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 [...]

Hello – Earth Calling Rob Andrew…

Very rarely do newspaper articles about rugby make me angry, there are after all far more important things in life to worry about, but this little beauty had me tutting and chuntering like a middle Englander reading a Daily Mail editorial.
Rob Andrew rejected the view that supporters were disenchanted following the calamitous sequence of results [...]

And so Another Season Dawns, Dust off the Hip Flask…

As another new English Premiership season of attrition, aggression and (hopefully) ambition dawns with new coaches, new players and another Jonny Wilkinson injury dragging on, what is on the wish list for the coming term? Here is what I would like to see happen and also my predictions for the trophies.
 
ELVs – so much has [...]

Sack Andrew – Save Coventry RFU

It’s a sad endictment of the modern game.
While the RFU can spend 300k+ on Rob Andrew to do whatever it is he does including some highly dubious management on the tour to New Zealand, Coventry RFU are going to the wall.
Established in 1874, their heyday was in the 60s and 70s but in recent [...]

Standards

So, Strettle’s the energizer bunny.
It’s a good thing that this has not happened on Johnno’s watch (or not his full-time watch, at least).
It says all we need to know about the old regime including Rob Andrew.
Johnno can come in and instill discipline.
He can say that if you want to be an England rugby player then [...]

Institutional failings at the RFU

The history of incompetency and self-interest and the RFU is long. 
Regardless of your satisfaction, or lack thereof, at England’s recent Six Nations performance, the latest dealings at the RFU leave a bitter aftertaste.
The current review of the management structures, coming not four months after the last review, is the latest in a long line of serial failings – [...]