Comments on: The ‘Three Amigos’ – more trouble than they’re worth?

By: Blub

Blub — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 11:56:00 +0000

St Maul – I would love to be able to take credit for this perspective – as I fully support it (both in Business and in sport) – but I can’t. I read it somewhere.

Possibly in the Bill Walsh book; “The Score will take care of itself” (recommended by Stuart Lancaster).

Either way, I have found it a very successful perspective both at work, and in my coaching.

By: St Maul

St Maul — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:52:05 +0000

Given England and Wales r in the same World Cup pool as Australia, they’re going to need to get their act together.

As an England fan I’m delighted as I don’t see the resolve to take the tough calls to address these issues nor the recognition of Blub’s point of just how corrosive the behaviour is to the Aussie team.

But as a rugby fan it’s sad to see given how much a good Aussie team adds to World rugby.

By: Daikangaroo274

Daikangaroo274 — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:39:16 +0000

Its hardly important in Australia…….Union is after all a fourth grade backyard sport
in Australia with little public impact compared to Australian Rules and NRL.

Its a bit like misbehaviour by a boomerang thrower…..although there are more of
those than Rugby players…..but nobody will notice O’Connor disappearing….he’s
already hardly on the public’s radar

By: Daikangaroo274

Daikangaroo274 — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:35:17 +0000

Its hardly important in Australia…….Union is after all a fourth grade backyard sport in Australia with little public impact compared to Australian Rules and NRL.

Its a bit like misbehaviour by a boomerang thrower…..although there are more of those than Rugby players…..but nobody will notice O’Connor

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:41:36 +0000

Good point on Cipriani to be fair. Was that not before he had even got his first cap to be fair? So slightly different situation to these three.

And I don’t think Care has ever been in the kind of form that puts him in the category with these three either, particularly with Youngs around.

Completely agree, and I’m pleased to see the Rebels do what they have done. My point is dropping players of their caliber (so rules our Care and Cipriani), takes serious balls.

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:19:55 +0000

There are two types of team player; those that bring energy to the team, and those that suck energy out of the team.

Individual ability does not outweigh the latter, in team success. Ever.

By: Bill Burgess

Bill Burgess — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Young James O’Connor had better behave himself or he will find himself out in the cold.The O,Connors of this world , good as they are , are in a priveleged position, and should remember they are not bigger than our great game! Ma Nono has found himself out in the cold with respect to Super Rugby Franchises in New Zealand(not for same reasons i hasten to add) however he has been fortunate to find himself in the Top 14 with Clermont(maybe not quite Super Rugby) James might not be so lucky. Sort yourself out son or you will find yourself on the scrap heap!

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:54:50 +0000

Cipriani was dropped in 2008 for visiting a nightclub after hours. I cannot believe that Lancaster would not react in the same way as Ashton did at the time.

As for Care, he was the form scrum half at the time and was dropped not just from the team but from the squad entirely for the length of the 6 Nations.

The potential that O’Connor, Beale and Cooper have is huge but no-one can claim they’ve lived up to it so far. In 10 years time, no-one will be mentioning them as amongst the greats of the game.

Its good to see the Rebels taking action. If Australia followed suit then it might teach them a lesson. After all, without rugby, what are they? Where is their celebrity then?

As for a bigger limit for ‘talented’ players, I can imagine nothing more disastrous for a team’s morale.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:14:28 +0000

Whilst I agree to an extent, do you really think Cipriani wouldn’t be in the England squad if he was playing the sort of rugby we saw him play in 2007/8? No chance, he’d be in there.

Care as well, whilst the incident caused the ban, was hardly on form. You’re talking about a different level of player with these three.

I do agree there needs to be a limit, but it’s a bigger decision when they’re that talented.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:10:33 +0000

Difficult one because where do you draw the line? Obviously there are issues with all of them, but would you group them all together? Drop one of them?

They are also very talented. Toomua over Cooper? Mogg over Beale? Cummins over O’Connor? Whilst the alternatives are very talented, they are not in the same league, in my opinion.

If the drops them, and Australia continue to lose, can you imagine the back lash he’d get? Deans got a lot of stick for not playing Cooper after what he did; it is difficult.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:08:05 +0000

Imagine that was an England player, or Danny Cipriani or Gavin Henson?

What actions would be taken by clubs if it were the latter two?

Danny Care got dropped from the England set up entirely, after ‘undesirable off field situations’ and then played some of the best rugby of his career.

Sometimes it just takes the chop to provide the kick up the backside.

By: Liam

Liam — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:07:06 +0000

Very thought provoking argument there. Can’t say I saw the Australian players reactions after losing to the All Black’s, but if it’s true that O’Connor looked like he didn’t give a toss them that in itself merits being dropped from the squad.

Nothing worse than giving your all on the rugby pitch (only the lose the games that matter) and having some tosser just stroll off into the bar completely not bothered. Imagine if this was the case with someone in the England vs Wales 6ns game? Indeed it was that kind of backlash after the 2011 RWC that bought about such radical change in the England camp.