Club V Country

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On the prompting of Chris, and Syd Millar, here are my views on the Club V Country debate!
Firstly I thought it was incredibly inappropriate for the head of the IRB to make such an outburst, especially considering it's content! How one sided, how ill informed, how amateur!
Maybe a balanced opinion, outlining both sides of the argument and the ensuing offer of a hand in conciliation? maybe that would have been a little more appropriate, respectable and impressive?
I think what Syd Millar did was only emphasise the problem, and accentuate for the viewing public the rift that still lies between the amateur game and the new professional era! In his own foolish way, and contrary to his intent I think it highlighted the issue brilliantly, but from completely the other side of the fence!!
My view is that the RFU have still not come to terms with the professional concept. On or off the pitch.
They resent players making money, they resent the clubs making money and having any power or control in the game, and their belief is still that they should have complete control and ultimately players should still play for honour.
I still believe players can play with and for honour and be paid, just look at Martin Johnson.
The RFU were told to sign their top 40 players when the game went professional. By me !!! They refused, and the rest is history.
The clubs are far from perfect, and a few of their owners make you feel very uneasy, especially if you were in business with them, but nonetheless they have poured huge amounts of money into the development of the English game and players, and it is only right that they should be acknowledged.
I still believe that the dream of every rugby player is to play for his country. I know it was mine, and I know because of my father being in the army that I had no great allegiance to any town, but even so I still believe the ultimate for any boy growing up in Leicester of Bath is still to play for England. It is the ultimate and is still the shop window that primarily drives revenue, fan base, and media coverage.
It has to be nurtured, developed and placed as the primary objective of every Union.
BUT
Since the game has gone professional the clubs have played an increasing role in all those elements, and rightly deserve a corresponding say in how the game on the professional stage is run, managed and developed. They also own the players! Quite a key ingredient!
I might be naive, but i believe the issue can easily be sorted out. The RFU needs to offer the clubs a proper financial package for the loan of their players for chunks of the season. A package that would enable the clubs to recruit an understudy, who the RFU could even insist is English? That would then enable the clubs to carry on during the Six Nations, November period etc, instead of being penalised for having English players in their squad.
I honestly think it is a simple business deal and not a highly complicated one at that, as some would have us believe, which is why I am staggered that it has taken this long. It makes me strongly suspect that certain personnel within the RFU are determined that it will never happen. Why? Who the hell knows, but I am sure ego is a major player!!! As always!!!

Kicking Game

I know this is sad, but probably quite appropriate for me then!! But I have got to level 7 !!!! Real pressure that!!!
Anyone care to try??
Let me know if you beat me and I will get practising!!!

Mehrtens shows great attitude !!!!

I know I have had a bit of a run on Mehrts of late, but this just cracked me up!!!
What a boy!!!
I bet the South Africans must have loved him!!!
Brilliant !!!!!

