Rugby - Hands Off Black!

[Havak]

I think you might be pulling my leg.

Although perhaps I should find a different expression for defining the unit of two props and a hooker - I do see how 'coal face' could be misinterpreted in some circumstances.

Incidentally I will be getting up early on Saturday morning to try and catch the ABs take on the Irish.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
I think you might be pulling my leg.

Just a tad, yes.

Although perhaps I should find a different expression for defining the unit of two props and a hooker - I do see how 'coal face' could be misinterpreted in some circumstances.

Oh, don't be so politically correct. It was a joke!

Incidentally I will be getting up early on Saturday morning to try and catch the ABs take on the Irish.

It's a bit too early for me. I'll download the game when I get up though. Sleep is precious these days:

[LDiCesare]

I read NZ beat Ireland. Anyone saw this match?

Biarritz won the French championship final against Toulouse today. They played the match early because of the S*** World Cup. The first half showed very little game, many kicks, but the second half showed 5 tries from Biarritz against one for Toulouse. Michalak got hurt on Traille's try. It's possible that he'll not be able to tour this summer, which means Laporte will have to find another number 10, knowing that his other choices (Boyet from Bourgoin and Laharrague from Perpignan) are both hurt, it may be a bit tough. I wouldn't be surprised if Traille or Castaignede ended up playing 10 for France this summer. Though I'd like to see Beauxis selected (he's a young player from Pau who's going to play at PAris next season).

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
I read NZ beat Ireland. Anyone saw this match?

Just finished watching it.

Most of the game was pretty close with Ireland managing to stay ahead, but in the end they petered out and NZ won 34-23. Ireland had some solid defence, but I think the fact that the All Blacks had possession a lot of the time eventually took its toll. A good effort from Ireland, and a good start to the season for NZ, although NZ do need to stop giving away so many turnovers.

[kittenOFchaos]

Well, Scotland were outmuscled this weekend, though their defence was positive and Paterson keeps on being awesome with the boot.

Think Gordon Ross was more effective in the no.10 position, would like to see him on for Parks next time from the off. That said, Parks has improved greatly over the last year.


As for England. It looked a game of men versus boys, the English small and weedy to hulking great Australians capable of breaking the game line time and time again.

The most frustrating thing for me was seeing players such as Voyce and Barkley in positions that should be occupied by Sale men - Hodgson and Cueto. Voyce is very poor in defence, twice from the restart letting the Aussies run through him (though he shouldn't have been alone), Cueto is superb in defence and a big, fast man, something the English lacked.

Hodgson for all is faults is by far and away the best 10 in England with Wilkinson still coming back from injury, so to leave him out to Barkley (nice penalty that) and Goode (nice restart that) was daft. England selectors seem to have ignored that it was Sale that won the Premiership comprehensively this year and have sidelined alot of their English players. Hey, Chris Jones was only allowed on late on, one Sale man on the pitch at any one time.

The positives...Sanderson was excellent, made ground as was Jones when he came on and Moody was also impressive and everywhere (Lund seemed to be pretty quiet). The rest of the team were average to awful...with Julian White and Voyce being the worst in my view, contributing little or nothing.

[finbar]

One of the most ordinary Test matches I've seen in my life. Wallabies started out utter crap and got marginally better. England started out utter crap and, if anything, went backwards. As you say, KoC, it looked like boys against men. I watched George Smith take two consecutive restarts, unchallenged, shrug off the softest of tackles - I think from the same player, I'm not sure who - and bolt down the ground. George must have been giggling.

[kittenOFchaos]

Those feeble challenges were both from Voyce.

[Havak]

Whilst I am all for an anti-Sale conspiracy (I cannot stand their owner Mr Kennedy as I may have mentioned before) I would just like to point out to KoC that the first line players are being deliberately rested this summer by the England setup – that is why Cueto and Hodgson are at home. That said the former will lose his shirt to Varndell at some point anyway.

Jones was excellent? Take those Sale blinkers off! He is still struggling with the step from club to international rugby – and he needs more power to his game for me. Sure he is fast in the loose but I want more muscle from a lock or flanker at the contact.

White offers almost nothing outside the scrum these days – but that said he gave the debutant loosey in gold a torrid time in the first half.

Although Moody and Lund did swap position as play demanded I still cannot figure why Robinson played the former at 7 and the latter at 6 – it has to be the other way around!?

I didn’t even realise that the French domestic season was still going – but Biarritz winning makes sense. They have looked a solid outfit every time I have seen them this year.

Good old Ireland gave it a good go – but it wasn’t quite enough. To be honest their cause was not helped by having D***h***son at the helm – how he remains on the A list is quite beyond me.

I was a little surprised to see Flavell on the pitch (and the lucky sod scored an interception try at the death that flattered the score line). His temperament is wrong for our game – indeed almost any game – and I am surprised Henry would risk him. NZ must be short of fit Locks? Whatever happened to Keith Robinson, the lad who engineered Dickinson sending Shaw of back in 2004? I liked the look of him alongside Jack.

