Who should the next England Rugby Union coach be?

[martint235]

I think we have very selective short term memories - England have been runners up every year since 2011 in which they won it - 2012 on their own - 2013, 2014 and 2015 on points difference - there is no right to be champions

as to the French thing I cannot remember them playing in the style al la Francie for many a year - yup in their era it was great but at the same time there was the pace and grace of the Duckhams, Underwoods, Guscot not to mention a few notables from other nations

As to the Jones thing - It is a good move to start afresh - should be enshrined in the contract for coach and team - change every 4 years after World Cup - if you want to carry on then basic minimum achievements - maybe one or two six nations and a WC semi during term? - top ? in rankings - but they should be allowed to get on with it.

Im hoping that Jones will bring the no nonsense style that he coached the Japanese team in - Personally Im not expecting England to suddenly become unbeatable in the Northern Hemisphere - the likes of Ireland and Wales have good players and are well coached - Scotland did well well at the WC and it will be interesting to see if that confidence and form carries through into the 6 Nations

Yebbut this is the 6 Nations. Second means absolutely bugger all, being champions means almost nothing. All that counts, rightly or wrongly, is a Grand Slam and we haven't been close since 2003.

 

[psmiffy]

Yebbut this is the 6 Nations. Second means absolutely bugger all, being champions means almost nothing. All that counts, rightly or wrongly, is a Grand Slam and we haven't been close since 2003.

Totally agree - second is nowhere - but since 2010 only Wales have won a Grand Slam - at the top end it is a very competitive competition

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm getting nostalgic now: Peter Winterbottom, probably my favourite England player, ever.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ts-paul-hayward-on-the-venerated-1478934.html

and this quote from Roger Uttley:

'He's the sort of person who, if you want to go out and play rugby, and you know it's going to be a tough match, is a great comfort to have alongside you in the side.'

He tackled me once. The experience was so unpleasant I spent the remainder of the game ensuring it didn't happen again.

 

[Aperitif]

I'm getting nostalgic now: Peter Winterbottom, probably my favourite England player, ever.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ts-paul-hayward-on-the-venerated-1478934.html

and this quote from Roger Uttley:

'He's the sort of person who, if you want to go out and play rugby, and you know it's going to be a tough match, is a great comfort to have alongside you in the side.'

Bit of a cyclist now I think...
Anyway, The Committee are clean as whistles and it's all Lancaster's fault:

PS The Silhouette in the pic. is Rob Andrew doing a jig.

 

[Dayvo]

PS The Silhouette in the pic. is Rob Andrew doing a jig.

Best bit of footwork I've seen from Rob Andrew.

 

[psmiffy]

Hartley to be England Captain for 6 Nations - a bit of a surprise - but not really - only player likely to be guaranteed to be in the starting line up - assuming he is not suspended - technically the best hooker available - will bring stability to the set pieces and is a force in open play - only time will tell if he is the right man for the job - and I suspect that Jones will use his tenure to work out who is the best replacement for him as captain

Edit - BBC article has been edited from "is" to "maybe"

 

[Paulus]

Now all we need is for the 'grey suits' to change the laws to allow head butting and abusing the ref, and he should get a full season's play.

Also a bit of biting.

 

[martint235]

Also a bit of biting.

And gouging. Let's not forget gouging.

I did see the headline this morning and it does seem a bit strange. As we are building towards the next world cup, shouldn't we be looking a playing a younger hooker anyway along with younger back up. For captain I'd say someone like Courtney Lawes with a vice captain at either 12 or 13 (if we can ever find decent players to fill those spaces)

 

[Aperitif]

And gouging. Let's not forget gouging.

I did see the headline this morning and it does seem a bit strange. As we are building towards the next world cup, shouldn't we be looking a playing a younger hooker anyway along with younger back up. For captain I'd say someone like Courtney Lawes with a vice captain at either 12 or 13 (if we can ever find decent players to fill those spaces)

There will be a younger back up: Tom Youngs.
Chosing an unstable Captain may be tactical...allowing displacement if someone 'grows' into the job as time goes on. Rotation of candidates for the positions might also be the way forward throughout the Six Nations. Not too much at stake as it is always going to be a sell-out entertainment, whoever one supports, and allows for a thrashing or two, a tight game - doesn't really matter anymore.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hartley as skip? Dear God NOOOOOO!

 

[psmiffy]

I did see the headline this morning and it does seem a bit strange. As we are building towards the next world cup, shouldn't we be looking a playing a younger hooker anyway along with younger back up. For captain I'd say someone like Courtney Lawes with a vice captain at either 12 or 13 (if we can ever find decent players to fill those spaces)

It will be evolution not revolution - Jones has only got around 6 weeks before the first match of the 6 Nations - fortunately it is only Scotland - a banana skin waiting to happen and probably not a good place for a lot of experimentation

 

[martint235]

It will be evolution not revolution - Jones has only got around 6 weeks before the first match of the 6 Nations - fortunately it is only Scotland - a banana skin waiting to happen and probably not a good place for a lot of experimentation

Yeah I accept that and that the team itself may not be changing much but I think whoever is appointed Captain now should really be someone we expect to be leading the team out at the 2019 RWC. The rest of the team will then evolve around them.

 

[Aperitif]

Hartley as skip? Dear God NOOOOOO!

England in a jam again, or a conservative choice?

 

[psmiffy]

At present it not actually certain that Hartley will be Captain - methinks BBC jumped the gun - but I would be surprised if whoever is appointed is Captain for the next World Cup - Jones will be looking for a player that represents him on the pitch - his eyes and ears

 

[Wafer]

whoever is appointed Captain now should really be someone we expect to be leading the team out at the 2019 RWC

Can't even guarantee any of them will be playing in the 2019 WRC, let alone suitable to captain it...
You look at the players who are/should be playing for england now who weren't even on the radar of most people in 2011, a proper captain may emerge. people are talking up Itoje, even saying he should be made captain now, which is absurd, but maybe in time, and maybe by 2019.

I kind of like the idea of Hartley as a disposable captain... Not as a long term one. It's a shame, because he probably is the best hooker we have at the moment, but a liability if he's going to keep getting cards and bans.