0 by Wasps yesterday and are now 11 points adrift at the foot of the table. Marshall may end up playing in national league one!

Tigers beat Bath 19-12 down at their place ahead of our European QF with them this Saturday. At the moment it looks like Tigers will get Wasps in the Premiership semi final (not ideal but you have to beat them somewhere).

Oh and I undertsand the Western farce quip more now I see where they are in the table. No wonder Mitchell has been linked with the Wales job!

[finbar]

And it looks like A. Mehrtens will be playing in the top comp next season. If Leeds do go down, and it's hard to see how they won't - one Kiwi rises, another one sinks.

It's going to be very interesting to see what sort of Wallabies outfit England runs into later in the year. Knuckles now has his preferred support team - Johnson and Foley - but they won't be on deck till about a month before the first Wallaby outing. They will have input, obviously, but from afar. It couldn't be any more different from the Eddie set-up, where Eddie was, effectively, a one-man coaching band.

It's also interesting to see that S. Mortlock is getting back to his barnstorming best after a couple of years of injury.

The Western Farce situation seems only to be proving what more than a few people suspected - Australian rugby doesn't have the depth to equip another competitive franchise.

[Havak]

Mr Mehrtens mob are certainly coming up. An awful lot of money has been spent to ensure it - not least bringing in my old Tigers coach Deano to helm the ship.

Eddie has been achieving some pretty decent showings with Sarrries - he is being largely credited with moving them clear of relegation.

With respect - whilst I think knuckles has a decent coaching team there and is a talented coach in his own right - I will have to cheer the opposition every time OZ play as I simply cannot support Bath alumni (Knuckles and Foley). Mind you this is normally what I do anyway.

I see Brian Ashton thought it was a 'terrible game in poor conditions' when we beat Bath at their place last week and that he is 'confident they can beat Leicester' tomorrow at the Walkers Stadium. Lets hope he is wrong eh?

[finbar]

He wasn't. Wrong, that is.

Gee. Toulouse's loss explains Tamerlin's ongoing AWOLdom. Will Leicester's cause Havak to follow suit?

And poor old ravagon. Yet again, the Western Farce stumble in the last minutes.