Rob Andrew

I might be out of touch with the intricacies and the finer points in the argument, or should I say arguments, between the RFU and the clubs, but surely there is one man ideally placed to fix it ASAP.
Rob Andrew.
He spent ten years in charge of Newcastle RFC, and in those years he had his fair share of run ins with the RFU! He fought the clubs corner as hard of not harder than anyone. He has been critical of all sorts of aspects of the RFU, from the behaviour of Sir Clive to the treatment of his beloved Falcon players!
So he knows all the arguments, all the grievances, all the mistrust that the clubs hold against the RFU.
And now he is the top man at the RFU. The top man. In charge of all on field aspects of the game. In charge! Sole charge. No one to answer to, he is THE man.
He has had five months plus to get his feet under the table, to work out the politics, to hear the RFU side, to get a balanced view.
so it's perfect isn't it??????
Here is an ex club man, a highly experienced club man, highly versed in the art of fighting the RFU, and as a result highly trusted by the other club men!
He is now up to date with the RFU take on the situation, and as an ex Cambridge graduate, so bright !!!, quite capable of resolving this situation within a few weeks.
Which leaves me confused. Aren't you? Rob is in charge, isn't he? So if he is, why has he not stood up, called the clubs together, his old colleagues, and sorted the whole pathetic mess out for all of us. Why not???
Is he not in charge? If he isn't, who is, and why are we continually led to believe that he is?? is it Francis Baron? And if it is, why has Rob not informed us of such, and why is Francis not holding public press briefings and being quoted on a regular basis?? He was quick enough to blame Robinson and keep his back safe wasn't he?? Quick enough to be public then!!!
But if it is not Baron, who else??? Martyn Thomas??? Surely not!!!! I know the RFU have their problems but surely that would be just too much!!!! The man is embarrassing! Enough said.
So it comes back to Rob. Good guy. A mate. But..........!
He has taken on the job. It is now time to stand up and be counted. Time to stand up, tell all the blundering idiots to shut up, grow up and bloody stay out of it. Time to stick his neck on the line and make the call. Time to earn his money, use his experience and put an end to this embarrassing public fight between gin soaked old men who have completely lost track of what is important and have made that fatal and pathetic mistake of thinking that they are!!!
It is time for him to be the number one man. To be the Boss. And I just hope like hell that he has the balls to do it.

Europe!

Well you go away for a holiday and come back to find that the Irish and French are no longer in Europe!!! Happy Days !!! -- Only joking Leinsterfan!

So Munster crash out and Wasps pulverise Leinster! Not something that a rugby genius such as myself would have predicted! But then who would have said that the little garlic munching surrender monkeys from Biaritz would have lost to Northampton or that Leicester would have beaten Stade Francais at the death? ......................Not a lot of us I am sure!

From an English point of view I was euphoric and then just as rapidly the rug is pulled from under your feet by the threat, and a genuine one it seems, that the English and French clubs will pull out of the Cup next season.

What the hell is going on??!!!

Even Dean Richards is dumbfounded.

I have to say that I look at Martyn Thomas (who is he anyway and where did he come from) and Francis Baron, and wonder how on earth did those two become the most powerful men in English rugby??

I am definitely not saying that you have to be an ex International player to be in a position of responsibility at the RFU, that would be crazy, but it would be nice to think that they might have a track record of success somewhere??!! Business , sport, anything!!!!

What a tragedy that a great rugby competition is being held hostage by old men with egos, intent on their own feuds rather than what might be in the best interests of rugby. Oh how that rings true of so many decisions surrounding rugby.

I sincerely hope that maybe the Celts can gang up on the RFU and force them to change their minds!

Don't the English just really piss you off !!!!

Off on Holiday

Off on holiday, but a few things I have been thinking about!

Summer Tours;

Rob Andrew has hinted strongly that England might well not be taking many of the key players to South Africa, and Ieuan believes the Welsh will do the same. The thinking is that the guys need a rest and a chance to get fit!
Does that not beg the question, what the hell is the point of the tour then? So the Springboks get to whack some of our younger guys??!! Always good for their future development!!! Or is it meant to be good for the character? Stiff upper lip and all that??!!
As I said on the Podcast, the best thing that England did before the 2003 World Cup was go and beat New Zealand and Australia on their own patch. Massive psychological advantage to England!
I think what we are really saying here, and it seems the Welsh are too, is that we are not good enough to beat you down there, so we won't try. We will hide up here and try to beat you with a bit of luck in a few months time!
I know I am old fashioned, but I would prefer us to go. For two reasons;
Firstly experience! These young England players need as much experience as possible, and playing in SA at Bloomfontein and Pretoria is right up there!
Secondly I think we will get beaten. That will hurt! And I believe that hurt, that experience, that desire for revenge is our best chance when we face them in the World Cup.
Otherwise I believe our guys will lose in the World Cup, due to inexperience as much as anything, and only after they lose will they realise that they were good enough to win! Crazy logic I know, but it does work!!!
I know Zinny disagrees, but what does he know!!!
In all seriousness, he said that the guys do not need more rugby in order to win at the World Cup, it is all in the head. You win when you turn up mentally. (ask the Irish) And I think our best chance is to be hurt into turning up.

