Rugby World Cup 2011: Bring me those lamb chops…the good and the bad of an amazing tournament

The hangover is gone, the mild blues are gone and I've caught up on sleep – the past six weeks had taken their toll. The hangover is easy to explain – the All Blacks won and we celebrated with gusto.

Fit for the Cup. And a bbq...

The mild blues? I always get them after a Rugby World Cup. It's an event I look forward to for the best part of four years. And then, when the lights dim for the last time after the final, the rugby landscape just seems so barren again. We don't even have autumn internationals to look forward to this year.

But what a ride it's been. The early-morning fixes while I watched games on telly in the UK – I missed a total of only two games – and the time I spent in New Zealand were, as Kiwis like to say, just simply awesome.

What a tournament! In today's money-hungry times it may not have made the most sense to award RWC 2011 to New Zealand, but nobody in the world brings as much single-minded passion to the event as the rugby-mad Kiwis. Take a bow, it was a brilliantly organised and the most fun World Cup I've been to! And so a few other acknowledgements and disappointments (and please let me know yours, I fully appreciate there are countless other highlights and lowlights out there)…

RWC JOYS

The All Blacks finally shaking off that four-yearly monkey. Nay, it was a bloody gorilla on their backs! They've been the most consistent and impressive team at this tournament – and for most of the years between world cups since 1987 – and it's simply grand that they've now got the cup to show for it.

The hosts – warm, welcoming, always ready with a beer and some banter. There was a fear they'd care only about the All Blacks, but they embraced one and all. 

The so-called minnows – always gallant in defeat, always immense in their contribution. I've changed my mind on an earlier suggestion to limit RWCs to the top 12 teams in the world. Their commitment to RWC 2011 was outstanding… none more so than Tonga getting one over France. Will South Auckland ever forget that day?   

RWC DISAPPOINTMENTS

A lot of the refereeing – inconsistent, often overbearing, often lax. None more so than at the crucial breakdown. Always a great pity when referees, not the players, decide matches. And it's something that demands urgent IRB attention. Springbok and Wales fans will always claim – rightly or wrongly – that referees cost them a shot at glory.

France being fined for advancing on the haka – what an absolute lot of nonsense. France made a fantastic gesture, and the All Blacks, I have no doubt, would have respected that acceptance of the challenge. Pull your heads in, IRB. What a petty, pedantic response by the blazers.

Quade Cooper – so much promise, so much lip, so little class. And Sonny Bill Williams, who was meant to set the World Cup alight, but never more than flickered.

Dan Carter's injury – this was meant to be his big moment on home soil, but he was cruelly robbed of that opportunity. Big credit to the man for the way he dealt with the hammer blow.

England – what a rabble who couldn't maintain discipline for a maximum of six weeks. Even more lamentable was their constant defending of the antics – "it was all the media's fault" – and the misguided belief that they were playing well. A team that believed its own hype and hot air, only to plummet to earth. Fair play then to Lewis Moody, for describing them as 'at best naive and at worst totally unacceptable'.

And finally, just before this blog takes a break, a few thanks: to each and every reader of this blog. We've agreed and disagreed – and I would not want it any other way. You've been great. And to Maximuscle, for being the power behind my adventure to New Zealand. Your support for a trip of a lifetime was immense.

My rugby cup has runneth over… See you soon again.

Sponsored by Maximuscle and the Cyclone Challenge – build muscle in 30 days or your money back – www.maximuscle.com/cyclonechallenge

A Dalek – quintessentially English?

Went to a presentation launch for RWC 2015 to be held in England ( and a bit in Wales ). Behind the dias on which there were various formalities, was  a giant backdrop frieze of all things English, a bit of Big Ben, the Angel of the North, Houses of Parliament,  London Gherkin, a bit of countryside and… a bloody dalek. What on earth was that doing there?

Anyway, here's my top ten items for that backdrop as well as pointers for RWC 2015.

