England v South Africa?
This is to all the England rugby fans. What will you feel like next weekend when England actually beat their worst ever run in 130 years, and go down for the 8th time on the trot? I'm not gloating or anything - I'm a lifelong Welsh rugby player/fan, and I know what it was like to go from the top to the very bottom. In my teens Wales could match any team in the world, but slid into oblivion for almost 15 years but now things are on the up and up. What's your feelings at the moment, and what do you want to change?
Answers:
Severe changes need to be made before we feel optimistic again.
I would make them in the forwards.
The fans don't really care about the bad run, we just want improvement. And movement in the right direction.
It's good to hear your views as a patriotic but polite Welsh supporter. I remember the Welsh downfall, very surprising. But most English have been rooting for you since, at least when you don't play us.
i want south africa to win! coz im from ther:)
Cape Town 2 b exact! hehe
Speaking as a Scot, I've obviously no problem seeing the Sassenachs getting hammered. However, I think you should bear in mind that Argentina are being touted to join the Southern Hemisphere sides in the Tri-nations tournament, they really are starting to play that well. They've beaten France, I know the Scots didn't do too well in their last tour there. New Zealand have regained their position as Number one in the world, just about anyone would lose to them. They've lost the last two matches to two very good sides. Any country taking on a tour to Australia is up against it, even England with their advantage of going to a professional Rugby Union code first.
They were up and down last year in the six nations tournament, I think were they to continue that losing streak in that tournament more thought should be given to if they are on the wane.
One thing I do know, sports supremacy comes and goes, given your age, I'm sure you remember the West Indies side of the 70's-80's at cricket. They were fearsome, they've since been replaced by the Australians. Every side rises and falls, as a Scot I've been most concerned by our performances against New Zealand/England/South Africa and Australia. We've performed well and had to defend hard for 40-60 minutes and in the end this has told on us. I've waited for our fitness and level of play to be raised as we're now a fully professional outfit. i.e. cutting down handling errors, bad kicking, lack of discipline. It seems to be coming together under Hadden and I'm sure Wales are back on track after all that funny business with your coach.
What do I want to see? A fully competitive six nations tournament with England coming back to the rest of the nations, something we had last year. Italy too are getting better, more power to them. I'd also like to see better refeering in matches involving the northern hemisphere played in the southern hemisphere, don't you think New Zealand/Australia get away with too much? Crossing, taking men out while offsides, improper scrum technique, they always push the line as far as they can.
Here's to a good World Cup, great matches and proper control over them.
south africa is a great team they always have been and always will be!!!!!did u watch the england vs newzeland?newzeland all blacks r another great team!!!
We (England fans) keep saying it can’t get any worse… then lo and behold, it does.
Changes? Firstly, a reality check. Forget all talk about the 2007 WC, and aim to do well in the Six Nations. Wales, Ireland & Scotland are plenty challenging enough for us at the moment. Secondly, don’t throw inexperienced teenagers (not matter how much potential they have) into a team that already has its back against the wall and expect them to turn everything around for you. I remember when Wilkinson was under the cosh in WC2003 and we were on our way out in the quarter final, Catt (experience) was brought on to support him, not replace him… and look what happened. Thirdly, Andy Goode at fly-half… he doesn’t set the World on fire, but he doesn’t flap very easily. Finally, tell the back row that if they ever leave a scrum-half as exposed as they did last Saturday they’ll spend the next training session with their knackers tied to the ball with piano-wire… And one more thing, as fans, don’t boo our own team, no matter how dire it gets. We ought to be more like Welsh rugby fans and less like Spanish football fans.
well they can start by getting robinson out. he clearly is the wrong man for the job. and i wonder whether rob andrew will be any good as director of rugby as well. we need to forget about world cup 2007. in my view thats already out of the question. charlie hodgson is a problem as well. he's a great player for sale. week in, week out he plays some amazing rugby and is a great kicker. yet for england he fails to cut the mustard. i think part of the problem is that he's awesome when he's winning, but rubbish when he's not. he just loses his bottle so easily. unlike johnny wilko who had nerves of steal. he would kick anything regardless of pressure. sadly this is not the case with charlie.
Balshaw is also a problem. at the end of the last game the sky sports commentators said he had a good game but this is rubbish. he was a nightmare and does such basic things wrong, especially in defence. the bloke is a liability. cohen looks dodgey as well at the moment.
I am a south african and a supporter but after they game against Ireland i don't have any high hopes for us against England.