One of the most ordinary Test matches I've seen in my life

And Varndell was exposed on the big stage for the green player he is – some bad passes and bad options at crucial times. The glimmer of hope, and the reason he has so much potential, was the double check and step that left Tuquiri for dead.

Ashton needs to take Tom aside and coach him on the basics for an extended period when the squad gets back to the UK.

In addition the presence of another of my least favourites refs doomed this game from the start – Alun Lewis the pedantic paddy.

Richards impressed me, as did Lund and Moody. Playing an inside centre at fly half was a mistake – as was playing Grandad Catt in the end. Still I think some players will emerge from this tour as real prospects for the future. Sure the score line was disappointing – but it did ultimately reflect the Wallabies total dominance in the last quarter sadly.

I defy that Bok video ref to prove George got his arm under the ball however – that was a ‘homer’ decision if ever I have seen one!

And of course come the autumn Wilko should be fit – and that is what Hodgson needs I think, someone really pushing him so the complacent performances have to be eliminated. He still chokes too often for me in an England shirt (though never for Sale – which is somewhat bizarre).

[finbar]

Keith Robinson only returned to club rugby in the last week or so. Unfortunately, he's had countless back and leg injuries and operations.

Frankly, very few on the field impressed me yesterday. At times it was sloppy schoolboy rugby.

[Havak]

Well that is almost excusable in England's case because many of them are practically schoolboys still.

[Havak]

I just had to give you this selection of choice turnip wisdom after last weekends game:

"The game is about getting over the try line but the opportunities we created, we bombed straight away. We have to learn to be more ruthless. I felt that when we had the ball and we were running the ball, we were sloppy.”

Robinson said he was "really pleased with the ambition and our ability to open Australia up". Havak says “Huh”?

I thought we rattled them in defence - but you have to take your chances," "There was some great scramble defence by Australia, and whenever they got in behind us, they took their chances well. When we get behind sides, we've got to take the chances."

Despite the loss, his ninth defeat since becoming coach (making him just about the least successful England coach ever) and England's third-heaviest against Australia, Robinson insisted his side were on the right track.

"We have to keep our nerve and believe in what we are trying to achieve. I am still confident we are moving forward and in what we are trying to achieve."

So you see I was right that Robinson would talk **** about moving in the right direction when we lost – sadly I understand the man all too well now. He simply sees a different game to the one the rest of us watch. Presumably an even heavier defeat in the next test will be proof positive that we are “on the right track” then?

Sadly England have no real future until Robinson is sacked. Clive had many faults – but he was able to recognise problems and then try to address them (even when it failed) – Turnip tries the Ostrich approach instead.

[finbar]

Too true, too true. I think it's just a case of wanting to believe. Problem is, while he fiddles, English rugby burns.

[Havak]

And as with Nero he is seemingly oblivious.

He still thinks he has the answers however:

England: I Balshaw (Gloucester); T Varndell (Leicester), J Noon (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle); A Goode (Leicester), P Richards (Gloucester); G Rowntree (Leicester), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), C Jones (Sale Sharks), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), P Sanderson (Worcester, capt).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), T Payne (Wasps), L Deacon (Leicester), M Lund (Sale Sharks), N Walshe (Bath), O Barkley (Bath), S Abbott (Harlequins).

To summarise the tiny wee hooker is dumped to the bench and a Leicester man starts instead – good move .

Actually KoC might well ask why Sale hooker Titterall is not in the squad – he too is a small hooker but he is a league better than Mears. Titterall has been dropped rather than rested AFAIK.

Jamie Noon and Tigers fly-half Andy Goode are brought into the starting backline, while Mathew Tait is moved to the wing.

Hooker George Chuter makes his first start in an all-Leicester front row , while Tigers lock Ben Kay returns.

Sale lock Chris Jones and Wasps flanker Joe Worsley are the others to come in.

Wing Tom Voyce and lock Alex Brown are dropped altogether and decisions respectively, while fly-half Olly Barkley, hooker Lee Mears, lock Louis Deacon and flanker Magnus Lund drop to the bench (only Mears there is a good decision - though he should have been dropped properly).

Another loss this weekend will make it our worst run of results for 22 years. So needless to say such a result would produce more “we are moving in the right direction” nonsense from the reality challenged coach.

[finbar]

The dropping of Lund is the only real surprise to me. And for Worsley? Who has only ever been marginal at best. I thought Lund was the up and comer. Well, he was. He still is. That's why Turnip dropped him.

I notice that Turnip has also said Catt will be at the World Cup. I assume he meant as a catering assistant.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
I was a little surprised to see Flavell on the pitch (and the lucky sod scored an interception try at the death that flattered the score line). His temperament is wrong for our game – indeed almost any game – and I am surprised Henry would risk him. NZ must be short of fit Locks? Whatever happened to Keith Robinson, the lad who engineered Dickinson sending Shaw of back in 2004? I liked the look of him alongside Jack.

From what I've read it would appear that Flavell learned a thing or two about self-control whilst away on his haitus in Japan, and I haven't seen any flare-ups on the field from him yet.