1 ) Twickenham Stadium.. may have been there, should have been centrepiece, from Old Billy's Cabbage Patch shot to modern stadium

2 ) Red stuff – postbox, phone box, double-decker bus

3 ) Beer, proper beer, oh for a beaker of the deep south of England after seven weeks of Kiwi  ****

4 ) Was the Olympic Stadium there? If not, why not? Surely it's supposed to be a landmark.

5 ) Buck Palace, HorseGuards, a bit of pageantry

6) The Lake District, the Dales, Cornwall - we too can do New Zealand spectacular..

7 ) Big sporting crowds in full voice…

8 ) Something to connect public and event.. been a warm feel to RWC2011. England will have numbers and generate revenue but needs to engender sense of fun and community

9) Rugby School – it is, after all, where it all began

10 ) Finally, a decent team.. England have to do better than it did here. Over to you, whoever you may be

 

Here we go again as England are thrashed by India in India

Oh dear. A lot of fears were realised in Hyderabad today. This was just like the World Cup. This was just like England in the sub-continent since the year dot. This was all thoroughly depressing.

This was certainly the beginning of India’s Payback Plan. How the summer in England hurt them. “Wait till we get you on our own pitches,” they said. We laughed. But deep down, we knew. This was always going to be a fiendishly difficult series, especially when you lose the toss as England did today.

There was no pace and bounce to trouble the Indian batsmen, and how they loved it. There was actually a little uneven bounce, which meant that a total of 300 was way above par. England bowled reasonably well for 30 overs. For the last 20 they were awful. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with the blades of his personalised helicopter shot whirling merrily, was quite magnificent. But England hardly bowled shrewdly at him.

At around the halfway stage England looked reasonably placed. Comparative scores were promising. But you can never rely on such an ending that the Indians managed. Alastair Cook needed to crack on. He played nicely. All the others played horribly.

The Jonathan Trott debate will be revived. And so it should be, despite the fact that is Warwickshire supporters will be enraged. He was slow again. This is not to say he should be dropped. I do not think that. He scores runs for fun. The record books are in his favour. When he scores runs, England generally win. But if he is to bat at No 4 as he surprisingly did today, then he should not play. He simply has to bat at No 3 or not at all.

And no less loud should be the Kevin Pietersen argument. He took one excellent catch, but otherwise fielded very poorly. He didn’t score runs again. What is happening, Kev? Time is running out in international one-day cricket.

What of Ian Bell? A very sound observer of the game recently told me that he thought Bell is currently the best batsman in the world. But he can’t make it into England’s one-day side. It is a curiosity.

Is Samit Patel really good enough to be a second spinner in ODIs? I’m not sure, and I was championing his cause before the World Cup, when I was lamenting his sloth as regards fitness.

These are a lot of questions that need answering. It is only one game, yes, but it is too familiar a scenario. Should we panic? How can England turn things around?

Thoughts please, especially from my Indian friends, who must be very happy again now!

Plate Contests, Neutral Refs, Overpriced Tickets and Openside Flankers

Week six here in New Zealand and it's a twiddling thumbs moment as we wind down from the quarter-finals and wait for the high-octane weekend ahead. So, a few thoughts:

 

1 ) Why isn't there a plate competition for the best losers in the pool stages? A football World Cup gathers pace in the knockout stages: RWC has no option but to take a breather because of the battering players take.  As the teams begin to rev up here in Auckland, wouldn't it be a great focal point to be heading off tonight to, say, Hamilton for the semi-final plate game between Samoa and Japan, then to Rotorua tomorrow for Fiji against Canada? Money, as ever, is the root reason why not. I say there has to be a way round it. These countries crave exposure and competition. This is a way to get both.

