Planet-Rugby

Bok to basics

Tuesday 23rd October 2007

Email Stuart Barnes

No fairy tale end for England; in fact not much of an end for the World Cup.

South Africa had such control at the line out and such confidence in their ability to close England out that any ambition was withheld for fear of giving away an interception, anything that could get England into the game.

It was almost like a football World Cup final, with Italy of old scoring early and then forsaking their flair to trust their defence. John Smit, the captain said after the match, "3-0 would have done." Short term, he is absolutely right, but long term the game missed a chance with millions and millions of new viewers tuning in and - in the cold light of day - probably tuning out.

The line out, like the scrum, is an integral part of the game but when there is so little open play (I include tight forward play as well as flashing backs) union resembles a club for the initiated. There were many uninitiated who will have watched England, admired their bravery and underdog snarl and go back to Arsenal (well if football is your game, Arsenal are surely the only act in town).

England were heroic in their determined fight back but a lack of penetration and attacking skills had to cost them in the end. Their lack of try scoring ability was always going to count against them in the end. It was to their credit they went so far but there are English issues that need resolving.

A national team which develops along structured lines is one of them and Rob Andrew can address that by giving Brian Ashton at least a two-year contract to eke out those skills that are running around beneath the surface.

Clubs

England's success would rub off on the style of the clubs and if we can maintain a more ambitious club game England will be a tough team to beat.

That is the main issue. Clubs like Bath have shown a transformation from the dour to balanced attack is possible; they are playing some smart stuff under Australian coach, Steve Meehan. It is not a matter of law but philosophy changes; it will come and not just in England.

Take away the term `World Cup' and some of the enthralling latter stage games would have been hard work to watch. But rugby is cyclical. This tournament lacked imaginative rugby from the more successful sides who concentrated on using powerful defence to create broken fields (this plan cost the All Blacks the tournament) but lessons will be learned and the game will turn.

Not pretty but passionate and superbly supported, I defy anyone to say this was not a magnificent tournament even with the lack of ambition in the latter rounds. Fiji played some sublime and winning stuff, Tonga tore at even English heart strings with their tough-touch combination. Georgia - limited in tactics - were huge in heart and then there was Argentina. They set the tone for the tournament on the first night, beating France, and on the penultimate night they thrashed them again for third place.

South Africa deserve to be champions and in Bryan Habana had a player who ignored the tyranny of defences. But Argentina broke the monopoly of the old establishment forever and for that reason are, in many ways, the team of the tournament.

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