Welcome Argentina!!

Argentina. Land of Corned Beef, Eva Peron, the Tango, and Los Pumas rugby team. Whilst their footballing counterparts, driven by Maradonna and primadonnas, have twice won the World Cup, the Argentine rugby team has never dominated on the world stage. They face a permanent struggle in fact. They have no annual tournament to compete in (entry to the Tri-Nations in 2012 is long overdue), an amateur domestic league and their players ply their trade far and wide across Europe (mainly France, a place that has become a home from home for their top stars).
Despite this, they finished third in the 2007 World Cup and come to Twickenham ranked higher than England in the IRB rankings list.
Argentina have always produced great forwards, particularly front five forwards. Scrummaging is in their blood. Some of the forwards turned out by the Pumas are bigger and stronger than the beef cattle that roam the Humid Pampa. Their problem (like Italy) has always been finding backs who can convert possession into points. The reason for Argentina’s success over the last few years is that those backs finally appeared. The likes of Juan Martin Hernandez, Felipe Contepomi, Ignacio Corleto came on the scene and provided the dash to go with the dump trucks up front. Sadly none of these three will feature at Twickenham and the test for Argentina will be whether the new players they bring in to their back line can match the exploits of the missing stars.
Although maybe the backs won’t have to do much. The forecast is for a torrential downpour in TW1. Manna from heaven for the likes of Scelzo, Roncero, Albacete. One shudders to think what that crowd could do to England’s pack.
England’s pack. Yes. Where do we start? Forget the injury excuses. Compared to Argentina’s preparation for this match we have nothing to complain about. There was an interesting statistic on Sky’s Rugby Club last night. Against Australia, the England front five, between them, carried a total of 11 times, for a total of 11 metres gained. 11!! No wonder we are struggling to dent holes in attack if our big men are not getting over the gainline! OK so Steve Borthwick might be in the side for leadership and lineout (alledgedly). That is fine if you pick someone alongside him who is a big brute (a Danny Grewcock if you like). Louis Deacon is not that person. Presumably James Haskell and Dylan Hartley have been introduced to rectify this glaring issue. My question would be, who in this England pack is going to do the dirty work, the hard grunt around the fringes, knocking down the waves of big Argentine forwards? Joe Worsley is on the bench but I would have picked him to start this one. Still, the team is what it is.
On another note, it is disrespectful that the RFU still do not consider Argentina worthy of the same status as the other SANZAR nations when it comes to billing this match. Yes it makes it easier to get tickets, but is it not time Argentina were given some more kudos? After all they beat England on their last visit to Twickenham. Dom and I were at that match ( a depressing experience) and for the first time ever we nearly had a fight at a rugby match. With England “fans”. Who objected to us applauding good Argentina play. Sometimes free ticket allocation is not a good thing.
So who will win the game? Well, Jonny will kick the points again to keep England in touch, Argentina will probably struggle to gel and surely Shane Geraghty cannot play as badly as last week? But that rain….
I think England will sneak a win by no more than 4 points. But then I also think Los Pumas will claim another (marginally) against the odds victory to add to the impressive list of notches on their belt.

Louis Deacon – Central to the Cause

Louis Deacon plays a very important part in the England first XV hence his continued selection for the Argentina game this weekend.

His role – to make Steve Borthwick look good in comparison.

Ambition 0 Inhibition 1

On Friday and Saturday, I was having some doubts about not going.

On Sunday, boy was I pleased that I hadn’t wasted my money on that drivel.

What is so completely wrong with the setup that the same problems which beset Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton can continue to afflict the supposed clean start of Martin Johnson?

We may have an uneviable list of injuries but at the same time England are the best funded rugby country on the planet with the largest playing base.

But whilst the names filling jerseys 1-8 looked a bit shallow, there was nothing wrong with the depth of talent starting at 9 to 15.

For a backline with those names to not even threaten to score is unforgivable. The lines, the moves, where where they?

For years, the threats from the back three of any of these Southern Hemisphere sides should be a nagging deterrent to anyone thinking about kicking away possession, and yet England continue to kick away, and poorly at that, anything less than pristine position. Then when they get good ball, the forward plod away in the Leicester way as has been their wont for the past four years.

