Mailbox: England choked!
Wales surprised, Ireland nearly choked and France smashed Scotland. So with an opening weekend of Six Nations drama now at a close and Welsh supporters finally leaving their pubs to return to work, it's come that time to reflect on what the rugby public had to say about it…
Wales surprised, Ireland nearly choked and France smashed Scotland. So with an opening weekend of Six Nations drama now at a close and Welsh supporters finally leaving their pubs to return to work, it's come that time to reflect on what the rugby public had to say about it…
“I don't often participate in public comment but I feel compelled to say something about the weekend of sweet and the sour. I love the game and invested a lot of time trying to be a coach because I am in awe of the game. However this enthusiasm has waned in recent times and when I watch Ireland and Italy play I learn nothing.
“Even the normally passionate Irish crowd were silent and the team has not inspired them.
“So it was a pleasure to watch Wales revive themselves and never give up. They showed how movement and enthusiasm are vital ingredients that have been ground out by a defence dominant culture.
“Then France rolled out a team with a blend of experience and youth and played a rugby we would love to be a part of. With speed and width they returned to their roots and I am grateful.
“Can we look forward to Wales and France because based on the weekend it promises to be the game of the 6N.”
– Damien
“Balshaw had a shocker admittedly but to blame him is just really lashing out for a scapegoat. Agreed he is, as ever, a liability and should never play for England again, but he was not the one responsible for the collective panic that swept through England, particularly after Vickery left the field. I cannot even say it was evident who the captain was after that. There are a number of players who were at fault. Where was the leadership and composure? No one really showed any measure of that. Wilkinson had a shocker of a second half – was it because he wasn't playing in a comfy armchair anymore? And where was the influence from the touchline? Danny Cipriani, a talented playmaker who could spark something out of nothing gets put straight on into a position he never plays – why not slot him into 10 and take the decision making away from Wilkinson?”
– Tim (London)
“If ever the phase “a game of two halves” should be used then England's game on Saturday is surely the leading contender. Quite amazing and utterly disappointing.
“Ashton must change three key areas, Captaincy – Vickery was totally and utterly inconspicuous. Not only should he not be captain he should not be playing. At no time did I see him rallying or leading his team – a disgrace. Flyhalf – Unfortunately Wilkinson is not the player he was and showed no leadership of the backs or inventiveness in his play. Others are now better and should be there. Keeping a player in the team just for his kicking and the occasional big hit is not a justifiable reason. Full Back – Balshaw gives no confidence as a man of last resort and his errors in technique and judgement were appalling. Should not be in squad let alone team. Bring back Lewsey or Cueto
“Other areas that should be looked at are:
Hooker: Regan too old and ill-disciplined, should be Chuter or Mears;
Scrum-half: Gomersall now too slow, in the absence of Harry Ellis any of the untried would be better
Centre: Tindall one dimensional and now unfortunately too prone to injury, Hipkiss, Smith or Tait are better not Noon who is just another version of Tindall.
“Backrow were good until Moody left pitch and should be strengthened by Croft and Crane. Flood and Cipriani were both good should be given a long run. Strettle's injury a big blow as he looked really effective – why not promote Varndell?”
– Keith Cowley
“Hadden drops Paterson, absolute hero who didn't miss a kick all World Cup and should have been a Lion long ago, to bring in an Australian journeyman. Parks misses first penalty. A nation, in unison, cries “we f**ing told you so”.
“Haven't often disagreed with Hadden, but I think he screwed the pooch there. We looked better as soon as Chris came on – and the reaction of the crowd to his introduction tells you all you need to know about what he brings to the team. He's simply a huge player, and benching him was the wrong call.
“Having said that, the whole team played like muppets, and the lineout was a bit of a shambles. Murray might be knocking on a bit, but he still does the business come lineout time, and Hamilton's not been getting much rugby recently.
“And next week, Wales under Gatland. I'll go get me bowl filled ready for the wooden spoon.”
– James Humphries (Glasgow)
P.S: What, no Hogg?
“What on earth happened? Wales were fitter in the last 20 minutes and England`s all so great forwards were smashed in the second half. It was worth it to watch John Inverdale nearly cry at the end, the biased git!”
– Robin Davies
“Beaten by a 'Club Side' . The Ospreys fully deserved their win because they never gave up. England lost this game because of four factors, talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
“1) Injuries to Lewis Moody. Tom Rees and Dave Strettle must have had some impact.
2) Not taking the many chances that were created in the first half to get over the whitewash and put the game to bed.
3) Not sticking to the winning formula of the first half, the second half's decision making and execution where appalling.
4) Ian Balshaw – This guy is not an International Player, am I the only one out here to see that? How can Josh Lewsey and Matthew Tait be out of the side in place of this plodder who can't tackle, break the line and is more foldable under pressure than a small camping bed.”
– Martin Rowe
“Need I say more…Balshaw should of never have been picked, he is a good club player but certainly not at international standard, never has or will be.”
– Wayne Gainsburgh
“The side were tactically inept. The crowd were pathetic (and I was in it). At half-time the Welsh in the crowd had their head in their hands. They were out on their feet!
“I don't know what Warren Gatland said to his troops at half-time, but they came out and played as if their lives depended on a win. England seemed to come out and rest on their laurels!
“There were key phases of the game when instead of closing out the game, England committed tactical suicide and the three key culprits for England were Gomarsall, Wilkinson and Balshaw. They had all looked assured and attack minded in the first half. In the second, Gomarsall slowed down his decision making to that of a indecisive granny, trying to chip balls over his 6 foot 3 opponent at scrum-half Mike Phillips. Johnny then went missing and decided to try and curtail the rise of his understudy, young Cipriani…..welcome to international Danny, here's a hospital pass. Balshaw, so majestic in the first half, spend a majority of the second half running up blind alleys and lobbing the ball back a resurgent Welsh backline.
“The final phase of the game was the Welsh doing for the last minutes, what