English Rugby Union, what needs to come next?

[DRM]

Fits the 'Bill'

But the games I saw, particularly England's were very much not like that, now both codes of rugby are different games, with a shared heritage, but they can learn from each other, perhaps fitness and stamina, and a passing game is the answer.

 

[Beebo]

Being a Rugby League supporter, I just don't understand this ruck malarky, why not try and play a more flowing game by passing the ball as you're being tackled as the league players will try to do, will draw in defenders giving the recipient the chance to get through a gap rather than playing all pile on.

The tackle zone in RL in non contested and after 5 phases you have to give the other team a go. In RU you get to keep the ball as long as you can, but the tackle zone is contested, it is one of the fundamental differences of the two games. So they will try and keep the ball, whilst committing the opponents to the breakdown to create space. , remember there are 4 more players on the pitch so gaps will be harder to find.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Being a Rugby League supporter, I just don't understand this ruck malarky, why not try and play a more flowing game by passing the ball as you're being tackled as the league players will try to do, will draw in defenders giving the recipient the chance to get through a gap rather than playing all pile on.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

But the games I saw, particularly England's were very much not like that, now both codes of rugby are different games, with a shared heritage, but they can learn from each other, perhaps fitness and stamina, and a passing game is the answer.

see above

Union is an easy game to play badly. That's why the Laws are as they are. It is an incredibly difficult game to play well. That's why the Laws are as they are.

Only teams like the AB's consistently play it well at test level. And there are far too many games which are not "matches" at all these days but rather mis-matches.

 

[nickyboy]

1. Improve the standard of elite school rugby by having a proper league system. There is the AASE system but a lot of players still come through the conventional school set up
2. Find a way to get the media more supportive of the national side (this is a common problem with all England team sports)

There is of course the potential for England to be world beaters on the basis of the number of potential players. But the way the elite players are identified is weak and a lot slip through the net. Drift into club rugby at 16 or 18 on leaving school and there is practically no way these players will be picked up

 

[Large]

The review panel marking their own homework isn't a good start.

 

[Paul99]

Don't prevent some of your best players from playing for the national side because they 'work' abroad might be a good place to start.

 

[swee'pea99]

fitness and stamina, and a passing game is the answer

The ABs in a nutshell.

 

[Large]

David Flatman was saying that "let;s just copy the All Blacks" was not the way to do it. By the time you do what they're doing today, they've already moved on

 

[martint235]

Raise what we do well to above the level of others. Teams have caught up with our scrum and maul while we've not improved. Wales pushed our maul off the pitch with surprising ease whilst against Australia (not exactly renowned for their scrum until Ledesma turned up) we were made to look amateur.

But above all, bring some vision into the game. Have a midfield that plays what is in front of them rather than what was in front of them on last week's training pitch.

 

[Vidor06]

They need to go back to old style kit.....shirts that are baggy to hide the props' beer bellies and shorts with pockets big enough to take 20 Woodbines and a box of matches for a half time smoke.

We had a Dr O'Shaunessy speak at our club dinner a few years ago. He was Ireland and Barbarians team doctor for a while. He told a story about an Ireland player of the early 80s who went down injured during an international. The doc ran onto the pitch to tend to him, only to discover that the reason he wanted him was because he had gone onto the pitch with his cigarettes and lighter in the pocket of his shorts and needed to get rid of them.

 

[nickyboy]

David Flatman was saying that "let;s just copy the All Blacks" was not the way to do it. By the time you do what they're doing today, they've already moved on

That may well be the real nub. UK is essentially a conservative nation, somewhat resistant to change. It's a function of our history. That percolates into how the national sides approach their strategies and tactics. Whereas the SH sides don't seem so interested in what they have been doing, more what they can do to improve. No sacred cows, if it works, they do it
The only time England rugby was innovative and at the leading edge of preparation techniques, tactics etc was when they won in 2003

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Good piece in Indy today. Brian Ashton. Great in a nutshell about what makes the ABs great.

 

[Aperitif]

That may well be the real nub. UK is essentially a conservative nation, somewhat resistant to change. It's a function of our history. That percolates into how the national sides approach their strategies and tactics. Whereas the SH sides don't seem so interested in what they have been doing, more what they can do to improve. No sacred cows, if it works, they do it
The only time England rugby was innovative and at the leading edge of preparation techniques, tactics etc was when they won in 2003

For goodness sake, Nicky - it's not the winning or losing that's important...it's the taking part!

There's an interesting sentence or two about the way Ian Foster, the All Blacks backs coach (go for that after a beer or two!) watched how Dan Carter received the ball being passed in his direction...as usual, in The Guardian, in the Sport section...

The review panel marking their own homework isn't a good start.

They'll not cheat...will they? Surely not!

 

[Aperitif]

'What needs to come next..?' - A revised selection policy? Or, upping the Dante.."Abendanon hope all ye who enter here"