Can anyone tell me what has happened to the likes of Abbott, Smith and Allen?
At the beginning of the season I thought we had a few interesting centres, and now apart from Tait, the cupboard is looking very bare! Who has raided it??

I will leave that one with you as I head off to enjoy the beach for a week or so!

Six Nations as seen on TV Part 2 !!

How about a few more;

Songs of Praise - Croke Park (deserves as much praise as possible)

Only Fools and Horses - the Scottish backline!

Antique Roadshow - England team 2004 - 2006 !

Six Nations review as seen on TV!

Match the TV programme with your memories of this year's SIX NATIONS !!

Home and Away:Rob Andrew discusses Englands inconsistent form

Lost:The England pack in Ireland

The Royale Family:Mike Tindall at home with his in Laws
>
> Absolutely Fabulous: A re-run of the England win over France..
>
> Last of the Summer Whine; Ieuan complains about referees.
>
> Casualty: Starring Jonny Wilkinson, Jonny Wilkinson and Jonny Wilkinson

The Weakest Link: In-depth profile of coach Hadden.
>
> Comic Relief: A look back at the Scotland games.
>
> Drop the Dead Donkey: Ashton contemplates the future of Grewcock..
>
> Bottom: A review of Scotland's campaign.
>
> The Office: Fly-on-the-wall documentary set in the RFU HQ. This week:
> Shall we order new blazers for the WC campaign?
>
> Are You Being Served?: Twickenham fans struggle to get a half-time pint.
>
> Red Dwarf: A profile of Wales player Shane Williams.
>
> Prime Suspect: Ronan O'Gara's strangler - watch out for the Murrayfield grass, it's a killer!!
>
> The Old Grey Whistle Test; Wales ask if they've time for a line-out.
>
> The Gentle Touch: The Murrayfield grass around O'Gara's neck!!!.
>
> Men Behaving Badly: Flintoff on a pedallo.
>
> One Foot In The Grave: An interview with Mike Catt.
>
> Give Us A Clue: Ashton is asked why he dropped Lewsey..
>
> I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here: Farrell talks about his switch to
> Union.


Let me have your ideas!! I know they will be far funnier than these!!! I blame Mike and Tony !!!

An Insight into All Black preparation!!!

This is absolutely brilliant. Mehrts at his very best. This was before the All Blacks game in November, so it gave all our guests a rare insight into the mind of an All Black legend!!! ENJOY!!!!!

6 Nations wrap up Podcast

Dear All,

we are doing the final 6 Nations podcast tomorrow, so please send me some of your funny views / comments / moments of the Championship, and I shall make sure we use them!
Any other good comments / chants / nicknames for players etc will also get a good mention!
Look forward to them!!!!!

Elvis and others !

Who would have thought Elvis would score the winning try in the Six Nations??!! Unreal !!
Call me crazy, but I have just been to the bookies and taken out a bet on Shergar hitting the winning runs in the cricket World Cup and Lord Lucan winning the Masters!
And I tell you, the odds are great !!!

