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Dear Rob, I read with interest your comments on the state of the game and that the laws are ruining the game following the conclusion of England’s November Test matches.
It was a series that saw your boys comfortably lose to Australia and New Zealand, while scraping past a spirited yet depleted Argentina.
While we all the know the game is not perfect at present, why is it that the RFU feels compelled to get on the old soap box and tell us what is wrong when most of your problems are self-created:
1. You are moaning about the injuries in the game.
Well, most countries are looking after their players, and while there will always be a few players out injured, the crisis in English rugby is down to the fact that the Guinness Premiership is all about attrition, physicality and contact.
When was the last time an England player ran at the gap instead of the nearest tackler?
Here is a tip: take a leaf out of the Irish and SANZAR player management books and get the players centrally contracted and you can manage their game time better. Everyone knows they are playing far too much rugby in England.
2. You have the temerity to tell the IRB to look at the laws and change them to create a better game.
Where have you been the last few years? We had this thing called the Experimental Law Variations project, which took a holistic approach to the laws, including the breakdown.
Following trials at junior levels, the RFU shot them down, preventing any trials of the breakdown ELVs, and we ended up cherry-picking the ELVs.
You got your reward for such educated thinking.
3. You say the game is boring and fans will turn away.
There is a lack of entertainment. Well, see point 2 above. Did you not watch France Vs NZ or Wales Vs Australia last weekend?
Besides, when has England ever been entertaining?
What English success there has been has always been based on forward play, kicking fly-halves and conservative options. You were good at that.
But also the Guinness Premiership is just not producing quality English players.
Why not?
Too many overseas players playing in the Premiership, that’s why.
Furthermore, the selectors can’t recognise talent. What have we got at present: plodding forwards such as Crane, Borthwick, Bell, Deacon and Payne; Banahan a second row on the wing; Dan ‘tuck the ball under my arm I am not going to pass’ Hipkiss in the centre; and Jonny’ way back in the pocket’ Wilkinson, who leaves no option to anyone but to kick?
What has Matthew Tait ever done to you?
He has more speed and skill than most of the team combined, yet is deemed too small apparently (I can hear those giants Matt Giteau and Will Genia giggling to themselves right now).
Tait? He was the player who almost won the RWC final for you in 2007.
Remember?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.