2) Discussion point. Would it matter if Steve Walsh, a Kiwi by birth, an Aussie by trade now, were to referee a final between the All Blacks and whomever? I say not. Just as Geoff Coooke once said that he wouldn't mind if Clive Norling did every England-Wales game, so the same is true now. Give the best man the whistle. As for Walsh, well what a comeback. He's been criticised, and rightly so, but he's served his time and is the best whistler here.

3 ) Memo to RWC 2015. Don't price every bugger out of the market. It's galling to see empty seats as there were at the quarter-finals. The host union can only gets its quid back through tickets sales. That's why the tickets available were at around £200. It will be even more for Wales-France on Saturday. Tickets are still available. Better to reduce revenue to increase atmosphere and spectacle.

4) This has been the tournament of the no.7s. David Pocock's display for the Wallabies against South Africa was the best individual performance of any player in any position. Brussow's injury might have helped, and, by the by, would Ireland have beaten Australia if Pocock had played that day? I only ask. Sean O'Brien v Pocock would have been worth the admission price alone. Greatest ever no 7 ? Great man of Samoa and New Zealand, Michael Jones. Unless you think differently, of course.

Rugby World Cup 2011: "Result! I desperately wanted England to lose to France"

Now, just before my many critics vent their spleen in rants about me being anti-English, anti-northern hemisphere, anti-Johnson, whatever, take note of this: the headline is not me saying it.

No, the headline is the sentiment of some mates – all of them England born and bred, all of them regular visitors to Twickenham, all of them with a red-rosed white shirt in their closets. In short, all true-blue England fans.

It may sound bizarre for England fans to say that, but there's method in their reasoning… That an early exit at RWC 2011 will possibly and hopefully prevent an even bigger embarrassment on home soil at RWC 2015. Or put another way, that defeat to France would stun England into making wholesale changes – in management, in player selection, in playing style.

As one mate put it: "If England go on to reach the final in New Zealand – even if they lose –  Martin Johnson and the RFU will simply believe that all is okay with English rugby. And we'll forever have an impotent backline and stick to players well past their best and tactics good enough to beat mediocre opposition but inferior to the top sides."

And let's face it, France were far from great in Wellington. Committed, determined and workmanlike with the occasional flash of brilliance – but England lost this match as much as Les Bleus won it.

It will be a bitter pill for England fans to swallow. But maybe, just maybe, my England mates are right… this bitter pill could well prove to have a sugar coating.

As for the first quarter-final, wow! Wales were simply sensational. Direct, incisive running combined with tackling of an intensity not often seen, made them full value for the semi-finals – and final if they repeat this power show.

In a strange way, defeat for Ireland could have a similar clear-out effect to that of England. And they should start with old man Ronan O'Gara … two terrible knock-ons with Ireland hard on attack and two terribly overcooked kicks for touch took the sting out of Ireland's running – and Wales needed no second invitation. 

Do you agree with my mates? What was really wrong with England and Ireland on the day? Let me know!

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt

Rugby World Cup 2011: abject England face big decisions on future of set-up after defeat to France

When the end came it was wretched, rather than noble. An ignominious exit from the Rugby World Cup in contrast to the nobility shown earlier in the evening by Ireland.

England, regrettably, saved one of their most awful displays for the most important point in the tournament.

They were abject in the first half, devoid of any sense of fluency, understanding and accuracy, looking for all the world as if they had just met up.

Now that the road has come to an end for England, the next question will be as to what the future holds for Martin Johnson.

This is England's worst performance at a World Cup since 1999 and serious questions were raised then about the suitability of keeping Clive Woodward on board.

Of course we know what happened on that occasion but this has been a World Cup riddled with controversy, ill discipline and underperforming.

Johnson will have to answer some searching questions as to the England set-up when the squad return home early next week.

Even though there was improvement after the break in England's play, with tries scored by Ben Foden and Mark Cueto.

There was a still a sense of desperation in much of what England did. France did have to hang on, grimly at times, as they conceded penalty after penalty, but no-one could dispute that they were the better team on the evening.