The kicking of the Callard years pales in comparison to the smarter play of the Dave Alred era.

Surely, surely, surely, the finger of suspicion has to point at John Wells, Mike Ford and Jon Callard. For too long, Wells and Ford particularly have survived whilst the figureheads have rolled.

The game next week against Argentina threatens not only to be the shit between the sandwich of big name defeats but a dour game of unambition at the same time.

Whatever happens, England aren’t going to go down in a blaze of glory that’s for sure.

What a shame it now seems that Ashton and Johnson weren’t brought together whilst Ford and Wells were sacrificed….

Where now for English rugby?

From Saturday’s game, starting places for Haskell, Hartley and Lawes might inject some much needed dynamism but the backs and the backs coach, Brian Smith, need to start delivering. Teams need to fear that gifting possession to this set of runners in any part of the field could leave them grasping at shadows.

Show some ambition or a generation of players will be wasted and a generation of fans will be lost.

Return of King Jonny Fails to Turn Aussie Tide

For the first 10 minutes of yesterday’s match, it was as if we had been set into a time machine, back six years. Here was Jonny Wilkinson, dropping a goal, kicking a penalty, ticking the scoreboard over, giving England an early lead, a lead from which they would press on and suffocate the opposition. But then, Jonny lined up a long range penalty from over halfway. This for 9-0. It sets sail, its on target! It hits the post. It misses. Suddenly, the spell is broken. We wake up. Australia wake up. They realise they are not playing England of 2003, but of 2009. Safe in that knowledge, they go down the field and score a try. They then dominate the entire second half and win comfortably, despite blowing at least three “open goal” try chances. And we England fans are left to scratch our heads and wonder just what the result means, and just where it leaves us. Was it a reasonable effort from a hastily assembled side and something to build on? Or was it a muddled catastrophe to rank alongside something from the Andy Robinson era? At first I thought it the former, but after watching the match again, I am leaning towards the latter.
Aside from the first 15 minutes, when England ruled the lineout, bossed the breakdown and had something like 65% possession, it was all Australia. England’s front five faded visibly with every minute the match went on, and hence there was no platform for the backs. If not for the heroic tackling of Moody and Wilkinson, the score would have been embarrassing.
England looked absolutely impotent in attack. Not once did we look like scoring a try. Not once. Australia on the other hand looked like arch wizards every time they had ball in hand.
Shane Geraghty had a shocking match. I think he deserves another go but I am now starting to fear that he is cut from the same cloth as Charlie Hodgson and that the biggest stage is a step too far for him. Matt Banahan looked totally lost and was unable to impose his size on proceedings, one tap back from a cross kick apart, and Ugo Monye had one of those games that make you think that maybe he is just someone very fit and very fast, but not actually any good at rugby.
Perhaps it is unfair to be harsh on these guys though, when in truth they had almost no quality ball to work with. The lack of snap and continuity from the forwards just heightens the doubts about John Wells as forwards coach. These doubts are now starting to be raised ever more loudly in the press, and for the first time, a major journalist has said that Martin Johnson should go. Over the top criticism? Maybe, but it is nothing compared to what will happen if England lose to the Pumas next week then ship another 30-40 points to the All Blacks the week after that. It is as if Andy Robinson/Brian Ashton had never left. Players have come and gone, Jonno might find to his cost that head coaches have as well, but somehow the Mike Ford/John Wells duo survive.
Perhaps we just have to accept what England are, a second division team fuelled by past glories to unrealistic expectations. And yet is it unrealistic to expect progress and competitiveness from the best funded team on the planet? There lies the problem for Jonno and the mysterious Rob Andrew. All the plans of the EPS, the acadamies, the long form agreement, mean nothing if the end result is clueless defeat like yesterday.

Can England Beat the Wallabies today?

