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England V South Africa (The Egg Chase)
- Thread starter Beach Hut
- Start date
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 74,259
Same as the football World Cup and The Ashes. Give them all OBEs and MBEs so they never have to try to hard in the future.
Dave the OAP
Well-known member
Tooting Gull
Well-known member
- Jul 5, 2003
- 11,035
There are pros and cons of not giving a toss about rugby.
The downside was in 2003 when all the egg-chasing fans plus a few hangers-on got to celebrate a World Cup, when our footballers show no signs of being able to emulate that feat. I do envy them that a bit.
Last night, however was the upside in action - completely emotionally unscarred.
The downside was in 2003 when all the egg-chasing fans plus a few hangers-on got to celebrate a World Cup, when our footballers show no signs of being able to emulate that feat. I do envy them that a bit.
Last night, however was the upside in action - completely emotionally unscarred.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
wasnt toothless....you were up against the best side in the tournement
The upside for me will be watching NZ v SA which is pretty well guaranteed to happen. A game I will be able to enjoy without feeling totally depressed, regardless of who wins.
England are so far adrift of the Southern hemisphere teams now and although I don't follow club rugby too closely it seems that we don't have much coming through. How else can you explain a team that we relied totally on old player bully boy tactics and got the shit kicked out of them. Apart from the about to retire Robinson there wasn't a player in that team who showed any flair at all. Bunch of thick meatheads who weren't able to change their game plan even when SA were out of sight.
Yes Barkley and Wilkinson were out which may have made the score more respectable but the defeat would still have been a heavy one.
The body language of the players from 15 mins into the game should mean that the whole lot get dropped and we start again once this tournament is over. The capitualtion was embarrarasing and I'd rather see some kids brought in who have some flair and spirit that is so lacking in England these days.
severnside gull
Well-known member
truly awful - we looked as if we had lost all hope before kick off and showed a total lack of belief throughout. We didn't compete at all and as for Farell.....
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
I don't think that has been the case and I don't think it will be the case. Sure enough, they got their awards, but when half the team retired and we appointed the wrong coach, we realised it was going to be a question of a huge rebuild. Unfortunately Robinson set us back and I am not sure if Ashton has the time to sort this out.
I wouldn't say it was toothless at all. They are possibly the only team capable of beating the Kiwis and were at the top of their game yesterday. The African kicking was immense and text book stuff, whereas when we cleared our lines, the ball invariably went straight to an opposing player.
England were missing key players and we wasted too much possession, but it was not a totally shameful performance.
Dave the OAP
Well-known member
watching the domestic game as I do, two players I would have taken were Sean Geherty of Irish and Jamie Noone. Both players are young and have the nous to cut it at this level as shown in teh French game at home.
There are good youngsters but again as footy is finding out, if you fill the premiership teams with overseas stars, youngsters do not getthe chance
There are good youngsters but again as footy is finding out, if you fill the premiership teams with overseas stars, youngsters do not getthe chance
I didn't think it was a toothless performance - just simply lacklustre and against a very onform South African team. There were serious lapses of concentration in defence, countless wrongfoots, and some stupid errors. When you come up against a team on top of their game - every weakness that you have will be magnified ten fold.
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
Noon did play and was taken off injured. Geharty was ruled out of the tournament through injury. I would like to have seen Varndell out there, but Ashton is not a big fan of him.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
You must have watched a different game to me then. If you can't get the basics right on the big stage then what else can it be other than shameful? Ridiculous kicking from Farrell time after time, Perry slower than a 2nd xv schoolboy scrum half, so many missed chickenshit tackles, no ability to change the game plan, heads down after 10 mins, geriatric recycling of the ball and no creativity from a team of has beens.
Shameful doesn't cover it
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
I said that it was not TOTALLY shameful. We were playing the potential World Champions who were at the top of their game and missing some key ingredients. We defended well in patches, but lacked a decent fly half to orchestrate our attacks. Obviously, we have a huge amount of work to do in the rest of the tournament and in the near future. We have not recovered from losing our pack that generally flattered our backs.
I hope that is not Robinson's last game.