Weekend wrap up

So the Welsh beat the English, and they deserved to. The first fifteen minutes they played at a pace and with an ability that I think we all knew they had, they have just managed to suppress it for the whole of the Championship so far!
The English certainly helped, when you don't compete at set piece, or the tackle area, it does always encourage a team and allow them to play at their pace, in your half and run where they like!! Rather like un-opposed training!
Then the English produced two moments of personal magic and they were back in the game. However, their forwards still did not get it, and carried on allowing the Welsh to do what they wanted, when they wanted to!
Credit to the Welsh pack though, they have been diabolical so far in the Championship, and then yesterday they produced a fine performance. They dominated, physically and mentally and they deserve the praise that will come their way.
Casting an eye over England; the positives are that they blooded a very young back row and midfield, the average age must have been 21. A hell of a cauldron to play in, a hell of an experience, and a lesson in what it takes to win in Cardiff against a proud and passionate nation.
Let's be honest, we are not going to win the World Cup, but I hope we can be competitive, and blood players that will be in a position to win in 4 1/2 years time. Maybe that is what Ashton is doing now, maybe he has realised that there is no point in trying to patch it up, we might as well just put in the talent and hope that it will be strong enough to survive a torrid year or so, and then the experience and maturity will percolate to the top and we will be back to winning?
Or am I being overly optimistic?
I know a few of you have commented about lack of physical presence. Point taken, although I would say that physical presence without pace and power is useless. I think we need pace ahead of physical presence. The likes of Haskell, Easter, Lund and Rees are as big as the All Blacks, what they do not have is the pace or skill. They can work on the skill, and maybe as their experience grows they will get to the crucial breakdowns quicker and with more impact.
It is players who make an impact that we need. Players who can break defences. Players who can create scoring opportunities.
That can be through either pace, vision, power or skill. We are too low in those areas at the moment, and Ashton's big challenge is not selection, but persuading Rob Andrew that he has to get the club V RFU issue resolved, and quickly. That might allow players the environment in which to develop their skills, their pace and power. At the moment they are on a treadmill of mediocre games, and they are not being given the time or the coaching to enable them to improve.
England need to move away from the gym, and get players back to understanding the game, to understanding space, how you create it, and how you exploit it. Change our training methods, change the focus of fitness away from ticking off bench presses, leg power and get the guys back out with the ball in their hands and players in front of them so that they can understand the dynamics again.
Let players make decisions, play what they see, not what has been planned.

Wow, what a rant!!

One more thing!!!!!

I think it is great that Italy have done so well. I hope that they can develop from here, so that the game does get a real foot hold in the country and they become a genuine force in the Championship. It is great for rugby, but of far more importance, Rome is just a great place to go for the weekend!!!!

Match predictions !

ROME !

Princess O'Gara, fresh from the failed assassination attempt by the Scottish strangler, will be put under the closest of Italian scrutinies!! I am not sure if there are any Sardinians in the Italian side, but I am sure they would like to see little Ronan swimming with the fishes by the end of the game!!!

The Irish class will prevail, however, I am sure, in D'Arcy and O'Driscoll they have the match winners, ably assisted by Horgan Dempsey and Hickie. So the good news is that Princess O'Gara will survive to dance again with her fourteen butch consorts!!!!

PARIS !

Paterson has been widely quoted as saying that he has had a funny feeling all week. It is called brown adrenaline, running down your leg Chris !!!

The French should be on fire, literally!! I am sure Professor Laporte has wanted to torch a few of them!! The Scots however passionate, however full of adrenaline, just do not have the pace, creativity or skill to win that game.

So the Frogs to enjoy champagne whilst the thistle wilts in the corner.

CARDIFF !

The return of Tait!!! Sadly the cast is missing it's other lead character as the waxed, orange one has hurt his knee!!

The wooden spoon casts quite a shadow over the best rugby stadium, but the loss of Jones and the inclusion of Thomas does improve the Welsh chances quite considerably!! Hook has talent! But do the Welsh forwards have the balls??

If the English eight can produce the intensity of Sunday, and Flood is in full flow, the Welsh will be washed away!

PS. Who do we all think the Scottish strangler might be (apart from bollocks!!!)

Ideas on the comments page please...............

Lions team on current Form!

A few guys are asking for my view on a current Lions team, namely Leinsterfan and Munster Legend!!! I wonder why??!!!

Well here goes;

15 Lewsey

14 Strettle

13 Tait

12 Catt

11 Robinson

10 Flood

9 Ellis

8 Ward-Smith !!!!

7 Rees

6 Lund

5 O'Connell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Palmer

3 **** knows

2 **** knows

1 Who cares !!!!!

OK OK !!! Not funny!!!

