RWC 2023

HAVANT TONY wrote: https://youtu.be/enHgXGWV7h4?si=QA_2HQf1L7AXp1Pp A take on the state of English Rugby

Edited by Paul10 - 04 Sep 2023 at 12:18

Steve Borthwick makes frank admission ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup (msn.com)

tulip wrote: corporalcarrot wrote: Steve Borthwick makes frank admission ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup (msn.com) Seems like an honest assessment. Bit of a lame excuse for me. These are professional rugby players  if you can’t get them to play the way you want after 9 games in charge either they are the problem or the coaches are

Edited by Paul10 - 05 Sep 2023 at 17:43

Paul10 wrote: tulip wrote: corporalcarrot wrote: Steve Borthwick makes frank admission ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup (msn.com) Seems like an honest assessment. Bit of a lame excuse for me. These are professional rugby players  if you can’t get them to play the way you want after 9 games in charge either they are the problem or the coaches are  He's had longer in the role than the Fijian coach. And has had far more time with his squad.

The RFU knew exactly what they were buying when they appointed SB a coach that builds a team around a stats/system based low risk (some would say dull) game plan which isn't a million miles away from the South African model without the world class players. The offloading higher risk approach adopted by Fiji and the All Blacks and the likes of Quins & Briz was rejected. I struggle to focus the blame on SB as he is simply implementing what he was paid to do.

islander wrote: corporalcarrot wrote: Paul10 wrote: tulip wrote: corporalcarrot wrote: Steve Borthwick makes frank admission ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup (msn.com) Seems like an honest assessment. Bit of a lame excuse for me. These are professional rugby players  if you can’t get them to play the way you want after 9 games in charge either they are the problem or the coaches are  He's had longer in the role than the Fijian coach. And has had far more time with his squad. The RFU knew exactly what they were buying when they appointed SB a coach that builds a team around a stats/system based low risk (some would say dull) game plan which isn't a million miles away from the South African model without the world class players. The offloading higher risk approach adopted by Fiji and the All Blacks and the likes of Quins & Briz was rejected. I struggle to focus the blame on SB as he is simply implementing what he was paid to do. I'd agree current Borthwick system is similar in some respects to SA's 2019 model' altho' with higher error count + bigger disciplinary issues. Since then, from a pretty strong base (winning RWC) SA have evolved/expanded their game significantly while retaining their strengths, shown by their dismantling of NZ two Fridays back while England, with 3 years of Eddie followed by (just under) a year of Steve have gone backwards, steeply...

I'm tempted to say Jersey won the Championship last season adopting a similar approach. I have no problem with a game plan that is based on forward & midfield power, strong defense & really quick back three the favorites this time (SA, France & Ireland) are all adopting the same approach but they have better players & much better discipline than England.

backrowb wrote: I don't think it's Borthwicks fault, we just don't have the quality of player

Fully agree mate - nowt wrong with the game plan but something sadly wrong with English Rugby if the that's best squad they can select. How many of that squad would actually start for France, South Africa or Ireland? The structure of the premiership is geared up towards protecting an entitled group of clubs (franchises) it desperately needs shaking up and two teams should be automatically relegated every year.

tulip wrote: backrowb wrote: I don't think it's Borthwicks fault, we just don't have the quality of player  The top player in the French Top 14 last year Zac Mercer is not in the squad. Came back to England to be hopefully in World Cup squad. Feel sorry for him.

Howay England lets play rugby and win it.

agree not a red card  its a piss take   and only a yellow for the argy 10  

OldNick wrote: Good to see intelligent England play after that getting 9 points from d.gs