Given that they themselves had been such a rabble up to this stage, the fact that England were unable to take advantage of such disarray in their camp can only add to the sense of failure.

England had promised int he build-up that for almost the first time in this campaign they would make a good start. It was anything but.

Once again there were errors galore, rushed passes and when there was no need to force the issue, and a singular lack of cohesion.

Given that all the talk just prior to the match had been as to who would be England's goal-kicker it was astonishing that neither Jonny Wilkinson or Toby Flood had a penalty kick at goal in the entire match.

Wilkinson's conversion of Foden's try in the 55th minute was his only telling contribution.

As he traipsed from the field in the 66th minute for Matt Banahan you did wonder if that was the last you might see of him in an England shirt.

He has made no such suggestion himself but you feel his time might be coming to an end. As with much of his play in the pool stages, Wilkinson was again hesitant and unable to trigger anything of great significance in the England backline.

The eagerly anticipated combination with Toby Flood yielded precisely nothing. Only the man outside Manu tuilagi, was able to draw anything from the evening in terms of satisfaction.

Once again Tuilagi for long stretches of the game was England's lone attacking threat.

The journey home will be a sobering one for England and they have failed to get anywhere near the heights that they did last year when Australia were beaten twice. There was solace in their attacking game but they have shown so little over the last five weeks.

France, now, have redeemed themselves and are a threat to anybody in this World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 2011: Close encounters of the quarter-final kind… with wins for NZ, England, SA and Ireland

Twelve wannabe pretenders to the crown are already snugly tucked up in bed at home – and four more will have joined them come Sunday night. But who will they be?

At face value two of the weekend’s quarter-finals look to be safe bets, and two are absolute humdingers that only a fool would re-mortgage the house for to lay a bet.

But all eight teams, some more convincingly than others, have deserved their place in the knockout stage – and you just have to think back to Cardiff at RWC 2007 that no quarter-final is signed and sealed before the kick-off.

And while purely of academic interest, how different might the draw have looked if the outcomes of a few close games had been reversed… if Argentina had held on to their lead against England, if Scotland had not choked against the Pumas, if the world rankings had held sway between Australia and Ireland?? But that’s how this wonderful game goes, and now we’re guaranteed a southern v northern hemisphere final.

So here some thoughts and predictions… and would like to hear your take on the weekend.

New Zealand v Argentina One of the two ‘bankers’. Even without Dan Carter, even with Richie McCaw carrying an injury, the All Blacks should have far too much class for the enthusiastic but ultimately limited Pumas. There should be some parity among the tight five, the All Black loosies should secure plenty of fast ball, and the backs will have a field day. Game over. New Zealand 32 Argentina 15.

England v France The game between the two teams who’ve made more off-field headlines than set the world alight with their play. The drinking, kissing, lewd dwarf-tossers versus the bitching in-fighters intent on starting a new French revolution. Martin Johnson’s team have hardly been electrifying, squeaking past only reasonable opposition in Argentina and Scotland.

But so be it, they key is they stayed composed and won – and nothing else matters. France, in turn, have been a disgrace, and are the only team to have lost two matches and still qualified for the play-offs.

All signs point to a convincing win for England – and deservedly so. But this – need we any reminding? – is France. Tempestuous, arrogant mavericks that can lose by 50 today and beat the same opposition by two tomorrow. Supporters will hope, opponents will fear, that they have their customary 80 minutes of sublime RWC magic in them, when every bounce of the ball goes their way.

Just don’t see that happening. This France team make their 2010 Football World Cup counterparts look smart and disciplined, while England have enough grunt upfront to silence the calls of Allez Bleus. England 28 France 17.

Australia v South Africa Compelling, fascinating, thrilling… almost an injustice that the world No 2 and 3 teams should meet so early, and a match that won’t be settled until the final 10 minutes. If the Wallaby loose forwards compete like they did against New Zealand in Brisbane in August, and free up their hard-running backs, they could sneak this one. But the Springboks have shown in close matches against Wales and Samoa that they know how to hold their nerve. South Africa 21 Australia 18.

