2015 Rugby World Cup **Potential spoilers**

[martint235]

Open to correction but hasn't Robshaw not been praised previously whilst captain?
Farrell almost guarantees kicked points. I don't like him due to all the snide cheap shots he's gotten away with...till now.
Burgess ultimately was for the Wales game and Jamie Roberts, they hope to fashion their own Sonny Bill in time.
It may be Lancaster was worried about the supposed strength and quality of the pack so stuck to the English style of rugby to try and keep things tight.
Mavericks, we all amaze at their moments of brilliance and look on in horror when it goes wrong as the two go hand in hand.
Being a scot, all the above is qualified by my lack of top level sporting participation

It needs balance I agree but there has to be at least one maverick in there to go "What if" rather than "We do this, then we do this then this will hopefully happen. If it doesn't we're screwed and have to run back to our own half". To be fair Mike Brown has a little of it but as full back plays from to far back to spark the rest of the team

 

[huwsparky]

When will England realise you need a 7. Lancaster should have asked himself a few questions when Gatland didn't even want Robshshaw in his lions squad. I could see them being ripped apart around the park at the breakdown against Aus but wasn't expecting the scrum to fold like it did.

With the resources and player pool England have you'd have though they'd be willing to invest in a decent coaching setup. Looks like a job for the boys from the outside to me.

 

[martint235]

IIRC when Lancaster got the job the RFU had the attitude of "anyone but that Woodward fellow". They've been fairly quiet for years while Lancaster has been doing his job but I have a feeling that they are about to remind us just how bonkers they are

 

[AndyRM]

It's always a shame to see a minnow go out, especially as host nation.

 

[swee'pea99]

Yeah, well, I come from Australia. My brief exposure there to rugby fans are they are thugs. True, it is a sport of the affluent here - but they still piss** in the gardens.

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtim...ent_tackles_rugby_fan_urinating_on_her_drive/

**Edit: ewww. just actually read the article.

Quote of the week:

She said: "I couldn't believe it - I opened the window and shouted 'Oi, put that penis away'.

 

[AndyRM]

Yeah, well, I come from Australia. My brief exposure there to rugby fans are they are thugs. True, it is a sport of the affluent here - but they still piss** in the gardens.

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtim...ent_tackles_rugby_fan_urinating_on_her_drive/

**Edit: ewww. just actually read the article.

I don't think generalisations like that are particularly helpful to be honest. What about cycling fans - they chuck cups of pish over the competitors!

 

[User482]

I don't think generalisations like that are particularly helpful to be honest. What about cycling fans - they chuck cups of pish over the competitors!

Well yes, see upthread about football fans.

 

[AndyRM]

One thing I'm struggling to understand is what goes wrong with English players when they make the jump from U20 level. They've been in 6 of the 8 Youth World Cup Finals, winning twice - only New Zealand (as you'd expect) have a better record and England are miles ahead of any other Northern Hemisphere side.

I've read a few articles calling for grass roots reform and an overhaul of the RFU. As I see it, the real issue is at senior level and not below.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Lancaster came in at critical point of English Rugby, he has done a great job, but failed on the biggest stage of all.
Being a Welshman every win now will be a bonus considering our injuries.
I placed a few krugerrand on the Boks for this tournament after the scare of the best looking team yet,, Japan.
It's a great World Cup and unfortunate for the hosts.

Can you point us loyal England fans at these so-called great job high points please? Losing 30 - 3 to, and being played off the park by, an average Welsh side isn't my definition of a great job. Nor is not winning a six nations. First of the losers three times since his permanent appointment...

At best he's a good B team (Saxons) coach. But beyond that level his decision making is just perverse.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Open to correction but hasn't Robshaw not been praised previously whilst captain?
Farrell almost guarantees kicked points. I don't like him due to all the snide cheap shots he's gotten away with...till now.
Burgess ultimately was for the Wales game and Jamie Roberts, they hope to fashion their own Sonny Bill in time.
It may be Lancaster was worried about the supposed strength and quality of the pack so stuck to the English style of rugby to try and keep things tight.
Mavericks, we all amaze at their moments of brilliance and look on in horror when it goes wrong as the two go hand in hand.
Being a scot, all the above is qualified by my lack of top level sporting participation

Robshaw's name is first on the team sheet because, and only because, he is Captain (for reasons that escape me). He isn't even the best English player in his position. He was appointed skip with only one cap to his name!

Lancaster wants gym bunnies in his centre pairing because his fundamental philosophy seems to be "don't lose at all costs" and ignore players of superior skills simply because they aren't big enough. Burgess won't ever make the grade as a Test centre if he is a loose forward for his club; that should be obvious.
Lancaster isn't a maverick; he, and his teams, are bereft of invention, devoid of guile (apart from of the ghastly professional foul sort), and utterly conformist in approach. Mavericks improvise, he sticks with drills and a play book.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

When will England realise you need a 7. Lancaster should have asked himself a few questions when Gatland didn't even want Robshshaw in his lions squad. I could see them being ripped apart around the park at the breakdown against Aus but wasn't expecting the scrum to fold like it did.

With the resources and player pool England have you'd have though they'd be willing to invest in a decent coaching setup. Looks like a job for the boys from the outside to me.

^This. x 10

 

[GrumpyGregry]

IIRC when Lancaster got the job the RFU had the attitude of "anyone but that Woodward fellow". They've been fairly quiet for years while Lancaster has been doing his job but I have a feeling that they are about to remind us just how bonkers they are

Sort of, Rob Andrew got the job of English Rugby El Supremo over Sir Clive, who had made too many blazer wearing enemies to prevail in an unfair fight when RFU changed the agreed rules to appoint to the role. Lancaster inherited a decent side as interim coach and won the 2012 six nations. He was then confirmed in post, and then Rob Andrew was rumbled as no Sir Clive and thus the El Supremo role was reduced in scope, and other roles "bigged-up", so Andrew could not do too much harm and would play nice with all the vested interests, of which there are so many at HQ.

It would not surprise me to see RFU adopt "stand by your man" over "Swing Low" in the aftermath of England's pathetic exit from the RWC 2015.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

One thing I'm struggling to understand is what goes wrong with English players when they make the jump from U20 level. They've been in 6 of the 8 Youth World Cup Finals, winning twice - only New Zealand (as you'd expect) have a better record and England are miles ahead of any other Northern Hemisphere side.

I've read a few articles calling for grass roots reform and an overhaul of the RFU. As I see it, the real issue is at senior level and not below.

So, take a squad list, and tell us where those players are now?

Part of the malaise is too many young players generally get capped at full international level too soon, and then get cast aside as unsuccessful experiments

 

[AndyRM]

So, take a squad list, and tell us where those players are now?

Part of the malaise is too many young players generally get capped at full international level too soon, and then get cast aside as unsuccessful experiments

That's my point - the potential seems to be there, but it's not being converted - what I don't get is why that is. I get that you can't just field a team of kids, but I can't think of any players who have been given the nod in the senior squad.

 

[TVC]

Excellent Wendyball reference from Nigel Owens