Radio 5 Interview
Having done the radio 5 interview, and seen Carling says Farrell should be dropped all over the BBC website, I thought I would explain in a little more detail,
I do think England need to change the midfield, we look predictable, one paced and too similar. We need an edge, we need pace, we need someone with either the creativity, or the pace to cause defences problems. We need the kicking and experience of Wilkinson, although I think even he needs to look hard at how he is instigating a lot of the backline moves. He is a little too deep, too lateral and too easy to read. Tindall is on form for Gloucester, although I think even he would admit yesterday was not one of his finest memories in an England shirt. That said he is a brave and dependable defender and he provides an option to get the ball over or at least to the gainline.
So we are left with Farrell. Much as I am an admirer of his League achievements, and they were awesome, it is not being translated into the Union game. I am not saying that it won't, but when looking at the current situation, and when assessing his three games, he has not convinced me that he has the pace, knowledge or instinctive skill to play International rugby union. His pace will not improve, but the other areas might well do, and then it would be time to reassess.
He was far from alone in being outclassed yesterday, in fact apart from Strettle or possible Lewsey, I think England were outclassed and out thought through out the whole team.
So I do think the midfield needs to change, and I do think Farrell is the guy who needs to be replaced, but I am sure he will not be the only one, and I am also sure he was not the reason England lost to Ireland.
20 comments:
Fair words. The guy just isn't ready yet.
Who would replace someone like Farrell? Allen? Tait?
And what of the combination of Lund, Corry and Worsley? Worsley worked damn hard but I think the occasion got to Lund a bit and the Irish really did rattle the guy.
Peter,
it is all about balance. I think Tait would provide the pace that we are looking for, although JW needs to work at his decision making and distribution.
As for the backrow, I think Rees will come in, I agree Lund seemed a bit timid, and I would hate to have seen any player I was alongside apologise to any opposition we played (on the pitch) It is game time, and that is all about winning, not apologising.
We also desperately need some explosive ball carriers, and despite all his courage and application, Corry is not that. But it is not just him, none of our forwards are carrying the ball with any pace, aggression or bite. The same could be said of our tackling and rucking.
So I would think Ashton has quite a bit on his mind!!!
The only time you should be apologising at all is when you see the ref reach for the red card and you want to get one last word in to whoever s eyes you've just gouged out!
I always thought that Corry just wasn't working late last year but he just seemed to shell shocked by the rigors of Captaincy. The sight of seeing him standing there in front of the cameras post game, every game, looking like he's just emerged from the Twin Towers, saying "well I haven't a clue what happened there", was a horrible sight to behold and I wouldn't wish on anyone. But he just doesn't seem to have the subtleness of a number 8 to make the gain line. Rees sounds like a much better proposition, I look forward to seeing him cause some mischief on the pitch.
As for the back row, I would really love to see Richard Hill competing for his place again, but is that wise when we need to blood in new talent for this coming World Cup and the next one?
And for other positions, I distinctly remember Chris Jones being the only England player who made life hell for the Aussies during the Summer tour of 2006, where is he?
As for the front row, maybe we should look at teams like Bristol and even Cornish Pirates and see where we're going wrong. We need a set of forwards who growl like madmen emerging from an inner city pub after one too many pints of Blackthorn cider to do battle with each other!
I just don't see that killer instinct in our forwards these days...unless you count Danny Grewcock who seems to be a little too much like Al "whats a scrum" Baxter; where he makes allot of growling noises and beats up walls, but not allot else (unless its something that will specifically get him sin binned)!
England have several problems, Vickery does not look fit enough for 80 mins of international rugby and that must compromise his ability to lead in the last quarter.
Deacon has not delivered on his Tigers promise, Grewcock is a liability.
The back-row lacks pace, but Rees does look an excellent prospect. Worsley and Corry provide whole-hearted defence but don't look like line-breaking ball carriers.
Ellis and Wilkinson deserve more time to develop a solid partnership. The Farrell-Tindall experiment was necesary, but has now run it's course and we need to move on. The look to be a good crop of wingers around but without a mid-field threat they become relatively easy to defend against.
As for solutions, be prepared to substitute Vickery, bring Chris Jones into the second row. The loss of Ward-Smith was a real shame, but Jordan Crane had good games for the Saxons. Give Rees a full game. Tait looks better at outside center not sure to have inside him. Full back could be a problem if Lewsey wants to be only considered on the wing.