Ireland v Wales To neutrals surely the match-up of the weekend. Ireland, so brilliant against Australia, have gone about the business with understated grit and determination, throwing the pre-RWC form book right out of the window. A true all-round side, boasting presence upfront, a magnificent back-row and hard-running backs. And there’s the rub… with slightly different emphasis, we could say the same about Wales, who’ve done well to overcome that heart-breaking defeat in their opener to the Springboks.

I’ve tossed my lucky 50p coin untold times – and still it’s even between tails and heads. A draw perhaps at full-time with the tie settled in extra time? Virtually impossible to call in on-field skill, so I’ll predict it on perceived mental strength. Ireland, I think, just have that bit more self-belief than Wales, so it’s Brian O’Driscoll’s team by a whisker. Ireland 24 Wales 22.

Prepared to put a tenner on each of the outcomes. How do you see it?

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Predictions – Too little too late for Scotland, Samoa and Italy in battle of bonus points

Take your pick of headlines for this weekend’s rugby… Sweet and sour success for Scotland; Big hits but little luck for Samoa; Pasta and basta for Italy.

All three are tantalisingly close to the play-offs, but for different reasons they’ll all fall short of a quarter-final place.

Welcome to the start of the real world cup, a newspaper headline in Auckland read today, and they’re right. Come Sunday night and there will be elation and depression in almost equal measure. It’s the weekend of the bonus points.

Amazingly at this late stage in the pool games, only New Zealand are absolutely guaranteed a quarter-final berth irrespective of what happens in Pool A. Canada could still pip France to the runners-up place, but only a double-deluded dunce would see them beat the All Blacks with a bonus point in the process and France lose heavily to Tonga. So that’s settled.

Then it becomes interesting. Pools B and D will require bonus points to upset the current standings. Argentina will no doubt smash Georgia, so Scotland need not only beat old foe England at Eden Park on Saturday, but do so with four tries and deny England a losing bonus point.

A haggis or two too far? Absolutely – as Scottish fans here in Auckland readily admit. And yet, will this required hell-for-leather approach liberate the Scots for once and see them throw all caution to the wind?

I’ll predict Scotland to actually score a try or two – despite their lame duck performances at RWC 2011 so far – but to fall short in the end (and possibly even get beaten by England at the death as the clock ticks down and the dream dies fast). Scotland 21 England 19.

Likewise in Pool D, where the current table topper could still depart home on Monday. On most days I’d say smash-and-run Samoa have four tries in them, but they’ve looked hesitant at RWC2011 while South Africa are showing sharp and ruthless signs. Wales will do the business comfortably against Fiji on Sunday, so it’s goodbye Samoa at North Harbour on Friday. South Africa 37 Samoa 22.

The biggest and most intriguing battle looms in Pool C, where unbeaten Ireland could still exit early. And Italy don’t even need to score four tries to make that happen – though they’ll have to deny Declan Kidney’s team a losing bonus point.

But that’s poppycock. Italy's forwards are mostly awesome, but their backs often make a plate of spaghetti look orderly and organised. So Ireland 28 Italy 13.

Fair calls or ramblings of a madman as we start this weekend of shock and awe? Your calls please…

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, suppliers of Creatine to Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh Rugby Team.

England squad face Dad’s Army Test

Roller on the floor laughing: two British comedy greats of yesteryear

In which England's South African-born cricketers get some cultural education on a sad day for British comedy

Graham Gooch shepherded the England squad into the room. A sign on the door read: “Batting Coach’s Office and Haircare Laboratory. NO Ethereal Leicestershire Left-Handers.”

Gooch looked hangdog and upset. More than usually so.

“Boys,” he said. “The announcement of an England squad is a happy day, particularly when we can welcome a new player into the fold.”

