For an English rugby fan I wonder what’s worse. Losing to the Welsh, the French or the Australians?
A tricky choice and none that any self-respecting Englishman, and I’d like to think I can count myself in that particular category, would care to make.
The only solace lies in the fact that the Germans haven’t entered the world rugby playing fraternity.
But enough about age-old nationalistic rivalries and on to this Saturday’s (Sunday morning Australian time) Rugby World Cup humdinger at Twickenham.
Managing to conjure a dramatic defeat from the jaws of what should’ve been a comfortable victory over Wales last weekend was bad enough, but at least it wasn’t terminally damaging.
Should the outcome be the same in a few days’ time then not only will Anglo rugby pride have taken another almighty bashing but there will be the double whammy of elimination from the biggest competition of all. At the hands of an historic adversary. On home soil. Before the knockout stages. Mmm…
A grim thought for all those this side of the globe but no doubt the exact opposite for those whose favoured colour of replica rugby shirt is yellow (or is it gold?).
And with a detached eye, this is what top level tournament sport should be all about. A game of massive proportions where the stakes are, and there’s little danger of overdoing the hyperbole given what is to come as the game draws ever nearer, potentially far-reaching.
A bugbear of this writer is competitions that waste time before getting to the business end. Champions League football and the Cricket World Cup spring to mind as events that fill the TV schedules but little else until the group stages near their conclusion. Sport that is the competitive equivalent of going down to the driving range.
However premature the seedings were decided for the current tournament, they have thrown up what we’ve got coming and while the tournament has been pretty good so far, it is about to get even better.
As for the Pool A battle, Ashes contests on the cricket field have a habit of exceeding all other internationals is terms of their ability to make or break careers. Unfairly so in a lot of cases, after all, international sport is international sport, but that isn’t the way the world turns.
Had Australia triumphed a couple of months ago I for one am fairly certain Michael Clarke would be taking the field in a green cap in the upcoming months.
Had England not regained the Ashes, Alastair Cook’s position as captain would have been close to untenable.
The Anglo-Australian rivalry magnifies and exaggerates the fallout to such an extent that the knives are sharpened that bit more keenly. And should the result be negative in south west London then Stuart Lancaster and his coaching staff may not fancy answering their phones when they ring on Sunday morning.
Aside from the outstanding resilience displayed by a Welsh side who seemed to be auditioning for extras roles in a war film, England have only themselves to blame for the predicament they are in.
Ten points to the good and in control, their inability to keep the penalty count down and a gameplan that could only be called attritional bit them on the backside and bit them hard. Nobody would’ve batted an eyelid had the lead been held on to.
But stopping the opposition from playing and kicking your goals works as a style up until the stage where you start to concede a bit too readily and you’re left with nowhere to turn. In football terms, packing the midfield and playing for a point looks awfully flimsy once the dam has been breached.
The choice of Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt in the midfield was made with one thing in mind and to that extent it worked. But when three points gained are immediately negated by three points needlessly chucked away, thereby keeping the opposition within touching distance, then it only needs one lapse for the cards to come tumbling down.
It shouldn’t be presented as all doom and gloom, however. Australia will really fancy their chances, and rightly so after two effortless victories, but if – big ifs I know – their attack can be negated and Owen Farrell/George Ford successfully convert the chances they will inevitably be presented with then the Wales-Australia clash can suddenly be more than a jockeying for position.
So that’s all there is to it. Don’t give any points or penalties away and kick everything. Easy.
bigmick1
Guest
The Ashes were 7-3. Home and away.With the win to the good guys.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Ironic Paul but this little rant actually makes you sound a complete arrogant w*nker." You should be flattered by the imitation Neil
Dave
Guest
Like they were in the AB-BOK gane at Ellis Park (Messam Penalty) ??
