Lightning and Rugby

[smokingboot]

The storm to end all storms; rain mingled with snow, but the snow settled on cars and roads, while the rain just kept whirling in sheets beneath the lightning. Thunder chased one kitten into hiding, while the other sat on the windowsill enjoying the show. It was the end of the world. It lasted about 7 minutes.

Another apocalypse today, but this took 73 minutes longer. The rest of this post is about rugby so out of respect for those sane individuals who couldn't care less, I'll use the cut.



Well, what do we do now?

It's not just that the Beeb's sports coverage is increasingly dubious ('And today the French are playing rugby like a man's game, just the way they like it...' As opposed to what? That infamous year when their team consisted of reluctant conscripts from the Convent of Seething Madelines, garbed in stockings, boaters and mini-skirts? Aunty dear, do be quiet) our team just isn't very good. Charlie Hodgeson can kick penalties, I've seen him do it. So why is he suddenly so rubbish? What's happened to him? And what is the point of these occasional flashes of brilliance from Lewsey or Corry or any of them if they can't kick a ball when it counts? Someone said that a team has to fail together a few times before they can truly gel and win. If that's true, let's book our tickets for France 2007 now, because we've got to be hot favourites.

We watched England A side vs France A side on Friday night. They were in Bath, in the mud, the dark, and the teeming rain, and it was an infinitely better match, full of passion and readiness to take chances, a real hunger to win.

*Sigh* Something just isn't working. I really don't know enough to make a judgement, but I suspect Andy Robinson should go.

Comments

Yup

[larians.livejournal.com]

England have lost the last three games in a row. They would have won all three if they had kicked the (eminently kickable) penalties that they were awarded.

More worringly England have lost 8 out of the last 11 tests they have played. Something has to change, not least the idea that it is OK to get beaten for 4 years as you 'build' for the next world cup!

[ephraim.livejournal.com]

For the last year and a bit, I have argued that Jonny Wilkinson is a squad player for England... a very very good squad player, but a squad player nonetheless. Our strength in depth seemed awesome when it came to kicking. Now? Well, it becomes impossible to maintain that view. England need him back, and we need him badly. That we missed more points than either side scored is bad enough, but Robinson just doesn't seem up to the captaincy. Great player, useless captain.

Quite who can replace him from the current squad, i dunno.But if I were Andy Robinson, I'd change captain, sack Thompson for being unable to throw, rid myself of the largely quiet Cueto, and tell Hodgson to sort his act out or get dropped. I'd also do my level best to get Farrell into the team asap.

Rebuilding for the World Cup will only work as an excuse for so long.

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

As I've written elsewhere, I ended up watching most of the England game with radio rather than TV sound. I have never before realised how lousy a commentator Ian Robertson is. Apart from missing a huge number of calls, he seems unable to distinguish between a ruck and a maul, or a knock-on and a forward pass. Probably his worst call when when England gave away yet another penalty, and he totally forgot to mention it on the radio, until he commented on the kicker as he ran up for the kick. Until then, with radio alone you would have though there was going to be an England scrum - the call he had originally given.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Jonny, well yes. But England's prowess shouldn't rely on one incredible player. I was quite impressed with Andy Goode's kicking on Friday. As for Charlie, he just seems to be falling to pieces. Surely that's something Andy R should be sorting out with him.

Robbo - I think you are right. Fantastic player, I don't see any evidence of captaincy from him, the team just feels as though it's fumbling along. I am just trying to remember the English A side captain, someone called Hugh Vyvyan/Vivian I think - he felt stronger.

Thompson remains a total mystery to me. Everyone says that throwing is the weakest part of his game, so why doesn't someone else do it? I am still a novice in the ways of Rugby, so this is something I have to learn...

First I've heard of Farrell. Looks rather interesting.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

This sounds like rugby hell to me. I am still getting my terms all mixed up (i.e, I don't really know what I am talking about) and a commentator like this would have me tearing my hair out in confusion.

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

I've heard him before on the radio plenty of times, and given his history assumed he knew what he was talking about. Seeing the match alongside hearing his commentary was scary.