RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
By The Antipodean September 12 2007
RWC Our Antipodean Random Raver looks at the IRB top four spots and questions why they are all held by the Southern Hemisphere nations. Of course he has no bias? Oh yes he has, I can hear you all shouting. It is a good question to pose though, what exactly has happened to Northern Hemisphere Rugby
RWC Our Antipodean Random Raver looks at the IRB top four spots and questions why they are all held by the Southern Hemisphere nations. Of course he has no bias? Oh yes he has, I can hear you all shouting. It is a good question to pose though, what exactly has happened to Northern Hemisphere Rugby
Antipodean Random Ravings 3
1(1) NZL NZL
2(2) AUS AUS
3(4) RSA RSA
4(6) ARG ARG
5(3) FRA FRA
6(5) IRE IRE
7(7) ENG ENG
8(8) WAL WAL
9(9) ITA ITA
10(10) SAM SAM
As you can see the top four spots are all taken by Southern Hemisphere nations. Source: www.irb.com
What can be the reason for that?
I think the reason is that the Island teams are under-funded. As it is, Samoa is tenth. Will it rise?
I have watched a few Northern Hemisphere games and apart from nerves and apprehension, the main reason they are not firing is being too hidebound by stultifying tactics.
Another reason could be that there are not many natural athletes in the teams, particularly the forwards, particularly in England's team. I have no idea what made the English RFU think that old fellows are better than young ones. Fitness, speed, strength beats wiliness and experience when the latter is in a fat, slow body.
No doubt if the selectors of the UK teams were on the same wavelength as the SANZAR ones much of the English squad would not be the current lot. Ally that to a more venturesome coaching set up and they'd be playing a damned sight better too.
The other three are rather more constrained by the depth of talent but there would be changes for the better in them too.
Where does this would be safety first attitude come from? It really has to be the mood of the whole set up of UK rugby.
Foremost among the culprits are the clubs: theirs are the "instant coffee" attitudes to development and nurture of talent.
Easier and surer to buy "off the hook" players -- too risky to look for raw talent and develop it.
*********************
Ooooo I say old chap that is a bit below the belt what!
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Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: DaveAitch (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:00:43:44
Quote:You say
I have watched a few Northern Hemisphere games and apart from nerves and apprehension, the main reason they are not firing is being too hidebound by stultifying tactics.
I agree there. I always feel England particularly have a master-plan, and woe betide anyone who plays off the cuff. Wales, of course, welcome that type of player. They are happy to score the brilliant try, but seem to have lost the ability to graft.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:02:28:47
Top two teams coached by men who learned their trade in Northern Hemisphere!!.
O.K, perhaps honed rather than learned.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
O.K, perhaps honed rather than learned.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:03:25:01
You think Henry learned stuff in Wales?
hahahahahahahahahaha
on second thoughts, he may have: how abject the game is in the NH and what a pack of back-stabbers they are.
Who is the other one?
hahahahahahahahahaha
on second thoughts, he may have: how abject the game is in the NH and what a pack of back-stabbers they are.
Who is the other one?
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:05:11:08
That is the kind of arrogant, "New Zealand is the only country in the world that knows anything about Rugby" attitude that I have come to expect from some of your countrymer Rarua, but I thought you were above.
I am sure Henry learned plenty in Wales, as did Steve Hansen.
The other coach I was referring to is the former Bath man John Connolly.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
I am sure Henry learned plenty in Wales, as did Steve Hansen.
The other coach I was referring to is the former Bath man John Connolly.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:05:17:06
I wasn't saying that, I was alluding to your assertion that the NH taught them all they know.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:05:50:18
You missed the last line of the original post then?
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:07:50:01
I think it is fair to say that Henry does nothing much the same as the Welsh. For one thing his team is winning many more than it loses. It always goes into a game at even odds or better.
Now back to what is wrong with the NH teams. they are dull, unimaginative, slow both in wit and limb, and their coaching staff seem unable or unwilling to do anything about it.
To concentrate on the English, surely they could see that being lampooned as "Last of the summer wine" replacing "Dad's army" had more than a hint of truth in it? And that this was not the answer. Throwing in youth to the slaughter wasn't either but they should have been blooded over the last 4 years. Really, Corry was past his sell-by date 3 years ago, as were several others and persisting with them wasn't really doing much, after all they didn't exactly set the 6N on fire at any stage, did they? Expecting something to turn up, to put so much store on Wilkinson, thinking the same pattern as the 03 mob could be replicated. Madness.
Whatever you think about NZ, they find new ways to screw up, they don't keep repeating the same mistakes.
Now back to what is wrong with the NH teams. they are dull, unimaginative, slow both in wit and limb, and their coaching staff seem unable or unwilling to do anything about it.
To concentrate on the English, surely they could see that being lampooned as "Last of the summer wine" replacing "Dad's army" had more than a hint of truth in it? And that this was not the answer. Throwing in youth to the slaughter wasn't either but they should have been blooded over the last 4 years. Really, Corry was past his sell-by date 3 years ago, as were several others and persisting with them wasn't really doing much, after all they didn't exactly set the 6N on fire at any stage, did they? Expecting something to turn up, to put so much store on Wilkinson, thinking the same pattern as the 03 mob could be replicated. Madness.
Whatever you think about NZ, they find new ways to screw up, they don't keep repeating the same mistakes.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:08:31:48
Nothing to disagree with there.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
There is far too much talk about good ball and bad ball.
In my opinion, good ball is when you have possession and bad ball is when the opposition have it.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:13:54:23
So why the back-stabbing line, Rarua?
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:18:59:07
A demonstrated lack of willingness for factions such as WRU, clubs, other unions to co-operate.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: DaveAitch (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:13:22:54:35
Rarua, one could say that England have learned more about how to win the WC in recent years than NZ have. Mind you when they (you) win this time out you may say "not any more".
As Poynts says nothing to disagree with in your last but one posting. I have always (perhaps only almost always) felt that there is too cautious an approach in England. I do think it tends to go all, or most, of the way through English rugby. Perhaps the only answer for us is become antipodeans. Of course players like John Gallagher did, and for a time he probably was the best in the world (born in England, Irish parents moving to NZ in his teens - I think). I do not think he would have been allowed to play the same way in an England shirt. He was however quite poor when he went to Rugby League, which always seemed strange to me.
As Poynts says nothing to disagree with in your last but one posting. I have always (perhaps only almost always) felt that there is too cautious an approach in England. I do think it tends to go all, or most, of the way through English rugby. Perhaps the only answer for us is become antipodeans. Of course players like John Gallagher did, and for a time he probably was the best in the world (born in England, Irish parents moving to NZ in his teens - I think). I do not think he would have been allowed to play the same way in an England shirt. He was however quite poor when he went to Rugby League, which always seemed strange to me.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:14:04:56:19
You can ask Jamie Salmond the differences during the "amateur" era.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007:09:14:20:21:31 by Rarua.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007:09:14:20:21:31 by Rarua.
Re: RWC Random Ravings from the antipodes 3
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:09:14:20:25:41
Games between NH and SH teams up until the Eng SAF game is played 8, 7 won by SH 1 by NH.
This is shortly going to be 8-1.
The SH minnows include Namibia and Tonga with Fiji and Samoa in that order of minnowdom.
This is shortly going to be 8-1.
The SH minnows include Namibia and Tonga with Fiji and Samoa in that order of minnowdom.
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