Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

I noticed that this forum was rather short on rugby related topics so I felt that seeing as I am quite happy to spend 80 minutes yelling at a TV screen where no one really listens I felt why not voice my opinions on the latest international rugby action to you guys.

What happend yesterday? Its one thing to be beaten but beaten so convincingly it almost makes you ashamed to be English. With a final score of 31-6 we must wonder what were England play because it was certainly not international rugby. The game was poorly executed on the English side with mistakes being made that at that level really shouldn't have been occurring. It was a scrappy scrappy game!

Any thoughts?

We were just pants...

According to the Beeb, someone from Bristol was to be called up but had his mobile off!!!

for want of a horseshoe nail springs to mind.

Great Plum wrote:We were just pants...

I'm not sure I would rate them that highly.
At least pants are useful.

True - I was at work until 4 and then moved to a pub where I hid from the tv...

Laura M wrote:I noticed that this forum was rather short on rugby related topics so I felt that seeing as I am quite happy to spend 80 minutes yelling at a TV screen where no one really listens I felt why not voice my opinions on the latest international rugby action to you guys.

What happend yesterday? Its one thing to be beaten but beaten so convincingly it almost makes you ashamed to be English. With a final score of 31-6 we must wonder what were England play because it was certainly not international rugby. The game was poorly executed on the English side with mistakes being made that at that level really shouldn't have been occurring. It was a scrappy scrappy game!

Any thoughts?

As I attended Charlton Athletic v Middlesborough yesterday I did not see the game from start to finish. However from the highlights that I've seen the handling of the backs left a lot to be desired and the forwards were nowhere near as dominant as usual meaning that the ball we did win was of poor quality.

Unfortunately England teams do sometimes freeze in the cauldron that is Paris and I feel that there was an element of that yesterday.

I fully expect an England win against Ireland at Twickenham.

Yes I agree for England whenever they play France things can go either way but yesterdays performance was Frances best defeat over England ever.

Too many dropped balls.

Laura M wrote:Yes I agree for England whenever they play France things can go either way but yesterdays performance was Frances best defeat over England ever.

Too many dropped balls.

Yes Laura! It usually would!

Meaning that by the history of the two teams meeting, there really has never been a set precident, it doesn't seem to matter which team is having a better season a supprise is often in store.

I knew what you meant - just sounded funny reading it like that!!!

Oh ok am suffering from acute humour failure at the moment.

Mrs C. wrote: I knew what you meant - just sounded funny reading it like that!!!

Bit like " a game of two halves".

England led the way for a couple of years in terms of fitness/strength and that was enough to win the world cup. Even during the world cup England didn't play particularly well (think the Samoa and Wales games) but they were able to bully opposition teams into submission. Now the other teams seem to have caught up and England's lack of skill is being exposed. Their confidence is down as well which just becomes a vicious circle. Robinson's probably got four games left to prove himself as a coach otherwise I think he may be sacked before the November internationals. The tactics currently suck and some of the players are not good: Tindall & Cohen are both great at defence but attack-wise are lacking. Dallaglio needs to be put out to pasture as his presence is just disrupting things. Corry was the best player in white on Sunday but his leadership skills aren't particularly great - he deserves to be in the team but I think the captaincy should go to Steve Borthwick. Some other players need to be given ago, namely Tom Varndell, James Simpson-Daniel, Ollie Smith, Matthew Tait, Chris Jones and Magnus Lund. Am worried we wont beat the Irish on Saturday now...

England were just so inept that by the end of the match I really didn't care much any more.

Anyway, going to bed soon, but I may well be back on this thread tomorrow.

The English display typified much of English "professional" sport now ...
overcoached and lacking in flair.