Seriously ......................;

15 Dempsey

14 Horgan

13 O'Driscoll

12 D'Arcy

11 Strettle

10 Hook

9 Ellis

8 Leamy

7 Wallace

6 Easterby

5 O'Connell

4 Murray

3 E. Murray

2 Best

1 Jenkins

Not sure if those two props can play together, but who cares!!!

Williams loses out at 7 due to too many missed tackles.

O'Gara misses out at 10 because he is O'Gara !!

Peel and Stringer miss out at 9 because neither is on top form and I think Ellis has improved massively.

The Irish back row are so well balanced, but a few good games from Rees and he could be in because good as Wallace is, he is not an out and out 7.

Can't think there are many other areas of contention, but I am sure you will find plenty!! As long as at the end of it, you realise that I am right and you are wrong!!!!

Jason Robinson strikes!!!

Will he do this again on Saturday???!!!!!

Lazarus O'Gara

So there was an attempted strangling of Ronan on Saturday, or so Eddie would have us believe!!
Mmmmmmmmmm! call me cynical, but why???
Why on two counts....;
OK the Scots might have wanted to target O'Gara, and who can blame them (gobby little shite!!), and I know the Scots are not firing on all cylinders at the moment, but even they would not wait until the final minute surely!!!!???
Get him and get him early!!!
The other issue I have with this, is , why is the blame purely focused on the Scots??
What about his own forwards????
He was having a crap game......... and maybe one of them had just had enough...!! Maybe??
Sadly for all conspiracy theorists, I think it is good old Eddie just trying to stir something up. The Irish were brilliant against England, truly awesome, but against Scotland they were shite! Without putting too finer point on it, and so Eddie, God bless him, would prefer to talk about the Scottish strangler !!!than his sides own awful performance.
There is also the scandalous notion that O'Gara might have been concussed, and this is just a smoke screen!!!
Surely not ????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harsh on Frogs!

Thought I would share this photo with you, seeing as a mate sent it through!! Quite an insight into my kind of mates I suppose!! But I found it mildly amusing and bits of it were of interest!!!
I thought the sentiment was a little harsh, but certainly going in the right direction!!!!

Young Guns

What can you say?? Apart from what a surprise!! And a great surprise at that!!
England played. They played with pace, with direction, with conviction and with courage, which was just brilliant to see.
Flood had so much pressure on him, he had to control and run the game, kick the goals and all the while he had the ghost of Jonny hanging over him (something that Charlie Hodgson has never been able to shake off). Well I have to say, the ghost was told to **** off in no uncertain terms. And if that was not enough when Geraghty came on he literally walked all over the ashes!!
Flood was very impressive, in his invention, his reading of the game and his execution. He is a natural player, he plays against what he sees in front of him, not what he has rehearsed in his head for the days building up to a game.
I would hazard a guess that he is great to play outside, and Geraghty was in the same mould. Fearless, skillful, pace and flair and a revelation to a fat old bastard like myself!!
I know Jonny has been important to England, his recall seemed to be the only option, but after yesterday, and I know it was only one game, but the young talent I witnessed out there, and the composure those two had should give Ashton quite a lot to think about!!
And then Rees added a new dimension to England's ability to play at pace, Corry had the best game I can remember and Streetle makes me laugh whenever he gets near the ball. He has such a **** off attitude about everything he does, from the way he looks, the way he stands, the way he runs and attacks people, and I love it!!!
So a great day for English rugby fans, and players and I hope they all drank heavily.
The challenge for the young guns is to realise that it will all count for nothing if it is not backed up with a win this weekend.
So let's hope they clean out their barrels and are ready to fire again!!!

Team Talk !

An Old man rambling on, but I hope some of these emotions are swirling around the England team hotel this evening!!!.........................

