johnners says...

Johnson's selection is continuing an English tradition of sacking the fly-half when the backrow are underperforming. We have the same crap loose trio as we've had for the last 8 years, give or take.

Posted 18:32 18th March 2010

dannyc28 says...

England selection has not been great at times, some players have been not good enough, I agree but to throw everyone out coz "the team" has not performed to the expectation of all would be amateurish. Getting the blend right must be very difficult, just look at how many preferred XV's there are knocking about on the internet chat room's by wannabe coaches. I feel the main reason for the team¿s lack of performance since 03 is the Club game. Here are my reasons

1 Relegation! For all its attraction to keeping the competition alive to the end, it starves teams of any chance to invest and develop in quality young English talent.

2 Too Many Teams! It stops the best players gaining experience of playing together at club level before international level. Ireland, SA, NZ, Oz & Wales all pick players from 4 or 5 professional teams. 8 to 10 in England would be about right.

3 Heineken Cup! Ireland, Scotland & Wales only pick international players that on the whole play HC, the toughest club competition below International in the NH. England do not, as the GP does not have all it teams playing in it. JW is a wonderful player but his playing time in the HC is negligible! It should be a minimum for a player of his stature! SA, NZ & Oz only pick players from Super 14, the best competition in the SH. There is a pattern imaging here¿.Before you all cry what about France!!! What about them? They have not won a world cup, and since rugby went professional they have not looked remotely like winning one. They could do with the same revamp of their Top14 in my opinion, and then watch them go. I am sure many will argue with my opinion, but irrelevant of the playing base in England they are only a limited amount of clubs that can sustain and develop pro rugby. Regulation is counter productive to that. We are following the football model which is out of date with the cost of 21C pro sport.

Posted 10:47 18th March 2010

kije says...

Totally predictable, badly timed and probably ineffective. Nothing too wrong with JW, the blame is with the psyche of the team. Nutured by MJ the players are playing in fear of losing games as well as their place in the elite squad - not the mind set to be world beaters. Build and develop players, instill belief and confidence, then let them do what they can do.

Posted 22:18 17th March 2010