Icy my sincerest apologies, I should have listened to you, we were absolute shit ! I'm ashamed to be an English rugby supporter
That was probably the most heartless display I've ever seen, Robinson was the only man that played with any passion and we truly deserved the thrashing that we got. I'm not even sure that we can beat Samoa at the moment !A sad sad day for English Rugby the fact we didn't score a single point worries me considerably
Think it may well beI hope that is not Robinson's last game.
credit to the Saffers at least the first few players to the breakdown didn't pile in straight away as they realised it was serious
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
Icy my sincerest apologies, I should have listened to you, we were absolute shit ! I'm ashamed to be an English rugby supporter
A sad sad day for English Rugby the fact we didn't score a single point worries me considerably
Thanks, I take no pleasure from seeing my worst fears come about and I felt just before kick off that if we could contain them for 15 or 20 mins we might be able to make a fist of it. We were undone by the early try and I was dismayed by how quickly we threw in the towel after that. The England team needs a massive change from top to bottom, if that means not doing too well in the next 6 Nations so be it. A new coach, maybe a New Zealander or Australian to make us play the game as it should be played and the pick of our under 23's being the majority of the squad so we can build for the future. Much like the England football team we only ever look to the next game and consequently pick players with experience but past their prime. time to go with the kids with a go-ahead coach and tough out the inevitable defeats as we build for the next WC.
Robinson was abouth the only one to show pride last night.
It was a shambles but we were doing that to teams a couple of years ago and our time wioll come again, lets not forget we afre world champes for a few more weeks any way!
It was a shambles but we were doing that to teams a couple of years ago and our time wioll come again, lets not forget we afre world champes for a few more weeks any way!
The egg chasing world cup really is beginning to depress me. Every one of the northern hemisphere "powers" seem utterly clueless, although Wales showed signs of class against the Aussies on Saturday.
Irelands 14-10 "victory" over Georgia was the pick of the comedy bunch. Georgia. I ask you.
Dave the Gaffer will be pleased to know that Toby Flood and Jamie Noon have both been called up, and we'll all be pleased to hear that Jonny Wilkinson is fit again (for about 2 matches no doubt). I'm hoping that the Brian Ashton does a McClaren and stumbles across a competitive England side by accident. No surprise that Ashton has a RUDDY FACE is it.
Irelands 14-10 "victory" over Georgia was the pick of the comedy bunch. Georgia. I ask you.
Dave the Gaffer will be pleased to know that Toby Flood and Jamie Noon have both been called up, and we'll all be pleased to hear that Jonny Wilkinson is fit again (for about 2 matches no doubt). I'm hoping that the Brian Ashton does a McClaren and stumbles across a competitive England side by accident. No surprise that Ashton has a RUDDY FACE is it.
Dave the OAP
Well-known member
sorry I meant Toby Flood, but it appears they have relented and he is in the squad for the Samoa game.
Geharty wasnt ruled out through injury according to my LI contacts, they still think he is too young and raw! So therefore we stick with farrell who hadnt a scooby!!!!
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
Bah! There is always space for someone that is deemed 'raw' in a tournament. I had heard good things about Geharty and was quite impressed with him when I saw him play against the Sarries at Vicarage.
Why did Varndell not get a look in? I always thought he was going to be a very good player, but was ignored...
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,694
The display was a disgrace.
How is it that even when Australia / NZ are injury-hit they still put up a fight and never lose by more than a few points?
The problem is that, almost to a man, the present XV are weaker than the side of 2003. The only hope for Ashton is that his key players remain fit because if you add Wilkinson, Strettle, Thompson, Vickery and Ellis to the remains of the team we are a different proposition.
The choice of Vickery as captain is also beginning to look a mistake.
How is it that even when Australia / NZ are injury-hit they still put up a fight and never lose by more than a few points?
The problem is that, almost to a man, the present XV are weaker than the side of 2003. The only hope for Ashton is that his key players remain fit because if you add Wilkinson, Strettle, Thompson, Vickery and Ellis to the remains of the team we are a different proposition.
The choice of Vickery as captain is also beginning to look a mistake.