Stuart Meaker was patted on the back by his colleagues. Jonathan Trott began to lead the traditional team celebration anthem: “Ek gelofte my groen en aangename reis vanaf Heathrow lughawe na jou” (“I vow to thee my green and pleasant journey from Heathrow airport”), but Gooch shushed him.

“But this is also a sad day. David Croft, who wrote the immortal British sitcom ‘Dad’s Army’, has passed away.”

There were blank looks all round.

“As I have said in the past,” sighed Gooch. “Nobody minds where a player is born these days, as long as he can pass the Dad’s Army test. Does he find Captain Mainwaring and the rest hilarious? If so: that's English enough for me.”

He wrestled an Official Team England analysis laptop from the grasp of Ian Bell.

“Championship Manager later, Belly,” said Gooch. “Once you’ve practised concentrating really hard and done 2000 squat thrusts.”

He inserted a DVD. ‘Don’t Tell Him, Pike’ played.

Gooch laughed. Alastair Cook watched the coach carefully, and then joined in.

“I’m writing a sitcom,” shouted Graeme Swann. “It’s about a brilliant comedian trapped in the body of a sporting hero, and he’s got a pet cat called Tweet who drives him around in a car when they’ve all had a few drinks.”

Jade Dernbach raised his hand.

“Mr Goochie, bru. I mean sir. I don’t understand why it’s funny,” he said.

“Is it because that bossy old man has got a silly moustache?” asked Craig Kieswetter.

“There is nothing funny about that at all, you stupid boy,” shouted Gooch.

“No, you okes,” said Jonathan Trott. “It’s funny because they are laughing at foreigners.”

“I don’t think that’s very nice,” said Stuart Meaker. “Not in this day and age.”

“That’s the problem with you lot,” said Gooch. “You have absolutely no sense of humour.”

New Zealand Threaten to Boycott RWC2015 – How to Dump in Your Own Backyard

What was NZRFU chief executive, Steve Tew, thinking when he revealed a veiled threat to boycott the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England? Talk about  injecting a sour note into the party. Cross refer to Wednesday's Telegraph for full story. The essence, as ever, is that they want more money. World Cups are a costly business. All the major unions lose money because they're normally filling their coffers at that time staging test matches. Much of the money from a World Cup gets ploughed back into developing the game worldwide.

 

That's for the likes of Samoa and Namibia and Canada and Japan and Russia, all those tier two nations that have brought so much noise and colour and distinctiveness to this World Cup. Some of them are no longer here because they had the schedule from hell foisted on them, 4 games in 14 days. The All Blacks or England or South Africa or France would soon be bleating about that. Instead the minnows gave it their best shot, making the most of adversity. It's not fair and it's not a level playing field. You get on with it.

 

So, go ahead Steve, pull the All Blacks out of the 2015 World Cup. It will still take place, it will still be vibrant and inclusive as this World Cup has been. Will anybody miss the All Blacks? Only the All Blacks themselves.

Rugby World Cup 2011: England show they are getting better with every game in big win over Romania

This was little more than a training run for England, one in which they executed things slickly and with purpose.

In that regard they can be satisfied with their evening’s work, 10 tries is a decent return in anybody’s book, a bonus point secured and the prospect of a quarter-final place tantalising close.  They will be through if Argentina fail to beat Scotland on Sunday.

Uplifting as the performance might be for England fans, there was a sadness in the hearts of those who would like to see the second tier nations being given a fair crack. Romania, with 11 changes, had their sights set firmly on what will be their World Cup final when they play Georgia next Wednesday. These four-day turnarounds have really taken their toll with some scorelines that embarrassingly blown out this week.

England though had been looking for a more polished display and they got it. Their attacking game had been faltering, interaction between backs and forwards fractured. The fact that the backs scored nine of the tries tells you all you need to know about the quality of the ball. It was fast and decisive.

