I was absolutely devastated by the All Blacks’ shock defeat against France on Saturday. I remember going to the bar for my fifth glass of champagne and thinking, “Isn’t this really all down to the IRB’s refusal to deal with reality?”
Surely someone on the IRB board should stand up and be counted:
Firstly, recognise that it must be strength playing strength. Instead of the current Tri-Nations, move Australia and New Zealand into a new competition with a team from the region — Indonesia, for example. Make them competitive again.
The Springboks, Argentina and the Springbok A team can then contest the current tournament.
Secondly, stop seeding them at the World Cup. This means that teams with the proper pedigree such as Fiji and Argentina can carry the onus that comes from being expected to head their group.
This will rebuild confidence, allow them to regroup and restore self-belief. Nobody likes to see teams being whipped like this.
Thirdly, try to get them to develop their own players. It’s bad enough losing to teams with your own players, but having half of the Fijians and Samoans in your side and still making a pig’s ear of yourself is debilitating.
Fourthly, and this is vital to New Zealand in particular, arrange more games against Japan, Iceland and Slovakia. This will ensure they maintain their world ranking for three years before their standard World Cup exit.
That way we can ensure the health of New Zealand rugby for many years to come.
Before any Kiwis or Aussies write in to thank me, just know it’s my way of levelling the playing field. It really is my pleasure.
Engeland!
After South Africa thrashed the whingeing Poms I wrote this article.
Take a few minutes to read what the English journalists wrote about their team. It’s enough to make you weep.
Like the All Blacks, I also wrote an article to try to assist the English team in assessing where it had all gone wrong.
Now, three games later, having beaten Tonga, Samoa and Australia, read the latest offerings of the English press :
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ rugby/article2623254.ece
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/10/09/ sorry_seems_to_be_the_hardest.html
You’ve gotta admit that these guys are steeped in sporting knowledge. They are steeped in something all right … probably dog sh … but I digress.
They are the worst losers and the worst winners in the world — do not confuse the players with the press.
Win a couple of games and they are certs to retain the trophy; lose one game and they are the worst team that ever left England to play a game of rugby.
Steve McClaren, England’s football coach, was regarded as a moron unparallelled in football until he won a couple of games — now he walks on water. Before those wins he was still the Manchester United assistant manager who did the treble and the Middlesborough manager who achieved their highest standing and won a trophy.
Not according to the English press.
The cricket team who won the Ashes and were given the open-top bus ride through London were subsequently pilloried by the press as a bunch of couldn’t-care-less layabouts a couple of years on.
Their press is the reason why so many top British sportsmen and women fail to achieve their potential. They require instant success or out.
Maybe the same should apply to them — instant readership or out.
Semifinals
England with Wilkinson behind an extremely powerful pack are going to give France a major headache on Saturday.
Having said, that I’m still going for the hosts to edge this one narrowly. They are an exciting outfit with the home crowd behind them.
Like Pakistan in cricket, France are the Brazil of rugby, capable of beating anyone on their day and losing to anyone on an off day.
It will come down to this: Can England keep the game tight and allow Wilkinson to pin the French back in their half, punishing any mistake? Or will the French forwards secure enough possession to allow their expansive game to take over?
In the second game, despite the powerful Argentinian pack, I’m taking us to dominate and run out reasonably comfortable winners.
France-South Africa final?
Bring it on.
Author
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