OK, so Australia are in disarray. They have lost all but one of their tests this year, the players are disillusioned in the coach, and attendances are collapsing. On top of that they have just hopped off a plane from Japan and now have to pitch up at Twickenham. So all England have to do is sing the anthem and a win is assured right? Except that… except that we just don’t know how good (or bad) this England team is. There is simply no reference point, no form guide. Moreover, we don’t really know what tactics or game plane England have. I am still not convinced by Mike Ford and John Wells as coaches but hey, before we even consider England, let’s not underestimate Australia shall we? Yes they might have lost matches this year, but those were against New Zealand and South Africa. How many games do you think England would win if they played six tests against those two?
Yes they might have injuries to key players, but Giteau, Elsom, Smith and Ashley-Cooper are world class and in Will Genia they seem to have found another livewire scrumhalf.
Against New Zealand last week I thought they were unlucky. New Zealand got away with daylight robbery at the breakdown (again). Time and again the ball was turned over (mostly illegally) when Australia seemed set to unleash an attack in a dangerous position. England have nowhere near the nouse at the breakdown that New Zealand possess.
Also, they might come here tired, but they come battle hardened. And let’s not underestimate the motivation factor that beating the Poms at Twickers will give them.
So can England stack up? Well, ironically, for once England’s backs look more potent than their forwards. The back three are all potent, the centre pairing looks to have good balance and at half back, a rejuvenated Jonny Wilkinson could be the difference between winning and losing. The pressure on him to perform must be immense, but at the very least you know he will kick the goals to keep England in the hunt and build confidence in those around him.
It is the front five that worries me. It looks like a Saxons selection. Borthwick is Borthwick. He is Jonno’s man. Credit must go to him for how he handles himself. Maybe it is time to get behind him. Louis Deacon does not add a lot for me. David Wilson is a great prospect at prop but will he be a destroyer? I must confess I do not know what Steve Thompson’s form is like at Brive, will he be the dynamo of 2001-2003 or the dumpling of 2004-2006? Tim Payne will do a job but he is no Sheridan.
The back row should be efficient. Lewis Moody will hare around like a nut case all day, Tom Croft will win lineouts, run fast and look good, Jordan Crane will crash and carry, but do they have the cunning to stop George Smith? That is the key question, and on the answer will hinge the outcome of the match.
Too close to call. My heart says England, my head says Australia.

Welcome back Steve Thompson!

Congratulations to Banjo on his selection for tomorrow’s test match against Australia, and welcome back to International colours. When he retired in 2007 due to a serious neck injury, few would have thought such a comeback was possible. Dom and I met Steve Thompson outside the Stade de France about an hour after England had beaten France in the last World Cup semi-final. He came across as a humble, friendly and genuinely nice guy who was happy to talk with fans and pose for photos. You could also sense his great delight at England’s success, despite his personal situation. It’s great to see he is now back at the top. In his prime he was a seriously big, nasty and obdurate unit who had the skills of a centre. Let’s hope for some more of that tomorrow!

Not going doesn’t feel so great…

With England’s first autumn international just one day away, the decision not to go – made on sound economical grounds – doesn’t feel so great.

We’ve got the usual buzz, got the butterflies, not got the tickets. (You can still get tickets from Ticketmaster).

My fellow blogger Matt is well up for it.

What do I expect from these three internationals?

Not a lot to be honest. Success for me is being competitive in all three. That’s all. I think the expectations of the public and press are set far too high. There is a chink of light and that chink has a name – Jonny, Jonny, Jonny, Jonny Wilkinson.

I’m not alone in having tempered ambition. Stephen Jones of The Times is not one of them as he questions whether winning is the most significant thing at this stage but Stuart Barnes thinks England fans want performance.

Over at the Beeb, Jeremy Guscott is disappointed that Courteney Lawes is not starting.

Also at the Beeb, answers to the question “Who is Courteney Lawes?”

Away from the autumn international, Will Greenwood has written one of those articles in the Telegraph that only he can (remember his matchday one? I can’t find the link). This time it’s an insider’s perspective on shoulder injuries.

Also in the Telegraph, Keith Wood fears for the future. He thinks that part of the problem is that players are being built up and conditioned to play for 50 minutes – an interesting thought…

It’s Autumn, It’s Australia, it Must Mean a Cracker!

