Plan A - Sack Robinson - appoint new coach Brian Ashton - put Johnny and Andy Farrell in to stuff the Scottish who are struggling for form - also struggle against Italy (the score didn't reflect the game) - then go to Croke Park with wind in the sail and get ripped apart by the Irish - FAILED
Plan B - can't wait for this......
Gareth Jenkins has come under a bit of criticism - with results that haven't favoured Wales which has put pressure on team selection. But having 2 world class 10s (certainly 1 at the moment) is not a bad problem - Jones v Hook - who's better, who should play? Jenkins made Stephen Jones captain in October 06 with the vision, I believe, to go through to the World cup in 07. What happened next is that Jones got injured - along came Hook and I have to say I really didn't know who Hook was - I assumed once Jones got injured in the autumn test v Ozzie that everything would go 'pear shaped'- but to my surprise I thought he kicked well and had a solid game. That was followed by some good performances in Heineken Cup matches. The classic scenario here would be out with the old and in with the new - problem solved?... but it is not as simple as this. I have experienced this myself with the All Black captain, of the time, Buck Shelford. Like Stephen Jones he was the tried and tested and I was the young spring chicken - aka James Hook - but the management felt it was necessary to make the change and drop Buck which placed more pressure on me as an individual. Lets say Jenkins bows to the media/public pressure, makes the change and Hook doesn't handle this pressure of being the incumbent - quickly people will turn around and blame Jenkins for placing such a young guy in this situation - in the end it will be viewed that Jenkins has potentially destroyed the confidence and trust of 2 players and ruined any chance of Wales progressing through this years World Cup. At the end of that - Jenkins could lose his job. So Gareth - stick to your guns - go with what you believe is right for the Welsh cause - because at the end of the day the 'buck' stops with you. Oh and there is another game - Irish v the English - I think it is going to be a big one????
Gareth Jenkins has come under a bit of criticism - with results that haven't favoured Wales which has put pressure on team selection. But having 2 world class 10s (certainly 1 at the moment) is not a bad problem - Jones v Hook - who's better, who should play? Jenkins made Stephen Jones captain in October 06 with the vision, I believe, to go through to the World cup in 07. What happened next is that Jones got injured - along came Hook and I have to say I really didn't know who Hook was - I assumed once Jones got injured in the autumn test v Ozzie that everything would go 'pear shaped'- but to my surprise I thought he kicked well and had a solid game. That was followed by some good performances in Heineken Cup matches. The classic scenario here would be out with the old and in with the new - problem solved?... but it is not as simple as this. I have experienced this myself with the All Black captain, of the time, Buck Shelford. Like Stephen Jones he was the tried and tested and I was the young spring chicken - aka James Hook - but the management felt it was necessary to make the change and drop Buck which placed more pressure on me as an individual. Lets say Jenkins bows to the media/public pressure, makes the change and Hook doesn't handle this pressure of being the incumbent - quickly people will turn around and blame Jenkins for placing such a young guy in this situation - in the end it will be viewed that Jenkins has potentially destroyed the confidence and trust of 2 players and ruined any chance of Wales progressing through this years World Cup. At the end of that - Jenkins could lose his job. So Gareth - stick to your guns - go with what you believe is right for the Welsh cause - because at the end of the day the 'buck' stops with you. Oh and there is another game - Irish v the English - I think it is going to be a big one????
There you have it- England winning their second game on the bounce - wow - Johnny keeping 'the Rose' in front. I thought Andy Farrell had a better game - his test will be in 2 weeks v Darcy and Drico - so the jury's out?? Apart from that quite boring.
Now the losers of their first game - Wales and Scotland - where the highlight was the full-time whistle!! I listened to post-match interview and Jenkins looked lost for words and his summary wasn't good as he lacked confidence and direction. Second game in charge and I think he's got problems!
The game of the weekend - Ireland v France. What a game!!
France started like a rabbit on heat - quickly surrended to the almightly green machine which molested them for some time - 78 mins in fact - only to be penetrated late with a thrust from behind. This type of 'rear-entry' is very typically French - The French are known for 'choking the rooster' but - they 'choked the croke'!! Bring on the English....
Boy, what do you focus on?? - Premiership (a few sides battling out relegation) - Super 14 or Six Nations? - and only 216 days until the World Cup!
The Southern Hemisphere has kicked off with the Auckland Blues taking a win over defending champions - Canterbury - good result for the Blues and what else the 4 million sheep lovers want is the Webb Ellis - even this early the occasional tingle must be starting for Graeme Henry and co. But as many of the All Blacks take an extended break, the main focus in the rugby world is the Six Nations and the return of Johnny! who??
England start this campaign with a new coach, a new look, new approach and new confidence. Having that as a starting point there is no question that England must win this game or the fragile grip they have on this new tenor will be for nothing.
So the main man Johnny - he's back - my one question about Johnny and Farrell is - are their minds up to the pace of the game? The lack of consistent rugby for 3 years means that Johnny is in the pressure cooker at 10 and has to make the right decisions - knowing from experience if you don't have enough games let alone test match rugby, your mind is not trained to think calmly in a pressure situation.
My prediction is England by 8.
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| From Rucku |