Mark Cueto made a welcome bow in the tournament with his rat-a-tat hat-trick in the first 26 minutes, the Sale wing showing that he had fully shaken off the back injury which has delayed his entrance in the tournament. Cueto’s work rate has always been admirable but his finishing has tailed off. The three tries were all well taken, Cueto being in the right place at the right time.

Chris Ashton, inevitably perhaps, couldn’t allow anyone to steal his limelight and he showed a true finisher’s instinct. He has been searching for a bit of form himself so this was good to see also.

And what of the ill discipline that so annoyed Martin Johnson last week? Well, England were not without blemish, dropping back into old errant habits when a little bit of pressure came on but there was at least some sign of improvement.

England didn’t allow themselves to get too loose and overeager even though it was obvious that Romania were there for the taking. Often in games like this individuals can go glory hunting but there was a refreshing sense of England playing as a team.

Five tries were scored in either half indicating that they were determined to keep their shape and keep their pedal to the floor.

The wings did well, of course, the fly-halves shared a half each, and performed as one would expect, reliably so in all phases. The scrummage had the occasional creak but there were sound performances from Alex Corbisiero, Tom Croft and, albeit occasionally ragged at the base, from James Haskell.

England are moving through the gears, all too aware that Scotland at Eden Park next Saturday will be a tougher test all together.

Wales Robbed by Duff Call and Question Marks about Ball

Why, oh why didn't Wayne Barnes go to the TMO when there was clearly doubt about James Hook's penalty kick in the 14th minute? The technology is there. Use it. It may not even have been conclusive but while there is doubt, there is controversy. Wales deserve better, so does the game.

 

But what a game. Not one of the Welsh bleaterd about the result or Barnes' stance. Good on them. That shouldn't stop us though. Was he right or wrong?

 

A few other thoughts before heading out of rainy Wellington to Queenstown where England are based.

Is there anything wrong with the World Cup ball or did Jonny just have a nightmare evening? James Hook missed a late one too, not to mention drop goal miss by Rhys Priestland.

Is there a better prospect in Britain and Ireland than Sam Warburton? A Lions captain in the making.

Didn't England look a ragged bunch in those black shirts, numbers falling off their back. Mind you, no-one in England complains when the Kiwis wear a white change strip. Too precious by half AB fans. It's the silver fern that defines the shirt not a shade of colour.

Rugby World Cup 2011: a mixed bag of good and bad, of deserving winners and desperately unlucky losers

What an opening weekend! After a fairly meek and predictable start to proceedings on Friday, the tension and intensity just got better and better, and it's fair to say there were some very deserved winners and some very unlucky losers.

A quick 'soundbyte' on each of the big teams – who's starting to look good and who's not – and then let me have your thoughts please.

New Zealand Pretty flash in the first half against a very plucky Tonga, pretty flat and sloppy in the second – something they simply can't afford to be against better teams. Still, will be happy to have had a proper workout and to have survived opening night without major injuries. Will need to step up seriously.

Scotland So nearly terribly embarrassed. Came into this tournament very confident after a good run of warm-ups, but will have feet very firmly on the ground again. Play like this against England and Argentina, and you'll have an early taste of Scottish sleet back home.

England Disjointed and slightly backwards for most of the match, but ultimately had the nous and seized the moment to deny Argentina. All credit to them for that. They have the bloody-mindedness to compete with the top boys, but still looked flat on attack and discipline could easily trip them up. Were deservedly on the receiving end of the penalty count and Courtney Lawes' penchant for being the enforcer may yet cost them dearly. Good enough for the quarter-finals, but then?

Argentina Brave, brilliant and battered – were in serious danger of clearing their bench by half-time – but continued to show magnificent commitment. Yes, profited from Jonny Wilkinson having a horror show with the boot, but also squandered a good few kicks themselves. Possible progress now depends on how well they mentally deal with this heartbreaking loss – and whether New Zealand has enough plasters to tape their broken bodies together. Alarm bells whispering.

