Roy Haggerty wrote:On the last Ashes Tour over here, we lost two games narrowly. Frustrating, but you felt that we were close, and a psychological difference was probaly what split the sides more than huge amounts of talent. Since then, we've gone backwards fast in relation to the Aussies. Every single man on that Aussie team was beter than his opposite number. 5 years ago, a sensible pundit could suggest half a dozen Brits who would get into the Aussie side. This year, maybe Peacock as a second-row grunt. Maybe.
The situation in our backline from 1-7 is atrocious. I hate how old this makes me sound, but I've been watching rugby for 25 years now, and I have never seen a set of backs so utterly devoid of world class talent. Compared to Newlove, Davies, Offiah, Gibbs, Connolly, Radlinski in his pomp, Edwards, Goulding etc this lot are woeful. Everyone over 30 will recognise how dire it is that I can say this confidently, but if Alan Hunte was playing now, he'd be the best winger in this country by such a distance that Stevo would be tossing off over him. Sculthorpe and Farrell had their detractors (usually wearing either Wigan or Saints shirts), but they were beter backs than any of our lads on this tour, and they were actually both forwards.
I'm old enough to remember when we had players who (Offiah excepted) were better than the ones you listed. In the era you have highlighted Connolly was a key figure - Oz used to rip us apart through the centres then Connolly came along and was rock solid on one side. He was the most important member of the team in that era. Although he did receive some acknowledement it wasn't as great as it should have been.
Joined: Aug 15 2002 Posts: 1647 Location: cadishead
Paul Thexton wrote:I agree - Kear did a fantastic job of motivating the England team in the 2000 world cup - at least he kept England's record defeat to less than 50 points, eh?
was you at bolton?
home venue =10pts?
how many of todays are upto playing for england/
why did we play with no game plain = kicking, subs, hocker, and stand off
The last world cup semi between wales and australia at huddersfield proved that pride in your shirt goes along way.wales led the aussies by 16 pts at h.t.Wales were mostly part timers with even a player from Swinton on the team sheet. guts and determination put the fear of god into the aussies whose full-time fitness and a lot of help from Russel Smith finally saw them move into the final.but there again wales had a organiser at half-back.England dont posses one.
Joined: Mar 06 2002 Posts: 5010 Location: At the seaside
The Chronicler of Chiswic wrote:According to Ceefax Richard Lewis has given TS the dreaded vote of confidence - start on those CVs now, everyone!
The self assessment has to include everyone involved in this major failure.
The Players, Smith, The RFL and Lewis who after all is the captain of the fleet.
Heads out of sand time.
Time for honest, stark, frank assessment from top to bottom of the British game.
The rebuilding should begin tomorrow morning in the departure terminal at Brisbane Airport and only end when we are able to field quality British players throughout all our leagues.
Mines a pint...
'Hi-Ho Silver Lining' Headingley 05th October 2014.
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