Normally I get excited on Friday that it’s time to make my SportGuru picks, but the prospect of predicting England to lose heavily is not much fun.
I wonder if Johnno is playing SportGuru as well, and picked New Zealand to win by fewer than 10 points. Perhaps he looked at the players he had available and chose the biggest, oldest lumps he could find to ensure that his prediction was as close as possible.
Predictions game or not, that’s what he has done – everyone seems to agree that this is a ‘damage limitation’ selection, and not a side that will create space, play some rugby and win the game. How disappointing.
The All Blacks, on the other hand, are pretty much at full-strength. Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will be running the show, but players like rookie Zac Guildford, Number 8 Kieran Read and old favourites Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Sitiveni Sivivatu will give England a torrid time.
In a strange sort of way, I’m looking forward to seeing these players in full flight. We will hopefully see some creative rugby, some attacking flair and a passion for the game that isn’t always obvious when watching England.
I don’t think they’ll be too worried about England’s defensive approach – performing the Haka and seeing backs like Ayoola Erinle, Matt Banahan and Dan Hipkiss watching them is going to make them lick their lips, and as much as England will try to slow them down, they will probably run riot.
My SportGuru prediction: New Zealand by 23
What do you think? Am I being too negative about our chances? Does anyone think that we’ll turn them over and finish the Autumn on a high?
I never understood why they didn’t bring MJ in as Forwards coach he could have done that with his eyes closed and it would have given him the expericence needed to then go on to become the Head coach later on. Throwing him in with no prior experience was a massive error! I say demote him to frowards coach get Shaun Edwards back to England no matter how much it costs and get Toby Booth in as head coach that would be a brilliant setup! And england might finally move out of the rutt we have been in for the last 6 years!
The management do not believe that the tactics they are employing are wrong. The players might but they can’t say it because then they’ll be black-balled.
What is this drivel from Cueto?:
“Regardless of how you play, you’re going to be criticised.
If we win by 20 points, the press will find something to criticise us for.”
That’s the exact opposite of the reality! Play positive, attractive and innovative rugby and lose narrowly (a la Lions) and the press, public and even the opposition can see that you deserve almost the same praise as the winners!
YOU’RE NOT TRYING TO PLAY POSITIVELY! YOU ARE NEGATIVE AND APPEAR DISINTERESTED ON THE PITCH! WHY AREN’T YOU ALL TRYING AS HARD AS LEWIS MOODY IN EVERY BREAKDOWN/KICK-CHASE/ATTACK?
Nick Heath – can you ask them why there is such a discrepancy between what 90% of the press and public are seeing and what they think is actually going on?
I’ve never felt this negative about English rugby – and i’m certain that it’s not me that’s changed!
I think I’m with Garnetto. We’ve seen enough to know that Johhno’s not going to be successful in this role. His only hope would have been to get a bunch of decent coaches together, but his defiant insistence that the coaches are fine demonstrates that he doesn’t get it (I know he’s not going to admit they are weak publicly, but to put up such a vehement display in their defence tells me he really means it – in other words he doesn’t know what good looks like). And his whole selection philosophy is a joke. So for me, this needs to be ugly.
I don’t think it’s too late for us to make a change before RWC 2011. It’s pretty clear that nobody at HQ has the balls to admit their mistake and fire him, but I like Wetpants’ (how did you get that nickname, please share) suggestion that he could be a decent forwards coach, and maybe that could be a face-saving move for everyone.
I will go for the AB’s by 25. We will start fairly well, but will leak tries in the second half. Taking into account the comments from some of the AB players this week that they need to be more ruthless in putting points away once they have secured a commanding lead, it may be more like 35.
Bamberio – I hear what you’re saying, and totally agree that we should stand a lot flatter and take opponents on. But it’ll take more than that to match 2003. Selection is still the main problem.
Let’s compare the backlines:
(A) Dawson, Wilkinson, Cohen, Robinson, Greenwood, Tindall, Robinson, Lewsey.
Or…..
(B) Hodgson, Wilkinson, Monye, Erinle (why???), Hipkiss (I like him, but his form is crap), Banahan (why??) and that well-known highly experienced specialist international full-back Cueto.
Just reading that first set of names almost brings a smile to my face. Reading the second just makes me depressed.
I remember watching the final in 2003 and having to drink Stella at breakfast time (which I don’t normally do, honest), because it was just so tense that I could barely stand to watch.
I have a feeling that tomorrow will be pretty hard to watch too, but for very different reasons.
Uncle Mat ask Garnetto he gave it to me!
gave you wet pants? the swine!
Rob, start drinking the Stella at breakfast and tomorrow will be lot more bearable.
Stella? I’d go for intravenous jaegermeister Igbo were you…
And as for wetpants – well it’s quite simple. What kind of man lays up on an 90yd par 3 pitch and putt? A man with very soggy underwear clearly…
England talk a good game and play a poor one. They should be building towards 2011 not “falling back” on the old guard. Garnetto and Rob Watson are right – England don’t appear to think beyond the next game. Does anyone know what Rob Andrew, the ELITE Director of Rugby, actually does? He doesn’t even appear to attend the games!!
Interesting to see Baron’s reign is coming to an end. I wonder if he will be replaced by someone with balls, who knows the game and is committing to making us the best team in the world. If so, then Andrew will be following Baron pretty quickly out the door.