32 SPORT
DECEMBER.08.2008 SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
SPORT COMMENT
England wilt Josh Pettitt Sports Editor
MARTIN JOHNSON'S tenure as England head coach started off with a muted pop, rather than the much anticipated bang in the autumn internationals. Out of four games, England managed only one underwhelming win against an under-prepared and overestimated Pacific Islands side. Although Johnson’s England looked like an exciting prospect in the first half against
Australia, they suffered the fate of many English sides of recent years; all crackle and no pop. England failed to capitalise on their few chances against the weakest southern hemisphere opposition and looked desperately short of ideas against the impressive South Africa and the clinical New Zealand. After successive drubbings at the hands of their southern hemisphere counterparts, Johnson’s frown looks set to stay. The reasons for England’s failures have been on the lips of all rugby col-
umnists. Johnson’s selection of youth and inexperience has resulted in a lack of direction and almost non-existent game plan that has plagued England this autumn. This would seem extremely likely, considering that all the key decision making positions are all filled by players in the infancy of their international careers; Cipriani at fly-half, Armitage at full-back and Care at scrum-half. However, Johnson had few ready replacements to usher in to fill these positions when youthful enthusiasm proved, at times, inadequate. Toby Flood’s manful efforts against New Zealand proved why he has earned the tag of understudy to England’s in form fly-halves over recent years. Clive Woodward sensibly suggested that, player-for-player, England are simply inferior in their skill set. While this might be true, it is certainly not an excuse Johnson will consider contemplating when he comes to reviewing the performances of his fledgling England side this autumn. Stephen Jones has even gone so far as saying that: “The south are better because they want it more.” Although most proud and Englishmen will baulk at this sporting cliché, there may well be some truth in it. Not for a minute am I suggesting that England do not desire the win as much as the southern hemisphere. Instead I would argue that southern hemisphere teams believe they de-
serve it more. For an England fan, the most satisfying and enduring memories, the World Cup aside, is the period of dominance that England had over their southern rivals in the lead up to climax of 2003. England expected to win each and every game they played prior to the World Cup. I would never go so far as to bandy about the naïve cliché that one team has a greater desire on the pitch than the other, but there will always be a discrepancy in belief between two teams. It is this belief that tips the balance in sporting encounters. Johnson, needless to say, was not brought into the England set-up because of his background in successful coaching. Johnson was the embodiment of self-belief and an uncompromising attitude on the pitch, and it is this state of mind that the RFU and indeed English fans want Johnson to instil in the England camp. However, a small note of compromise has crept into Johnson’s postmatch interviews. Although this might seem like realism in the light of England’s performances, it could prove damaging for a side already short of experience and belief. England must expect and believe that they deserve a victory every time they take to the pitch. Let us hope that Johnson’s self-belief as a coach is the same as when he was a player.
World Cup lottery Alasdair Robertson Sports Editor THE HIGHLY anticipated draw for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand was announced last week. The draw revealed much about the home nations prospects for the tournament considering their performances in last month’s autumn internationals. By far the most promising of all the northern hemisphere sides was Wales. They have been drawn in perhaps the toughest group of all alongside the current world champions the Springboks, their 2007 nemesis Fiji, and almost certainly fellow South Sea islanders Samoa. If Wales’s recent win over Australia is anything to go by
then progression to the quarter finals should not be an issue as they appear far stronger than in 2007 when they crashed out to the islanders in France. If the development of players like Lee Byrne and Andy Powell continues, and Shane Williams retains his IRB World Player of the Year form then Wales could in fact challenge for first place in the group. This would provide them with a far easier draw in the knockout phase, most likely facing Ireland rather than Australia. Ireland’s poor ranking of eighth in the world means they battle Australia for the top of their pool. They also face stiff competition from the ever-improving Italians who almost claimed their biggest scalp to date in a narrow defeat to the Wallabies this autumn. Ireland should qualify as runners up but will need to be on their
guard and improve considerably from their current form. Much will rest on the development of the likes of Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney to carry an ageing side. England and Scotland have been drawn in perhaps the easiest group of the tournament as they avoid all three of the Tri-Nations powerhouses. Being pitted against the weakest of the top sides, Argentina, is a definite stroke of luck. However England’s laboursome form suggests that they will struggle to beat the Pumas, far from its best against Ireland recently, and a resurgent Scotland. Mike Blair and company will fancy their chances against England after their valiant efforts against the Springboks at Mur-
rayfield this autumn. Finally, tournament favourites New Zealand will tackle stiff competition in the shape of the temperamental French, but will still believe that 2011 will be their year, especially on home soil in front of the ever-expectant Kiwi public. Tonga might prove to be the whipping boys of the group and New Zealand will feel confident of demolishing England, Scotland, or Argentina in the quarters. The All Blacks surely look on course to end their World Cup calamites.
TOP FIVE... TOP FIVE... Autumn stars
1 Lee Byrne cemented his place as one of the world's top fullbacks. His composure under the high ball and some incisive running lines make him the class act of the autumn.
2 If referees continue to allow Richie McCaw to be a law unto himself he will remain the most disruptive player in world rugby. What a player. What a cheat.
3 Ma'a Nonu has finally come of age this autumn. No longer merely a crash ball centre he has added subtlety to his already impressive arsenal.
4 Andy Powell was the find of the autumn tests. His savage dynamism and deceptive agility left many a defender reeling in his wake.
5 Euan Murray single-handedly took apart the more than proficient All Black scrum. His considerable bulk also made inroads into the Kiwis' swarming defence.