Whilst England can claim only two victories on Australian soil in their entire history (albeit one was rather special!), at Twickenham their record is rather better. Matches between the two teams in TW1 tend to be close run and exciting matches. Here I recall some of the best Autumn Internationals of recent years.

1998
England 11 – Australia 12
In 1998 England were just starting to show glimpses of the team they would become in the new millennium. The previous year England had drawn with Australia at Twickenham at the beginning of Clive Woodward’s reign. This match is memorable for a few reasons. England, captained by Lawrence Dallaglio, scored the only try. Indeed they scored a try six minutes from time. Mike Catt was the goalkicker that day and his performance was of the of the “cow’s arse with a banjo” variety. He missed the conversion. Even so, England led with four minutes to go. Unfortunately, they gave away a penalty at the death and the legendary John Eales stepped up with the nerves of steel that Catt so lacked and struck it between the posts. The bastard.

2000
England 22 – Australia 19
This match kick started England’s great run of home victories against Southern Hemisphere sides that led to World Cup success in 2003. Even so, for long periods of this match things did not seem promising. Despite looking the better side, England failed to contain George Smith and failed to fully convert their possession into points. Wilkinson and Burke traded penalties throughout and it was 12-9 to England at the break. England rued their profligacy when Australia scored a try minutes after the resumption, Joe Roff powering past Austin Healey and making a deft scoring pass to Matt Burke.
England trailed as the shadows lengthened and they could only manage one more Wilkinson penalty throughout the second half. Deep into injury time, a certain Andre Watson finally penalised persistent Australian infringements and two Wallabies sat in the bin. With eight minutes of injury time played, England launched a desperate last gasp attack up the left flank. Ian Balshaw chipped into the corner. There was no full back to cover. Dan Luger somehow made contact with his left hand. Long wait, video ref….. then, Watson’s arm goes up and the whistle blows, try!!! Twickenham erupts! I watched this in the pub and my then young teenage niece told me off for swearing.

2002
England 32 – Australia 31
The previous week England had beaten New Zealand (I was there!). The week after they would thrash South Africa (I was there!). Sandwiched in the middle was this classic (I had flu and a temperature of 40 but forced myself down the pub for this).
England started well with a Cohen try and looked likely to score a try with every attack but somehow the final pass went begging. Australia was on the ropes but held on and scored a try of their own to trail by only three points at the break. Sailor crashed over for another score at the start of the second half. From the restart England attacked with venom and seemed certain to score as the Aussie defence creaked. Then somehow, the ball squirted out the side of England’s attacking ruck, Flatley gathered and ran the length of the field to score another try! A subsequent penalty gave the Aussies a 12-point lead and disaster loomed for England with half an hour to play. However this was not the England of old. They stayed calm and chipped away at the lead with Wilkinson penalties. Then came the moment of the match. From turnover ball England attacked up the middle, Simpson-Daniel straightened and checked the defence and fed the irrepressible Ben Cohen, who flew over the line from 20 metres out. He cupped his hand to his ear as he celebrated and taunted the Aussies in the crowd. England held on for a pulsating win. Somehow at that moment, you knew they would win the World Cup.

2004
England 19 – Australia 21
Post World Cup, England started snowballing into the decline that would last for the rest of the decade. It hardly seemed possible after they despatched South Africa the preceding week. Now deprived, through retirement or injury, of such legends as Hill, Back, Dallaglio, Johnson, Wilkinson, the team had a transitional look to it. Even so, they dominated possession but simply could not convert into points, mainly due to a truly woeful kicking display from Charlie Hodgson. Things got so bad that at one point Mike Tindall was taking the goal kicks.
Australia on the other hand were lethal and scored two first half tries from Jeremy Paul and Chris Latham to take a 12-0 lead. Henry Paul’s brief run in the centre ended after twenty minutes (first signs of Andy Robinson’s bonkers selection and tactics).
Despite this, England scored three second half tries, one an absolute belter from Cueto. England led with ten minutes to play but two brainless penalties allowed Matt Giteau to restore Australia’s lead. They never relinquished it. The site of Justin Harrison parading around Twickenham after the final whistle, flexing and kissing his biceps, is a memory that still sticks in the throat.

