Mailbox: England, Jenkins and ABs

An abundance of rugby news has exploded this past week at the World Cup and it was no surprise that you had a fair amount of opinions to get off your chest.

From England’s Rugby World Cup re-match with the Wallabies, to Gareth Jenkins getting the sack as Wales coach as well as France’s do-or-die meeting with the All Blacks…this is what you had to say!

Can England beat the Wallabies?

“I think that the encounter will be a tough one but England will fall short.
They seem to be building some momentum but I think is all little too late.
Moreover, even though the Islanders presented England with a stern challenge, we cannot say that they excelled and are lacking wins over quality opponents.

“I think even though the Aussies have had some bad lack with injuries, the rookies have put their hand up and the whole team is really bonded and they are peaking at the right moment. I wouldn’t go as far as say this will be an easy win. It will all depend on the Wallaby forwards. If they are up to the challenge and their world class backline clicks into gear then they will win.”

So I say Australia by 10 points. Sorry England

– Stephan

“No chance, they needed some one sided refereeing to help them past Tonga. They won’t get so many favours against another ‘big’ team.”

– AJ

“Yes, England can beat the Wallabies playing 10 man rugby and if their defence in the mid field is at its best.”

– RL Hutchings

“As a Tongan supporter like to say congratulations to the English like Martin Corry said you guys have won and are now going to Marseilles and, also good luck!, because you guys are definitely going to need it!. The Wallabies are not the same side that you guys played in Twickenham a few years back where you pushed their forward pack around like little school girls. They have improved out of sight and their scrum mind you is even enough to trouble the Springboks. England will have to kick all of the drop goals they can and hope that they all sail in between the uprights and make the most of every 50-50 call going their way as well as the golden goal kicking boots of Johnny Wilkinson carrying them along as well. Because forget about scoring tries since the English team don’t have a clue in attack and don’t seem to know how to score them. Australia as a team are far better coached and drilled than Tonga so England will be very hard pressed to try and grind out a win if their going to try enter into that trench warfare type of play against the Aussies. The win for the English wasn’t very convincing and to beat Australia England will have to do a lot better than how they did against the Ikale Tahi.”

– William Kailomani

“Of course they can beat the Wallabies. And I can tell you now It would be almost as satisfying to knock the sneering Aussies out of the competition next week as it was taking the world cup off them in their own back yard 4 years ago. Bring em on I say. Anything can happen on the day.”

– Jeremy

“Australia will be the biggest threat so far, and as Martin Johnson mentions, England can not afford to concede 20 points. Doing this will cost them the game.

“The comments of Lawrence Dallaglio are very important about England’s defence. If there is any lack of team support, the wallabies will take full advantage of it, not forgetting it is an annoying stadium. Top key players who know the enemy well will play a major role.”

– P. S. Gibbs

“A much better day at the office against Tonga, but plenty to work on before we can consider a victory over a Wallaby team that, as usual, is peaking just at the right time. If 100 per cent fit I would reinstate Robinson at full-back (Lewsey had a good defensive game but seems to have lost his ‘thrust’ in attack). I would also like to see a back row of – 6 Worsley 7 Moody 8 Easter with Corry providing cover on the bench.This would leave us in a pickle as to who we should pick as skipper as I’d like to see Stevens get the nod over Vickery again but I’m sure Brian would work it out! I would also be tempted to bring Shawsy back against the Aussies in place of Borthwick just to hammer home our advantage in the scrum. Anyway, well done boys for last night – 6 out of 10 and let’s hope for an 8 out of 10 this Saturday and who knows we might just make the semi’s…..”

– Jonathan Woore

“Who is deluding who? After laborious wins against Toga and Samoa, I repeat against Toga and Samoa, England is back talking big time!!
Forgotten is the crushing defeat against South Africa, which has been filed as a ” temporary hick up”, ( whatever that means), its now all about having beaten big timers Toga and Samoa!

“Well, against Australia, it’ll be the end of the road for England, because it is ” big time rugby”, and England does not do that, not on the pitch anyway, albeit in the press, as many times as one wants to hear it!

“On Sky News this morning, the England Coach and the captain just talked for the sake of it, and were chewing out banal statements like “we are getting better by the day”, or, ” we are not firing on all cylinders”???. Why not simply state the obvious, and say with all honestly, that England is not good enough, as otherwise defeats against the All Blacks or Australia, will make the recent defeat against South Africa look like a fairy ride.

“Listening to your sport readers this morning, it is all settled, England will win the World Cup again. Like in football, every 4 years!”

– U. Wetter

Gareth Jenkins getting the sack!

“Let’s face it the WRU might make one good decision a year and this was one. 100 per cent the right decision from the WRU. Jenkins has brought nothing to the Welsh team whatsoever, the press knew it, the fans knew it and I believe the players knew it but Jenkins tried to deflect the criticism citing personal agendas and vindictive reporting.

“He inherited a side which had a Grand Slam under their belt and over 2 and a half years turned almost the same squad into RWC no hopers. No doubt he will get a golden handshake for doing nothing and deprive Welsh Rugby clubs of yet more funds. Someone should eat humble pie and get Ruddock back!”

– Julian Holmes

“The Welsh administrators of Welsh rugby need to stop blaming the coach for their short comings because the blame really is with them. Since RWC 2003 we have not seen Welsh rugby move forward and carry on from the inspiring display of classic Welsh flair and guile in attack.

“Instead the WRU have reverted back to their obsession with winning and instead of building on what they truly had, which was the type of players who possessed individual brilliance and players with natural talent that possessed the X-Factor in being able to break games apart. Sadly they’ve gone for short term gain again acted rather hastily by sacking the coach.