Tomorrow we will pull on the England shirt.
Tomorrow we will be the lucky ones. Out of all the players who have tried to earn it, out of all the people who dream of wearing it, we will be the ones who have the honour of pulling it on.
And tomorrow we must look each other in the eye and know that together we will start to rebuild the honour, the dignity, the esteem that this shirt demands.
I think of the great players, the great men that have worn this shirt, that have given whilst wearing this shirt, that through their actions have created the myth and love that surrounds this shirt. The great names, from the likes of Beaumont, Cotton, Neary, to Winterbottom, Teague, Richards, Dooley, Underwood and Guscott up to the likes of Johnson, Leonard, Back, Dawson and Dallaglio.
These guys strove to give this shirt honour and success every time they wore it.
We have a duty, a debt, to make sure that our team honours their memory, honours the memory of every player who has worn this shirt, and every supporter who has loved this shirt, and we must take on that debt, that responsibility and ensure with every ounce of our being we will do the same.
So look at me now, so that I can see in your eyes that come tomorrow we will all do our job, we will all give our bodies, our minds and our hearts to guarantee that we will instill the pride and dignity that the shirt deserves.
And I want to be able to look at all of you as you peel that shirt back off your body and smile, proud that we have done just that, that you have done just that, and in so doing we have set a new start a new standard, and we can be proud again.
Proud of ourselves, proud of each other and proud that we honoured the shirt as it should be and that we have just laid down a new chapter in it's great history.
So look at me now, look at each other, and understand what we have to do, and understand and trust that when tomorrow comes, we will do it.

How we will beat the French !!!!!!!!!!!

Firstly, and maybe bizarely to some of you, I do think we can beat the French on Sunday! But to do it, we need to be very focused and play at an intensity that we have not seen for a good few years.
Our front five must be aggressive in the set piece, precise, accurate but aggressive, so that our scrum is solid, and our line out provides the crucial flow of ball.
If they do that job, it will enable our back row to use the pace they now have. I think Rees could be crucial, inexperienced as he is, he has enough pace to enable him to dominate the arrival at each and every tackle situation. That would allow Easter and Worsely to concentrate on winning the ball, and here Worsley has to stand up and deliver on the fifty caps that he has accumulated.
As an eight we need to challenge every breakdown, physically, mentally, hit every player hard, hit any player we can late, and stamp on any available limbs without being seen, and whilst being subtle!! We need to create an edge to every second of the game, and remain in control at the same time.
We need to make every second uncomfortable for the French, we need to hurt them as often as possible, and we need to keep them under intense pressure for thewhole game, not 79 minutes, not 75 minutes, it has to be for the whole game.
Ellis will have to show his maturity in pressurising Yachvili, hounding him, without descending into a red mist and just punching him! This is where we need to have an icy control in our heads, and yet a boiling rage in our bodies.
Ellis also needs to take pressure off young Flood, take on board as much of the tactical kicking as he can, and ensure that with some tactical running he attracts the interest of the French backrow so that they can not just focus in on Flood.
Catt will certainly provide the vision and distribution at number 12, and if he can deliver the right passes at the right times, the running skills and pace of our back three can definitely cause the French real problems.
Our tactical kicking and chase need to be perfect, and preferably down the channels as this will not allow the French any counter-attack opportunities.
In attack we need to play a relatively fast paced game, to use Rees to his full advantage. We need to deliver our running forwards, Easter and Worlsey into space by running them off 12 and 13 as well as just 10.
Exploit Dominici, and put runners off the shoulders of Flood as I think Skrela is not only slow on his feet, but not the bravest!! I think we can manufacture holes around Skrela, especially if we encourage Betsen to fly at Flood. The down side is that Flood will be pretty uncomfortable on Monday, but then again who really cares!!
Play with pace, take the risks, run at both wings hard, tie them up in the tackle and the run wide again from the next phase ( and whilst doing that give the wings a good kicking whilst they are in there!!!)
So passion with brains, steel and poise and the first hits and contact on our terms and we might even rouse the crowd into support!!
Ever the optimist!!!!