2005
England 26 – Australia 16
Not a particularly memorable match, but England’s last victory against Australia at Twickenham. Notable only for England’s scrum (and Andrew Sheridan in particular) marmalising the Aussie pack. Despite umpteen amounts of possession, England still nearly managed to stuff it up and the game was only safe when Cueto scored late on.

Prediction Roundup 1/11

Sale v Gloucester
Maxamatic said: Sale by 9
Guscott said: Sale by 6-9
Dom said: Sale by 7.
Result = Sale by 5

Bath v Saracens
Maxamatic said: Saracens by 2
Guscott said: Bath by 7
Dom said: Saracens by more than 10.
Result = Saracens by 1

Harlequins v London Irish
Maxamatic said: London Irish by 8
Guscott said: London Irish by 3-5
Dom said: London Irish by 12.
Result = DRAW

Leicester v Northampton
Maxamatic said: Leicester by 4
Guscott said: Leicester by 5-7
Dom said: Leicester by 10.
Result = Leicester by 14

Newcastle v Worcester
Maxamatic said: Newcastle by 6
Guscott said: Newcastle by 7-10
Dom said: Draw.
Result = Newcastle by 11

Wasps v Leeds
Maxamatic said: Wasps by 20
Guscott said: Wasps by 10
Dom said: Wasps by 15.
Result = Leeds by 6!!!! Blimey well done Leeds!

Weekend Predictions, Challenge Guscott!

Some really hard games to call this weekend, complicated further by International call ups. How will the teams who lose their star Internationals fair? Will the other clubs benefit? I don’t have a clue. Will Dom add his predictions? Will our predictions be better than Jerry Guscott’s?

Sale v Gloucester
Gloucester look a team in bits. If not for Leeds they would be candidates for the drop. Tindall is playing for an England place. Sale are not exactly purring along either, but home advantage on a friday night should see them home.
Maxamatic says: Sale by 9
Guscott says: Sale by 6-9

Dom says Sale seem to play more Friday nights than anyone else. Gloucester must fire soon or heads will roll. Not this weekend though, definitely home advantage.
Sale by 7.

Bath v Saracens
What happened to Bath last weekend? They are only less slightly in bits than Gloucester. They lose the two Bs for this match, Bell and Banahan. Barnes has been released to play. Sarries lose skipper Borthwick. Another home defeat would be intolerable for Bath.
Maxamatic says: Saracens by 2
Guscott says: Bath by 7

Dom says Saracens are in a mean vein of form and Bath are hopeless.
Saracens by more than 10.

Harlequins v London Irish
Tough one this. Harlequins had a good win last week, but Irish put away Leicester. Neither side lose too many players to call ups but the injury to Easter will hurt Quins.
Maxamatic says: London Irish by 8
Guscott says: London Irish by 3-5

Dom says Harlequins are going to give some a thumping soon but not these canny Irish.
Irish by 12.

Leicester v Northampton
Game of the weekend. Similar to the Tiger’s match up last week against Irish. This week however the Tigers are at home, and they rarely lose at home. Big ask for Northampton. The loss of Hartley, Lawes, Geraghty and Foden will surely prove too much.
Maxamatic says: Leicester by 4
Guscott says: Leicester by 5-7

Dom says Leicester are used to having strength in depth at international time.
Leicester by 10.

Newcastle v Worcester
Newcastle shocked Bath last weekend and will be boosted by that result. Worcester slumped at home. Will be a typical mid-to-low table slugfest.
Maxamatic says: Newcastle by 6
Guscott says: Newcastle by 7-10

Dom says that Newcastle did well last week but I still fancy Worcester to claim a few scalps this season.
Draw.

Wasps v Leeds
Despite Leed’s improved showing last weekend, surely even the most one eyed Tykes fan can only see Wasps handing out a hiding here?
Maxamatic says: Wasps by 20
Guscott says: Wasps by 10

Dom says Leeds are going to get stung.
Wasps by 15.