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Joined February 2016
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I think you’re right, Shirley. To sustain it year after year you need the culture to be absolutely embedded. Until rugby becomes a bigger game amongst working-class, inner city England you won’t have that (although the way football is trying to commit suicide, who knows). There is some excellent development work going on, though and this is a big difference from 2000-2003 when an excellent squad was assembled, but as we saw in the following years very little was coming through behind it. I think Sir Ian McGeechan put it well. England are currently about 2 years behind the ABs. I think it’s possible in 2 years for England to be on a par with where the ABs are now, given what they’ve got, how young they are, and what’s coming through. Whether the ABs crack on and take it to another level in that time, though, is the big question.
Is the northern hemisphere reclaiming rugby superiority?
What Woodward actually said was you’ll not beat the ABs with a power 12, you need two playmakers. The ‘quote’ is not a quote, but a clickbait headline from the Kiwi press.
England whitewashes the Wallabies
Yeah; I think Mallinder could be the answer in a couple of years for England at 12. He was playing 10 because England’s fly-half was injured in the first match. He can also play full-back, but 12 will be his position. He’s got a look of Jean De Villiers about him. Big, quick, with good hands.
England whitewashes the Wallabies
That’s naughty, Tman. Probably best to pray it stays that way. You don’t want a country that wins as many Olympic Gold medals and produces as many world boxing champions as England getting serious about rugby. It might call into question all that certainty about Kiwi manhood being genetically superior.
Highlights: Wallabies go down to England in points-fest
Not sure what the debate is Tman. England, obviously, are at the end of a long season. NH seasons (through no-one’s fault but their own) are always long. But. RWC seasons are ludicrously long. England players entered camp in late June 2015 and have just come off the pitch in Sydney. They can’t possibly be at peak physical levels which makes England’s performance in coming to Oz and winning 3-0 a very good one – what’s the argument?
Highlights: Wallabies go down to England in points-fest
I don’t think any sensible England fan would say that at this stage of their development (England are a very young side and are actually going to get younger, on average, in the next 12 months), that they match up against the ABs across the park. However, by November 2017 I reckon a few England players would make a combined XV, Doesn’t mean they’d beat the ABs, but the signs are they’ll be your number 1 challenger.
England whitewashes the Wallabies
England have about 140000 registered senior males, Oz have about 40,000. But, in England very few will have played at school, the overwhelming majority will be social players turning up after 15 pints of Scruttocks Old Peculiar. A large number will be London-based Kiwis, Saffas and Aussies as well. Added to which the big sports in Oz, AFL and League, add to the player base. Good athletes in England will rarely pick-up a rugby ball either in Union or league.
Highlights: Wallabies go down to England in points-fest
England have played virtually 12 months of non-stop rugby, were exhausted, and still beat the wobblies 3-0, at home, with quite a bit to spare. Do you really want to go down this line of argument?
Highlights: Wallabies go down to England in points-fest
I think you’re right, Gee up, England won’t be happy with their performance tonight. To let in 40 points to a team as poor as the WBs will really wind them up, even though they were out on their feet after 12 months of continual rugby. Still, as Hartley, says, much bigger challenges to come so take the win (all 3 of them) and get ready to improve when up against the better teams.
Highlights: Wallabies go down to England in points-fest
Yeah, it just goes to show what a little bit of proper man-management combined with a realisation, finally, that he’s in the last chance saloon can do. He did a number of unforgivable things when he was very young (gouging) but most of his offences in the last 6 or 7 years have been of the niggly, half-witted sort, rather than thuggish. He’s paid a huge price missing Lions’ tours and the RWC, so he’s served his dues. Ironically, I think Jamie George is a better hooker and will supplant him in 12 months, so it still might be an unfulfilled career.
England whitewashes the Wallabies
What a strange article. Oh, well, back to the game. I reckon Jones will be appalled at England’s performance. I know they’ve played virtually 12 months of non-stop rugby and are exhausted, but to concede 40 points to such a weak Wallaby team will cause consternation in the camp. He’ll probably cut them a bit of slack given they were out on their feet for much of the game, but I’m sure he’ll tell them that this is their ‘freebie’ card and they’ve used it for the season. Fair play to Dylan, he didn’t make any excuses but, as he said, the boys will have much, much, much, bigger challenges to come, so they need to get their act together.
England whitewashes the Wallabies
‘Just how hard does a Wallabies’ forward hit in defence? Now you can find out’
Errm, not sure this is the best timed article. But, if you’re asking a serious question I suppose the answer is: really, not very hard at all.
Just how hard does a Wallabies' forward hit in defence? Now you can find out
‘Well I can but what did happen to the team that played the first twenty minutes of the first Test?’