Old Bugger
Guest
Yeah - you can end up getting bored with being told a millionth time that you're hopeless and useless or you can do something about it. To answer RT's comments above, this is exactly what happened to France in 2011 when the world was telling them, that they didn't deserve to even be playing, in that final. Well, didn't they come out with something to prove.....and, I don't believe the ABs almost caved in simply because after all the embarrassing comments thrust upon the French, they had nowhere else to go but upwards....it nearly worked so thanks for nothing, to all those renowned rugby scribes, who got stuck into the froggies. Will the same thing happen to the poms??? Of course it will - it's happening already with the local reporters just giving it, to the home side. But, the boot is on the other foot now. It is the home side that is being ridiculed and not the visiting side. It is the home side that has the unwelcoming supporter against every visiting side. It is the home side that must salvage its pride and its campaign - not the visiting side. It is the home side that faces the fate of desperation not the visiting side and as always, the question will be - is this enough impetus, for the home side to win?? Recent history of games suggests it is but, there wasn't any desperation impact involved when those games, were played. This game is a new card pack and a new deal....but, I'd go for the side that has the unwelcome supporter sitting in his corner as their 16th player and a referee who will no doubt have an impact, to bring the snags home.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I agree the TMO is independently looking at things. However the broadcaster CAN put up whatever they want on the big screen, the crowd reacts, the referee looks at the big screen and then asks the tmo to look at it. Happens all the time.
Nick
Guest
Hooper and Pocock will dominate the breakdown I suspect england will be in the receiving end of those penalties due to the superior work at the ruck by the wallabies. I still can't get past an English win though, probably because it seems to be the way of things. Wales can't beat the wallabies and the wallabies don't beat England. Some sort of block
Nick
Guest
Australia will have by far the better back row and I don't think their front row will suffer too greatly The locking pair should be an area where the English can get an advantage. The Wallaby lineout has a weakness
somer
Guest
Paul, as a fellow Kiwi I'm embarrassed by your rant. You may deny being a colonial but you've certainly embraced all the negative qualities that unfortunately often accompany this identity - bigotry and faux grievance endeared by an inferiority complex. Personally I appreciate the English upper-class, after all they invented the great game of rugby.
Nick
Guest
Nobody needs to "debate" you RedsKing We can all see your age and inexperience from a distance. You're just a child seeking attention
Nick
Guest
Nonsense I'm not a believer in this idea that Folau is the second coming but he's certainly in the top echelon of fullbacks To suggest he's nothing but a side step is ridiculous, he's the best in the world u set the high ball for a start
Nick
Guest
So the host broadcaster isn't controlling the big screen? Who is? It's certainly not the refs nor the suits at World Rugby
Nick
Guest
91, 99 and 03 they weren't favourites You can't say a choke is losing in extra time of the final against home opposition so 95 is out. That just leaves 07. Or just 1 if that makes it easier to comprehend
Buzzard
Guest
@Stu B....how will Australia score 3 tries against England when they could only get 3 against Fiji? England will try & slow the game down and starve the WBs of ball. Pocock will get penalised out of the game. England by 10 due to their superior forward power.
Derm
Roar Guru
"The host broadcaster during the game or breaks can replay whatever they want on the big screen." No - they can't. And the TMO looks at the footage separately from the TV producer. I think you'll find whilst the replay screen in stadium was showing footage, the TMO would have been already looking at it independently.
Disneychilly
Roar Rookie
The Cup isn't won in that pool game. In fact, should Wales lose to Fiji a loss may not end England's hopes. I don't agree that a pool game in 2015 is more important than a final in 2003 no matter if it's do or die for one team. As in the final it's do or die for both. I don't see how that view can be considered naive.
Robert Walker
Roar Rookie
Wales scored the same amount of tries and one more penalty... So why do you single out England?
Mike
Guest
Okay... So, light-hearted bile and venom then?
PeterK
Roar Guru
Pot Hale - I am NOT talking about the TMO or refs requests. The host broadcaster during the game or breaks can replay whatever they want on the big screen. Like the fiji no try. That was a issue, if it was not for the broadcaster the try would have stood. Then it comes to the attention of the ref and who then requests the TMO to look at it. I am sure the broadcaster will focus on an wallaby indiscretions and avoid english ones unless specifically asked.
IronAwe
Guest
Maybe if they were favourites to win?
Tim
Guest
I disagree that it is likely for Wales to get a bp against Fiji - I actually think (in all seriousness) that the Fijians can upset the Welsh - they will be keen for their first win, but at the same time playing with nothing to lose which is a dangerous combination. If they play their natural game and start throwing the ball around then the battered Welsh could struggle to contain them let alone get a bonus point.