Feb 07 International Break Part 2

You’ve lost that grubbing feeling


Last weekend the sun shone on Twickenham. The Gods smiled down on English rugby and everything in the garden was rosy. Jonny, the talisman, was apparently back where he belonged, at the centre of the action, calling the shots and dictating play. England looked like a force to be reckoned with and we, well those amongst us who care about international rugby, had hope, belief and an expectation that we were on our way to becoming the dominant force in global rugby once more.

Well, the honeymoon’s over. In nine days, England have transformed from magical and marauding to mundane and mediocre. If I were a newly-wed, I’d definitely feel short-changed and probably ask for my money back.

Last week England’s pack swatted away a makeshift and under-powered Scottish side with consummate ease. It was like pushing on an open door. Unfortunately, this tactic was never going to work against the Italians: you always knew the door was always likely to be locked. The Italian pack is big, strong and very wiley and will fight for every inch of turf and possession. If you meet force with equal force, you’re left with inertia and ultimately boring rugby. No wonder the dreaded Mexican wave started up.

England didn’t appear to have a contingency plan and so continued to batter away, more in hope than expectation. It’s at times like these that you look to your leaders on the pitch for inspiration; you need someone to mix things up and try something different.

Jonny might be the ultimate kicking machine and a ferocious tackler but he can’t control and alter a game like Dan Carter or run lines and find space like Stephen Larkham. His kicking out of hand was poor by his standards and his vision and invention was sadly lacking.

England’s three quarters looked ordinary and pedestrian. They were short on ideas and it showed. The Italians came with a very limited game plan; containment was the name of the game. It was only after half time that they started to play with any sense of belief. They were the dominant force in the second half and had the lion’s share of possession. If they only had a place kicker like Jonny, then I think they could well have won the game.

With the greatest respect to the Italians, this was a match England should’ve won at a canter, yet they struggled. They now have to travel to a packed Croke Park, to take on an Irish team that will be smarting from the loss to France. If England play like they did against the Italians, then they’re likely to get a good hiding.

This week, the RFU released its discussion document on the future of professional rugby, called ‘The Way Forward Project’. The RFU has previously conducted its affairs in a bullish and blustering way. In many ways its approach to confrontation is not dissimilar to our forward play – forceful, one-directional and blinkered. So, it’s reassuring in some ways that it is willing to listen to other ’stakeholders’ about the issues that affect elite rugby.

However, the majority of top flight Clubs have already agreed in principle to accept any necessary restructuring of the season structure and central management of the elite squad in return for ring-fencing. Only Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers have been prepared to raise their heads above the parapet and voice their concerns.

Although it would be in everyone’s interest to reach a successful solution or compromise, I am concerned that the one stakeholder that doesn’t seem to have a voice, the supporter, will be overlooked and ignored yet again. Supporters are an integral part of the game; as Josh Lewsey said, “they put the bread on the table”. Without us and our money, the game would die. We need to be represented and we need to be listened to.

Everyone involved at all levels in rugby wants lasting resolution to the club or country situation, but the most important question is how far are the Clubs willing to go to appease the governing body? If the solution involves franchises then many supporters, myself included, will not support it. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “even peace can be purchased at too high a price.”
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