Comments on: An England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup

By: Don P

Don P — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 05:31:40 +0000

Are you a relative of Patrick?

By: Edward Swayzer

Edward Swayzer — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 19:51:41 +0000

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By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 30 May 2019 21:42:47 +0000

JS10, belatedly read the Barnes article you ref. However, the enlightened, small, fat round 1 actually opined that Cipriani was in fact not a ‘yes’ man. This would annoy & undermine the Okker’s ego to the extent that Jones would rather pick his grandad than Cip. Additionally, according to Stupot, Ford & particularly Farrell, are ‘yes’ men whom stick to the plan & thus get picked. Cip, OTOH, when told to perform a certain, rigid tactic (like kicking to defeat v Wales), would ask ‘why’? And get right up Jones’ hooter (remind you of any big, blonde, blustery American?). So, I don’t see it that Barnes trusts F&F more than Cip. Especially when he actually advocated that Ford ?’s Ed’s instructions more.. like, er, Cip would have done.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 29 May 2019 12:40:38 +0000

Well, there has to be a plan (or playbook) JS, also a scenario & an alt plan if the original doesn’t work. There also have to be players (incl a captain?) whom can grasp this sit early on & change the things they can. Like retaining instead of kicking possession, flooding the breakdown, exiting scrum ball pronto, short line outs to max the ball with innovative handling moves, breaks, wraps, back 3 line entires, astute chips etc. But as you state, it’s about ‘reading what’s in front’ 1st.

By: JS 10

JS 10 — Wed, 29 May 2019 10:51:57 +0000

Very sad and probably true Don.I was ruthlessly taught from 11 that the Rugby players brain was his greatest asset.The trouble with modern coaching is that players are looking for answers in the playbook instead of reading the game in front of them-In other words be proactive as opposed to being reactive.

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 28 May 2019 22:27:27 +0000

Presumably those who voted Cip P o t Yr trusted him more than Barnes does. More than I trust Ford, as IMO, he has a tendancy to fold under pressure. Like Farrell. Most do, maybe Cip too. However the latter can straighten, stand the oppo up, time his pass, chip or break outside like the other 2 can only dream of. That’s why, again IMO, he won’t go to Japan. Perverse? You bet, but when it comes right down to it, England don’t trust the gifted. Fear of losing thing. The potential ‘risk’ taker? Far better to go with the pragmatic. Midfield & No. 8 cover? An/other issue/s. Trouble with teak hard fwd captains banging heads together is, they may have & bang teak hard brains together as well.

By: JS 10

JS 10 — Tue, 28 May 2019 11:04:09 +0000

I know that it is tantamount to heresy for any Bath supporter to agree with anything that Barnes says but his article in the ST sums up the case perfectly,namely that he trusts Ford more than Cipriani which is why Ford will go.However I believe both should go.When the game plan breaks down and an instinctive player is needed is the biggest damnation of Farrell imaginable-It shows how important Barret is to Saracens.In my Humble opinion Farrell should be told to play 12 or go and sulk on the bench.In any case Farrell should be nowhere the captaincy.
Since the 6 nations I have watched a lot of Leicester,and whilst May and Ford have really stepped upto the plate Tuilagis play has been shocking and should be nowhere near the WC squad.If EJ needs heft he has got the options of using Teo and Big Joe.At 11,13,14,and 15 we don’t have any problems they can mix and match accordingly though Daly will probably have to go on the wing as EJ will want Watsons better ability in the air,.12,as always is problematic(Cant we reincarnate Greenwood and Catt ?)
With the Forwards I would like to take Ben Morgan over Robshaw-he has the pace, heft and flexibility and Billys chances of going through a whole tournament unscathed I would put at non-Existent.
In my playing days I always preferred A teak hard experienced forward as captain who could bang heads together if required-some may argue that things have changed,they have but not much -The rugby field is still a battleground!.My choice would be Mark Wilson if Hartley is not up to the mark.

By: Don P

Don P — Sun, 26 May 2019 16:31:41 +0000

Well Andy, I’ve assumed that Hartley WILL be fit. If not, then his inclusion is a non starter of course. In part, I also was foreseeing Jones’ conservative nature in his sticking with his past picks. However, who knows with the irrational, contrary one? Agree that England have, unnecessarily & also down to Jones IMO, other issues which you highlight. Have to see how selection pans out.

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:41:50 +0000

The answer to most of your questions re Farrell ok is clearly “no” Don. I totally agree that there is a real dilemma. The Lions was a step up from the five nations just as the World Cup is a step up from the Six Nations. If Hartley had been playing and playing well in the past three months I would agree that he would probably be a shoo in. However he hasn’t, and did not look in particularly convincing form before he got injured. To be on the plane imv he has to at least play in all the summer friendlies and show that he is fit and in form. George has had an absolutely outstanding season and deserves to start, and there are several other hookers who are better. Hartley has played very little rugby, has had concussion and a long term injury, and needs to prove he is not shot at anywhere near top level. We already look as if we are going to pick inferior players at 9, 10, and 15. I don’t want us picking our fifth or sixth best hooker just because he is supposedly a good captain.

By: Don P

Don P — Sun, 26 May 2019 10:51:52 +0000

Andy, wasn’t Fitzgerald captain of the Irish side that won the slam @ Twick v the England side, which presumably included Wheeler? And it’s only yr implying that neither Fitz or Hartley was or is respected by team mates. Wasn’t Hartley also skipper of the English team that went 17 in a row & in Oz? Seemingly less, including you, had such a downer on him then. And I still don’t see that the isolated NZ, Lions series is particularly relevant. Cherry picking an ‘example’ to suit yr belief is unscientific. Anyway, this all brings us back to who, @ least in theory, is going to captain England in Japan. If novices are to be discounted & Launchbury is not 1st choice, then likely it’s back to the incumbent Farrell. Does he command widespread respect, including that of his team? Has he demonstrated that he can retain composure under pressure? Likewise, has he ‘read’ games & made decisions to alter their courses (as per Wales & Scotland)? Does he sound convincing in after match q & answer sessions as to how & why games panned out as they did (like v, you’ve got it)? Put into this context & then compared with Farrell, Hartley doesn’t seem quite such a detrimental option as you paint him to be. More so perhaps, when you don’t appear to have considered the content of my other posts on this issue. Make no mistake & certainly IMO, England have a real captaincy dilemma here. An error in choosing the appropriate captain could have dire consequences @ the business end of the WC. A decision not to choose a scrum or line out rather than kicking @ goal, for vital points, could have fatal consequences. And England certainly don’t need another indecisive Robshaw do they?

By: acee

acee — Sat, 25 May 2019 15:44:23 +0000

boom, tish! Nice one…
On the subject at hand, I think we all know that “FAZ”will be coin tosser in chief in Japan. We will all be hostages to fortune and Ed’s short sighted approach again ,that being the case. What worries me and i know. it’s been discussed on this blog before, is the lack of leaders throughout the squad.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 25 May 2019 13:29:19 +0000

No Don, I am not suggesting that, but they would at least have been led by someone who deserved his place as a player and earned the respect of his team mates. Fitzgerald “disappeared” on that tour, as players tend to when they are playing a level above their abilities. Not an”isolated fact” but an example of when supposed leadership skills were less important than being a class player as Wheeler had demonstrated he was on the previous Lions Tour.