If you are going to sub Vickery, give the captaincy to someone else.
The last possible thing you should do is replace the Captain!
Okay, I mean fair enough, nothing much would have happened if you subbed Carling off, but its just the principle of it!
So who do you give the captaincy to? It has to be someone who commands their place in the side.
Not many candidates :-(
Now that is the tough question, but the right man can be found.
How about:-
Pick a person you want to build the team around over the next five years. Jordan Crane, captained England U18, U19 and U21 including Grand Slams.
A big step up for him but it has been known for England to bring a young lad in as captain :-)
You cannot bring a team of players who have not played together or are just back from long term injury(jw) and expect them to compete at international level and win.
I remember walking into a pub back in 2003 expecting to see a very possible ireland victory over england, because we had some quality players.But quality players alone do not make a world beating side. I was horrified with what I saw, and I am sure it was a similar experience to what most die hard english fans felt yesterday.
If you take a quick walk down memory lane and view the england team which won the wc final (pretty much the same team that took us apart in 2003) what do you see :
England: J Lewsey, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery; M Johnson; (capt), B Kay; R Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, J Leonard, M Corry, L Moody, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.
Compare it with the team yesterday
England: Morgan; Lewsey, Tindall, Farrell, Strettle; Wilkinson, Ellis; Freshwater, Chuter, Vickery (capt), Deacon, Grewcock, Worsley, Lund, Corry.
Replacements: Mears, White, Palmer, Rees, Perry, Flood, Tait.
Now ask yourself who is not good enough in the current england team:
Morgan imho is not good enough for england yet. Yes he has pace, but for a player like him, this step up is too early, he physically is just not strong enough yet to compete. I would mimic what george hook unfairly said about andrew trimble "Hes a good strong fella that you give the ball to to score a try" and no more than that.
Lewsey is definately a keeper. One of the few england players to show consistancy over the last number of years always a threat going forward and usually solid in defense.
Tindall is past it. Why has he not been dropped about 2 seasons ago, he honestly to me looks like a player who doesnt want to be there.
Farrell looks a promising talent and needs a chance to blossom at ru. Completely unfairly critisied for a decent performance behind a pack going backwards. the defense in league is so different than union that he will need time to adjust. He deserves his chance to shine in ru the same as robinson and mat rogers and many other brilliant players who have come over.
Strettle is a keeper without a doubt and very possibly one of the main finds of the six nations. Almost every time he got the ball he made the right decision, an incredible display from the youngster.
Wilkinson, needs a bit more practice back at this level. As long as he kicks his goals you cant complain. To me has lost a lot of confidence through his injuries and through the unfairly high standards he sets for himself. The talent is there but i really think that only jonny can make himself smile and shine again. There is something wrong here.
Ellis is a keeper. Showed against Munster that he has what it takes to play at this level but really still has a lot to learn. the good thing is that he has a hunger to learn and gain experience at the top level, this is exactly what england need.
The forwards
Just compare them to the 2003 team. As an england fan id say it must nearly make you get sick, and to make matters worse the only surviving player of that starting lineup
Vickery who for some unbelievable reason is your captain has been completely bullied off the field by international teams for the past few years.Im sorry but the whole front row has to go. Why on earth is White not playing in that front row?
Martin corry has heart but i think will always play better for leicester than he will for england similar to our own murphy and foley for munster.
We have a word for Grewcock in Ireland and I would use that same word for Simon taylor of scotland. An EEJIT! Has he not learned yet that blatant infringements in front of the referee are going to lead to penalties and yellow cards. You can cheat but to do it so blatantly is crazy.He has the talent but needs to get his head sorted.
Deacon showed he has what it takes against munster, but is that enough to retain a wc?hardly. Has a lot of learning to do but has what it takes to at least be a lineout option off the bench.
Worsley, not good enough. Looked a passable option off the bench back then, and still does today.
Lund not good enough on the ground. Drop him quick quick quick.
Tait unfairly removed from the side by andy robinson(the idiot) after his unfortunate baptism of fire at the orange hands of orange boy. Has very promising talent and just requires match practise at the top level to make the mistakes he will learn from.