Nothing. England’s defensive patterns were all over the place so Gustard and Jones changed it at the 25 minute mark, and England scored 29 unanswered points. The first 20 minutes were the unusual aspect of the series, not the subsequent 140 minutes.
Staring down a whitewash, Cheika says he's "enjoyed the series" against England
People have lots of different motives, Dirk. For example I get the impression that you’re a man of very, very, very simple tastes and pleasures. A cold beer, a patch of sand and a corked hat to keep the sun and flies off and you’re happy. Some people need so much more, though, mate.
The June Internationals talking points: The last hurrah of Eddie
It certainly is, Will. In the last test match against Sri Lanka there was only one player born outside of England and he is the grandson of one of England’s most famous players (a bit like Warne’s grandson playing for Australia). Poor Brett would never have made his word count. I suppose he could have pretended Stokes (who’s lived in England since he was 12) was playing to get the number up to 2.
The Wallabies are a bit more interesting, although some people say the background of their players is a bit samey. This is unfair. While there are a lot of Fijians, there’s also players from SA, Zimbabwe, NZ, Tonga, etc. There’s even a couple of players born in Australia with Aussie parents, although I think these are in the pack and tend to be the softer. less effective players. Still, given who the ‘Aussies’ have apparently got coming through we’ll be able to add a bit more island steel there as well.
The June Internationals talking points: The last hurrah of Eddie
‘it’s simply about adding background for two players new on the scene.’
The trouble with that criterion, Brett, is it limits what you can write about. For example, how could you join the debate about the contenders to strengthen the Wallaby outside back positions? From the names I’ve seen bandied about you’d need to write a 20,000 word thesis to ‘add background’.
The June Internationals talking points: The last hurrah of Eddie
There’s more cover at centre and 15 than it looks, TF. Nowell, can play at 13 and FB, as well as wing. Watson plays FB for his club (I think he will eventually oust Brown from FB maybe even next season). I dream of an England back 3 eventually of Watson at FB; May on one wing with five or six battling it out for the other wing spot.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
“On another note, it must be a big weekend for the English Sports fans, I see the Euro2016 soccer tournament starts this weekend. Any hopes for England there?”
Yeah; probably 80% of the country will be focussed on Euro 2016. England no chance in my view. Very young, inexperienced side and their defence is very suspect – more of a sin in ‘soccer’ than even rugby. Probably get out of the group before departing QFs.
Interesting point on Folau. I watched the match against the Chiefs and that was the best I’ve seen him play at ’13’. I think Cheka’s made the right choice keeping him at 15, though.
I’m really struggling to predict how this will go. Should be a cracker, though,
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
As mentioned earlier, I think it’s to do with what defensive alignment each will face. I think England will be putting a lot of store by getting in the WBs faces and creating as many ‘man and ball’ situations for the Aussie backs as possible. I don’t think this is so important, defensively, for Oz. I know both Kerevi and Kuridrani are very good, but personally I’m happier, from an England perspective, not to have a more traditional second receiver in there.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
Bit disappointed as an England fan. Would have preferred Itoje at ‘6’. No Clifford or George on the bench seems strange to me as well. He’s clearly going for a power game, hence the inclusion of Burrell. Just seems a bit more one-dimensional than he could have gone with.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
Yeah; take both your’s and Peterk’s points. I just think that England will find this more comfortable than a centre pairing that didn’t look quite so similar, regardless of how good they are individually.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
The whole ‘immigrant society’ thing is fine for some on that list, but give me a break, you can’t possibly with a straight face use it for Speight, Koroibete, Naivulu, Nabuli, Naiyaravoro.
But, you’re right about my historical ignorance and lack of understanding about immigrant societies. Be fair, what can you expect? I come from a country that has only had wave after wave of invaders; immigrants; travellers; and multinational integration for a 1,000 years. I’m sure I’ll get educated the more I read this website, though.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
Ahhhh; Baxter, Young and Dunning. What great memories for an old pom.
Cheika versus Jones: Wallabies to win the battle of the two Aussie coaches
‘Bolt is lucky to be compared to them. It’s no shame to be beaten by the ABs.’
I suppose it’s possible that the most recognised and famous sports person on the planet, who would struggle to walk down any street on the globe without being mobbed, might be in awe of the mighty All Blacks. Alternatively, it might just be possible that when asked what he thought of the ABs he could reply, ‘Who?’. Whisper it quietly, but, as much as we all love rugby on this site, I’m not sure that the ABs are revered as Gods in Jamaica; or indeed the vast majority of countries where rugby is either a very minor sport or unheard of.
The Wallabies bring clarity amid the Olympics murkiness