Why as Gareth Barry not been selected for inclusion in the England squad ,?
When and where is Amir Khan's next fight?
Who is boycott referring to when calling a fellow journo a pompous prat?
after you have trained in martial arts?
What's the best footie ground in the UK?
Who should be Norwich City's next manager and why ?
Why is American football named so when kicking is not the main part of the sport?
Who is the highest scoring goalie of all time?
how old is Ronaldhinio (footballer)?
Answers:
Severe changes need to be made before we feel optimistic again.
I would make them in the forwards.
The fans don't really care about the bad run, we just want improvement. And movement in the right direction.
It's good to hear your views as a patriotic but polite Welsh supporter. I remember the Welsh downfall, very surprising. But most English have been rooting for you since, at least when you don't play us.
i want south africa to win! coz im from ther:)
Cape Town 2 b exact! hehe
Speaking as a Scot, I've obviously no problem seeing the Sassenachs getting hammered. However, I think you should bear in mind that Argentina are being touted to join the Southern Hemisphere sides in the Tri-nations tournament, they really are starting to play that well. They've beaten France, I know the Scots didn't do too well in their last tour there. New Zealand have regained their position as Number one in the world, just about anyone would lose to them. They've lost the last two matches to two very good sides. Any country taking on a tour to Australia is up against it, even England with their advantage of going to a professional Rugby Union code first.
They were up and down last year in the six nations tournament, I think were they to continue that losing streak in that tournament more thought should be given to if they are on the wane.
One thing I do know, sports supremacy comes and goes, given your age, I'm sure you remember the West Indies side of the 70's-80's at cricket. They were fearsome, they've since been replaced by the Australians. Every side rises and falls, as a Scot I've been most concerned by our performances against New Zealand/England/South Africa and Australia. We've performed well and had to defend hard for 40-60 minutes and in the end this has told on us. I've waited for our fitness and level of play to be raised as we're now a fully professional outfit. i.e. cutting down handling errors, bad kicking, lack of discipline. It seems to be coming together under Hadden and I'm sure Wales are back on track after all that funny business with your coach.
What do I want to see? A fully competitive six nations tournament with England coming back to the rest of the nations, something we had last year. Italy too are getting better, more power to them. I'd also like to see better refeering in matches involving the northern hemisphere played in the southern hemisphere, don't you think New Zealand/Australia get away with too much? Crossing, taking men out while offsides, improper scrum technique, they always push the line as far as they can.
Here's to a good World Cup, great matches and proper control over them.
south africa is a great team they always have been and always will be!!!!!did u watch the england vs newzeland?newzeland all blacks r another great team!!!
We (England fans) keep saying it can’t get any worse… then lo and behold, it does.
Changes? Firstly, a reality check. Forget all talk about the 2007 WC, and aim to do well in the Six Nations. Wales, Ireland & Scotland are plenty challenging enough for us at the moment. Secondly, don’t throw inexperienced teenagers (not matter how much potential they have) into a team that already has its back against the wall and expect them to turn everything around for you. I remember when Wilkinson was under the cosh in WC2003 and we were on our way out in the quarter final, Catt (experience) was brought on to support him, not replace him… and look what happened. Thirdly, Andy Goode at fly-half… he doesn’t set the World on fire, but he doesn’t flap very easily. Finally, tell the back row that if they ever leave a scrum-half as exposed as they did last Saturday they’ll spend the next training session with their knackers tied to the ball with piano-wire… And one more thing, as fans, don’t boo our own team, no matter how dire it gets. We ought to be more like Welsh rugby fans and less like Spanish football fans.
well they can start by getting robinson out. he clearly is the wrong man for the job. and i wonder whether rob andrew will be any good as director of rugby as well. we need to forget about world cup 2007. in my view thats already out of the question. charlie hodgson is a problem as well. he's a great player for sale. week in, week out he plays some amazing rugby and is a great kicker. yet for england he fails to cut the mustard. i think part of the problem is that he's awesome when he's winning, but rubbish when he's not. he just loses his bottle so easily. unlike johnny wilko who had nerves of steal. he would kick anything regardless of pressure. sadly this is not the case with charlie.
Balshaw is also a problem. at the end of the last game the sky sports commentators said he had a good game but this is rubbish. he was a nightmare and does such basic things wrong, especially in defence. the bloke is a liability. cohen looks dodgey as well at the moment.
I am a south african and a supporter but after they game against Ireland i don't have any high hopes for us against England.
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.