I will not pretend to know who the repacements for those players are, but England need to find them so that they can get some practise for the next wc in this wc. They need to find a core of players to build around like the two in ellis and wilkinson and work around that. In the back three find someone else to play with lewsey, a possible one is strettle. build around tait in the centre, i reckon farrell will do till you find someone else. Julian white is the one to build around in the forwards.
One of the other blatant problems with english rugby and it has been since martin johnson left, is leadership. Who is a solid player that is going to be there for the next few six nations and wcs? someone who can make solid calls when it matters, who can talk to the referee, who can represent the team in interviews. a person who has the true desire to win, who would put his life on the line for his country and has the durability to do it and inspire the men around him with individual skill.A person who has the full respect of all the players from every club in england,europe and the rest world. Is Philomena Vickery that player? Take a look at the two teams above and its easy to see see who must become that player...
Willverine,
Tait at 12? - Does he have the distribution & kicking from hand so needed to support Wilko. Tindall is on form at 13 for Gloucester so would you play Tait outside Catt at 12.
Surely the problem is in the forwards where we have a distinctly unfit 8 with no ball carriers. We need a decent, aggressive hooker, strength in the engine room and a blended backrow. Desperately sad that Ward Smith is injured. Rees is the right call at 7 but Cozza needs to go. Too early to blood Crane at 8 - we can't go into the WC with the leaden feet of our current 8 - we'll be trounced by SA and even Samoa in our group games.
Faz & Tindall should keep going with Tait ready to come on. Lewsey should be FB with Robinson & Strettle on the wings.
As for skipper..........hmmmmmmmm
There we go, kind in victory, and delivering a very detailed analysis on the current situation right now.
I agree over most the opinions there. I still think Ellis is a complete and utter waste of space for England but until Shaun Perry comes back we don't have much else.
Strettle is an awesome prospect, Ireland threw everything bar the kitchen sink at him and he blossomed, I think he even loved the forearm Hogan gave him!
But the nut of the problem will always be the forwards, the pack, the grunt shop. And bang on, I think Leinsterfan reflects exactly what the rest of us are thinking. This pack just doesn't have what it takes on an international level.
I can't remember but can anyone tell me if the England forwards walked, trotted or ran to runks and mauls during the game, because that is a big indicator on effort factor.
I agree with Will, my assessment is that in the 3 games Farrell has been ok, but that was about it, which isn't good enough. I thought defensively he looked uncommitted especially against Ireland and so left too many gaps. We really do need more pace in the centres to provide a better platform for our wingers to run onto, that means Tindal to also move aside. My preference is for Tait and Noon, would like to see them together at this level, with Wilko at 10. OK Jonny didn't have his best game but he is class and the best FH in England by a mile and by the time the RWC comes he will be back up there agin, I feel sure. Lewsey at FB with Strettle (what a find !) and Simpson-Daniel or Robinson once fit again. Ellis again has shown he can play and needs more game time.
Forwards - I think Corry needs to move on, Worsley to 8 and Rees should get a start. Lund needs further game time. Grewcock really is a liability and cost us dear, not for the first time, would like to see Shaw back. Front row - think we have the personel but really were out muscled and or another day will exact revenge.
Guys, guys guys !!
Peter, I have seen you comment about my captaincy!!! Who let the secret out??!!
anyway I think the Farrell issue has been blown out of all proportion!! He was not great, and that was not just on Saturday, it has been in the three games so far.
I completely agree that the pack were outplayed in every apsect. The Irish set piece was better, they were quicker to and more effective at every breakdown, their ball carrying was more explosive as was their tackling. So not great at all.
I am sure there will be changes there, Rees being an obvious one, but we need aggressive, exposive players in attack and defence.
we need some guys with a bit of bite.
Being very basic, we needed to put O'Gara under pressure, give him a good kicking, timer after time. And we did nothing. We let him run the game, which was suicidal!!
Strettle was the one success, and that selection was forced on us.
so much as I am against changing teams, and I am the first to agree that players need time to settle and adjust to each others play, you only give them that time if you believe they have the talent and ability to perform at this level.
I am afraid there are quite a few that now have major question marks hanging over them. Farrell is just one of them, and I do feel sorry that most of the spotlight has fallen on him.
On a completely different tack, I think there should be far more respect for me in your comments!!! I never had any from the team so I think the least you could do is pretend!!!