“I’m afraid band aid solutions like this aren’t going fix anything and pretty soon we might have another team who’ll be playing like England and instead of rather having a go they’ll be playing too conservatively with a safety first approach….BORING!

“To the WRU wake up to yourselves and start accepting and shouldering the blame that is partly your fault too! Because Wales generally prefer to throw the ball around and run it, and play free flowing rugby but because of the pressures that the national team always faces of everyone expecting them to be always winning just plain sucks! And you guys (WRU) who should be supporting the coach and the team don’t even make it any easier for the players or the coach.”

– William Kailomani

“Obviously Jenkins had to go but surely should those who were responsible for his ridiculous appointment in the first place!

“It would make a refreshing change if some transparency was introduced into the dealings of the WRU and they would try and show some respect for the long suffering Welsh supporters. It remains a mystery what lay behind the ‘resignation’ of Mike Ruddock having taken Wales in 2005 to their first Grand Slam in god knows how many years.

“It is inconceivable to the rugby world at large that Ruddock did not continue as head coach and that Wales two years later with generally the same squad containing some very promising young players has not advanced at all and has amazingly clearly regressed!”

“Please can we put a stop to the petty infighting that continues to dog any hopes that Wales may have of regaining any credibility as a major rugby playing nation. The appointment of a properly experienced international coach/manager who is allowed a free hand is absolutely essential if the required professional attitude and skills of the players are to be developed.”

– Totally depressed expat Welsh supporter

Commentators!

“The bunch that did this World Cup must surely rank as the worst in rugby history.

“They are mostly boring, with irritating inflections and a stop-start manner…..Jon Champion and Bob Symonds are the worst. Their pronunciation of player’s names is appalling!

“Murray Mexted at least adds some proper comments and opinion with a flowing, knowledgeable style.

“It has become clear in this RWC that the gulf between Southern and Northern Hemispheres is widening. Listening to the commentators, it is also obvious that the Northern Hemisphere sees “hard, tough” rugby as dirty. This has lead to a bunch of softies in the commentary box, coaching posts and players. The best games were the hard, physically contested ones, where southern hemisphere refs were involved. They allowed the game to flow, without trying to be the star on the field with the whistle.

“Chris White, Allain Rolland and Tony Spreadbury should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute!

“The semis will probably be Australia v NZ and SA v Argentina and the final NZ v SA, with either of the two being worthy winners.

“What happened to the 2003 Champs? England are very lucky to be through to the quarters and do not deserve to go any further.”

– William MacLean (Fife, Scotland)

New Zealand to topple France?

“Whether the All Blacks step it up or not is irrelevant; they have too much ability and options for a French team which has lost some of its flair under La Porte’s conservative approach. New Zealand would need to under-perform in the manner of Ireland to lose to the French. It should not be forgotten also that NZ has handed out some demoralising defeats to France in recent years.”

– Ken (Ireland)

“Just watching the world waiting to see the All Blacks choke!!! This All Black team is the most successful ever and the rest of the world rugby powers can’t deal with it. Of course they can beat the French, they have done it before and they can do it again.”

– Marrianne Ferguson (Australia)

“I certainly think they will. They’re not a young team, and obviously they’re not over the hill. But I think there is sufficient experience in this team to have seen it all, and they will be up and firing for this big big BIG match. OH GOD, I hope France don’t pull off one of their ‘once in a century’ performances! We had one late at the end of the last century? Will we get one early this time?

“Come on All Blacks, turn up and shut the rest up!”

– Matthew Viliamu

“It will be a great day for rugby if the French pull this one off. I like so many others are tired of all the press around the Super Star All Black team. It is not the All Blacks fault, they are a great team however we are still tired of hearing about it. This World Cup has been all about the smaller teams for me. It is they who have represented the values we as rugby players hold dear, not the All Black, not the Boks and not Australia either.

“So a win against the odds for the French would be great for rugby. It would throw the cat amongst the pigeons and may remove those self assuring smirky looks that most of the New Zealand staff carry around.

“Can it be done? I believe that it is possible, even at Cardiff. The French are not up to par however it is their competition and I do not see them going down easily. Early points by the French will give them a sniff and cast enough doubt in the New Zealand squad to make it a great and win-able match. The weight of the semi in 1999 can not be discounted. If however the All Blacks put in two early tries, it will be time for cheese plates, red wine and french introspection.

“May it be a great match, most importantly a great rugby match.”

– Conrad (Canada)

“The French forwards are to intimidated and to old and to slow. The All Blacks by 20.”

– Dr Jon Hall

“No, first BIG surprise on its way, the French about to do us all a favour and pull another 1999 on the AB’s.”

– John Sharp

“There’s enough quality and leadership in the All Blacks not to lose this game. This will be revenge time for 1999.

“Go on the All Blacks!”

– Mohammed

“Who knows……some will say that the All Blacks have had it easy and therefore should be able to call upon energy reserves. Some will say that they have not had to get involved in a had grafting game and therefore will be complacent.

“France are coming in confident but they lost to Argentina and then had easy wins over minnows Georgia and Namibia. They beat an Irish team that struggled against Georgia and would win the award for worst overall performance from a top tier team in the World Cup. Are their last three games really worth getting ‘confident’ about?

“New Zealand hasn’t really impressed in their group BUT have they even got out of third gear? We all know the history between these two teams…..France brings out the best AND worst in the All Blacks where the AB’s seem to bring the positive side out of the French.

“NZ should win but I don’t think it will be the cake walk that some are predicting.”

Gazza (Edinburgh)