Mar 10th, 2008 | Test Rugby | 7 Comments | print
As I’ve noted in the past, bind-and-grind rugby is dying a slow death. But as England showed two weeks ago,success can still be had if your opponent does not respond in kind. So what happens when when two dinosaurs meet, i.e. England v Scotland?
You might assume that fighting to be the last of your kind would be motivational, but who wants to die alone at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder? I think England feels this deep down and simply could not bring it on game day to defeat Scotland.
The Scots on the other hand went into the match winless in the 2008 Six Nations Championship and were anxious to make something of this important home-game (as a win would buffer their chances of getting the wooden spoon).
So despite a match largely bereft of an creative rugby, two kickers waited for their chance to slot over penalties. Fans and pundits crooned, and the English media focused on petty player selections issues and papparazzi-style rumors about who would get axed for last match against Ireland at Twickenham on March 15. All this is meaningless tactics to sell newspapers of course. Until England gets a coach who is willing to evolve England’s style, simple personnel changes will do little to improve England’s record.
I say we make Welsh coach Warren Gatland train England for a month or so and see who the dinosaur truly is; is the players or the coach. Only then can then natural selection take its course.
Feb 25th, 2008 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby | 14 Comments | print
For 65 minutes on Saturday, every English fan of rugby union watched with bated breath as two young, inexperienced French half-backs poked and prodded their countrymen to within 3 points of their opponents, the aging English juggernaut.
French scrum-half Morgan Parra and fly-half François Trinh-Duc, just 19 and 21 years of age with only 6 caps between them, showed courage and tenacity beyond their years. The young half-backs performed almost flawlessly with Parra testing the forwards at every opportunity around the break-downs/set pieces and Trinh-Duc slicing through the mid-field.
However, France could not convert these opportunities into enough points to take the lead. Although the midfield attack and defense in general were excellent, the wide French attack that has been so successful during this campaign for the likes of Cédric Heymans and Vincent Clerc sputtered frustratingly as the English slide defense grappled the players ‘ball-and-all’ into touch not less than four times. In addition to penalties, the typically reliable replacement fly-half David Skrela prevented a final French assault with a knock-on on the French 5 metre line with the scoreline in favor of England by just 6 points. → continue reading
Oct 29th, 2007 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 19 Comments | print
The best offense is a good defense.
by Yue-Houng Hu and Victor Drover
Much has been made of the Stellenbosch Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) which last week were given preliminary approval by the IRB to be more widely circulated and analyzed for further approval on 1 May 2008.
The IRB Council last week approved the ‘experimental law variations’ (ELVs) be circulated to all unions and returned with comments by January/February. The council will then vote on 1 May whether or not to bring them into worldwide rugby for a year’s trial. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have also been asked to trial them in the Super 14.
The ELVs remain controversial as they amount to a revolution in the way rugby is played. Aimed to render rugby faster, more exciting, and simpler for both fans and officials, it is clear that the IRB is attempting to create a more ‘viewer friendly’ sport. What is not apparent is the dirty little secret exposed by the proposed law changes:
rugby as we know it, may be dying. → continue reading
Oct 11th, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 14 Comments | print
Only four matches remain in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and following last weeks results there is currently no clear favorite for even the semi finals, let alone who will be crowned champion. The early exit of Australia and New Zealand has effectively debunked all pundits and experts, leaving predictions for the finals anyone’s best guess.
Rather than speculate wildly as to the results of this weekends games, let me make a case for the best possible result for Saturday’s semi finals: France over England and Argentina over South Africa. This sets up a repeat of the epic championship opener of France v Argentina. Even if beleaguered England managed a place in the final, the ‘down-and-out team does good’ story will not have the drama of the first and final matches of the tournament featuring the same 2 teams. → continue reading
Oct 8th, 2007 | Satire, Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 26 Comments | print
At a joint press conference today, the New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions announced that they have withdrawn from future World Cup competition as a protest to the current format which encourages complacency by pestering the teams with pointless fixtures against developing rugby nations.
‘Crushing teams like Italy, Scotland and Portugal by as much as 95 points puts too much pressure on our boys,’ said Andy Leslie, President of the NZRU. ‘When we finally get some opposition, the performance anxiety is too great and we buckle beneath it…who wouldn’t,’ he continued. → continue reading