Let me see Will Carling youngest ever England captain, is that enough ?
Regarding the attacking threat of the backs I thought it would be interesting to see how the strike rate this season in the Guiness Premiership compares for some of the current players
Robinson Played 14 Tries 0
Farrell Played 8 Tries 1
Tindell Played 8 Tries 0
Lewsey Played 10 Tries 2
Strettle Played 10 Tries 7
Tait Played 8 Tries 4
Allen Played 11 Tries 4
Varndell Played 11 Tries 7
Cueto Played 7 Tries 5
Noon Played 8 Tries 4
Hmm, whilst there is certainly more to the game than simply scoring tries it perhaps reflects the lack of fire power seen in the current England side?
And Will was a rather dapper runner on the pitch too!
Maybe there is an argument to give the Allen - Noon pairing another go now we have someone like Wilkinson who will inevitably improve with each game.
I would be interested in giving Sanderson another go but I think he has enough on his plate trying to rescue Worcester from the depths of the table!
I my opinion for the pack, guys like White, Jones, Rees and Hill need to be drafted in. Jones and Rees would deliver that rabid attacking prowess we need and Hill with some considered and intelligent play in the rucks and mauls.
You are right! I was bloody special !! Anyway emough of that obvious bollocks!
Quite interesting stats on the Premiership Chris (you need to get out more!)
I hope they keep Strettle on one wing, Robinson on the other and move Lewsey to 15.
A massive blow that Dan Ward-Smith took such a bad injury, as we really need powerful runners.
Sanderson does not make an impact at the top level, so I have serious doubts about him.
I also have doubts about Worsley, I think a guy with over 50 caps should be making more of an impact on games, he should be leading, setting standards and being noticed, especially when the shit is hitting the fan.
Not White! please not White!!!!
Let's get Johnson in to spend some time with the forwards and talk to them about attitude, edge, passion and heart! Talk to them about how to intimidate opponents and find that steel that you need at that level to look your opposition in the eye and say **** you, we are here to win and you are going to ******* lose!!!!
I sincerely hope some of this reaches the podcast!
I'm sincerely surprised that teams haven't made more use of guys like Mike Catt, will Greenwood and Martin Johnson as motivational and technical staff. I mean, if I was a bright young thing just starting my first England Elite Rugby training session and I knew that the best of the best of the last few years are going to be there to help me get it straight that would be an enormous boost to me mentally.
I would find Lewsey a safe bet at 15. He gives it his all even if he was put in as prop which is always nice.
Speaking of the front row, I'm really clutching at straws here guys. I know Sheridan has only just gotten over an ankle injury and I know that Vickery still isn't in peak physical condition. Surely, *surely* there must be someone else out there in England who could be an excellent, up and at' em' front row?!
It must be noted that the Beeb are suggesting that the entire pack might face changes with Matt Stevens, Sheridan and Steve Borthwick all possibilities.
If we have players like Hill, Rees and co coming in (and if Hill is still as magnificent as he was in 2003) then I would say Worsleys days as starting on the first 15 are numbered.
And another thing....
Why was Tindall chasing amoungst the forwards on England kick-offs? Was it because the pack were so lacking in pace and physical presence that needed a centre to help out? a centre....
I have always been amazed that England have not used some of there ex players as 'consultants' or special coaches. I look at the likes of Winterbottom, Leonard, Johnson, Guscott, Richards etc and think of the wealth of experience and knowledge that they could pass on to new caps, tiny little tips that do make all the difference and certainly help confidence.
I would have also been very keen to listen to the likes of those guys tell me how they prepared mentally, how they got themselves in the right frame of mind, what they visualised and what they focused on. And where they ever shit scared like me!??
I think we need to tap into all our resources, and some of our ewx players are the best resources we have.
As for selection against France, it will be interesting to see if Ashton has got to a point where he decides he can not patch it up anymore, he needs to start a fresh. If that is the case, then I think there will be quite a few changes.
There seems to be a thing where at an England level, when someone retires from international rugby, they just get removed from the squad pronto which is wrong imo.
I think Ashton might make more than a few changes. He might get a few ideas from Mike Ford who is dropping hints that he was raging about England's sloppy defence last weekend at Croke park.
Maybe we might see some big changes after all!
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