The fact we gave France 21 points tells the tale, we were the same in the World Cup and it cost us dear. For as long as I can remember we've been suckers for giving up cheap penalties, I'm sure Jones will get on top of that weakness and we have such competition for places the future looks rosy...
Jones has been quite generous in giving Lancaster credit for the current success. I don't recall too many people saying that Lancaster was the wrong man before the World Cup. Of course he had to go after we went out in the quarters, but it was fine lines. Jones is a great appointment, though. He was asked on the radio today if, supposing it was a nine nations tournament and we still had to play SA, NZ and Australia, how would we do?. We would win at least two out of those three, he said - and he meant it. I believed him, too. If the players believe as well. who knows what we could do?
Didn't we go out at the group stage? Nuts tough group though. Eddie's Japan were much more unlucky not to go through. If he can get the England players to have the same degree of discipline and organisation as they had, plus showcasing the skills some of them have, they will be formidable. We need some top class flankers though. We have nobody close to O'Brien that I know of. And I'm still not convinced by 10 and 12.
Yes we did go out at the group stage, of course. A friend of mine was at some kind of motivational seminar bollocks where Clive Woodward was speaking. He said Woodward was the most impressive speaker he'd ever heard. I'm not sure I would have fallen for it, but I wasn't there. There is something to be said for inspirational coaches though, it seems to me.
I've heard Woodward is very good, but all these blokes have a challenge with cynics like me. They usually have one or two key points, which are good and based on commonsense, and then make a fortune out of peddling them. Woodward was vastly helped by Humphrey Walters, a man who my wife used to get to deliver motivational stuff at one of her many (6 pensions worth, all nearly valueless) former places of employment. He ran his own training company but his claim to fame was competing as unqualified crew in a round the world yacht race. http://business-reporter.co.uk/2013/11/09/sir-clive-woodward-made-winning-world-cup-main-business/ Worst I've heard was Frank Dick, the athletics coach, who droned on and on about 'mountain people' and 'valley people'. But his message was identical to Walters' and doubtless Woodward's - if everybody executes to plan, and if possible 1% better, then you fulfill your potential. Bravo. Of course the very best, according to his own website, is Steve 'Pat on the back, job done' Black, who has found a way to earn a crust on the back of other people's success. And, remarkably, failure. Now that is something that is worth learning from. Strikes me that the strength of Woodward, Jones, Alex Ferguson etc is probably in how they work with their teams on a day to day basis, which is pretty hard to get across in a 40 minute talk (including Q&A).
In fairness, we went out in the group stage due to one poor decision. Had Farrell kicked the penalty for the tie against Wales instead of going for the corner, we'd have gone through in their place. That may just have papered over the issues, but it's worth bearing in mind.
Belief in one's own ability or that of one's team can be a massively powerful positive factor. My old pal Peter Lavers, who played in the famous 1975 Leatherhead FA cup side, told me that what got them so far was that they all believed that they could actually win the whole thing.
Congrats to England on a deserved championship and grand slam. Not a vintage six nations by any means but the best team won. It looks like Jones will finally unlock the huge potential that was undoubtedly there. Several of the teams/management will have to complete comprehensive reviews of progress is going to be made. Wales continue to disappoint and I think that Gatland has been found out as a one trick pony TBH. Wales have an awesome squad but are ridiculously one dimensional. Ireland have to find strength in depth from somewhere and Schmidt has to allow his back line to function properly. The first 15-18 when available are probably still capable of winning back the six nations, especially with France and England to come to Dublin next year but Schmidt has to change tactics before we all fall asleep with boredom. France are a joke. As are Italy. Scotland continue to improve under Cotter but a limited squad will continue to deprive them of any success. So onwards and upwards for England. It certainly is an exciting time to be an English rugby fan. The Autumn internationals will certainly tell a tale or two.
France are pretty one dimensional as well. True, when it fires, it's an exciting dimension, but when they have specifics to do - win the set pieces - they lose 1 out of four scrums, and four out of nine line outs. Once that started, there was only going to be one winner, no matter how close it got. I thought England's defensive tackling was excellent, despite Nowell being too isolated at times, and that playing Care from the start was a masterstroke. He sees the game so well, and took his try superbly. Itoge and Kruis were immense again, and I thought that Robshaw had a great game as well. Yes, there were mistakes. And sadly yes, we had to listen to Brian Moore's negative blatherings. But we got there, and deservedly won the lot!
I saw some nice assets recently but there was only one person involved, now where was l ............ anyway, well done the team and well done Aussie Eddie or will it now be Sir Aussie?
Hope we can compete for the six nations next year. If the brexit people have their way, we'll be down to a three or four nations tournament....
Not sure what nice assets you had in mind, Aussie, but I was talking about a pair of huge, free jumpers (pc eat your heart out...) AussieEddie will probably have to win the World Cup for a knighthood, but he must be on an OBE or MBE already. I'm confident he'll be awarded the Freedom of London which will permit him to herd sheep over London Bridge and walk around the city with his sword unsheathed (no euphemism intended) It's been a salutary lesson to the English RFU that when you choose a manager, you choose the best - not the best in England