 France Another embarrassment was on the cards but hey, this is France. Highly unlikely to lose any sleep over this. A typical French shoulder shrug, a nonchalant lift of the eyebrows, and it's on to the next match. Deep down Les Bleus will know that they'll have one of those magic days when everything clicks. Will hope it comes against New Zealand on Sep 24 or in the quarter-final. Jury still out.

Australia A bit flat in first half and well matched by the Italians, but take the weekend's points for a brilliant, decisive and clinical second half. Have the most reason of all to feel very optimistic.

Italy So much promise in first half, then fell off tackles and had no answer to the Wallabies' power and precision. Likely to have felt pretty miserable immediately after their match, but would have perked up on watching their most likely contenders for runner-up spot in the pool, Ireland, struggle against inferior opposition. Like Silvio Berlusconi, a dead man walking or will they rise up?

Ireland See the surprise  on the Irish faces at the end? They'd almost forgotten what it felt like to win. And let's be honest here, on this showing they're likely to forget it soon again. It simply beats me how so many fabulous players and individuals can be so average as a unit. Their showdown with Italy will be massive.

South Africa Would be harsh to call them the weekend's most undeserving winners, but very tempting to do just that. Looked tired, harassed and there for the taking – then showed just enough game management to prevail. No matter how ugly or how close, first blood and four points to the Springboks. Deep down, though, they'll know that big trouble could yet loom further down the line.

Wales Brilliant for the most part, clueless when it mattered most. And I'm not talking only about conceding that try, that contentious penalty or James Hook missing his last penalty attempt, but when, on the attack and only a few minutes to go, they were so desperate and so frenzied to attack that they failed to commit enough players to the breakdown and simply got bulldozed off the ball. Suddenly the Boks had the ball in their hands, the bit between their teeth and the points in the bag. Wales have worked hard on most aspects of the game and their fitness – now they must very quickly learn the meaning of composure. Their progress – or not – depends entirely on how they mentally respond to this gutting, galling defeat.

 As for the others, hats off to Fiji for an entertaining win, and all the other teams for entertaining, plucky defeats. Opening weekend is over and nobody's been disgraced. My only disappointment of the tournament so far is the seemingly big blocks of empty seats at some of the games (even some of the bigger ones). What's going on there?

Your take on the weekend's action please! And I'll name the winner of the Maximuscle gear and products tomorrow. 

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt

England so lucky to escape Argentina battering

England were lucky, oh so lucky. The Otago stadium may well be hermetically sealed as an indoor venue but the collective sigh of relief from the thousands of England fans at the final whistle made a significant noise as it reverberated around the ground.

England had said all week that they knew what was headed their way, an Argentine tempest, the fury and elemental force that had taken the 2007 Rugby World Cup by storm.

Yet for long stretches of this match, England looked completely and utterly bewildered by what was happening. They were bullied off the ball, unable to get any sort of foothold, and if Argentina had had a reliable goal-kicker then England might never have been able to get back into the game.

Argentina missed 18 points with the boot (21 if you count a speculative drop goal attempt), and although Jonny Wilkinson himself fluffed five successive penalty shots, England would have been out of the reckoning by then.

Argentina also lost their key playmaker, Felipe Conteponi, as well as centre Gonzalo Tiesi.

All in all, this was an England display lacking in tempo, intensity, imagination and gumption. England managed to wriggle out of a desperately fraught situation only through the impact of their replacement bench.

Dylan Hartley and Matt Stevens injected some much needed urgency to the forward play while scrum-half Ben Young, scampering brightly on his return from injury, scored the decisive try in the 65th minute.

Wilkinson added a conversion and then a penalty, and England had somehow escaped.

The rest of the world will not be quaking at this performance.

New Zealand-France, now that would have opened the Rugby World Cup with a bang

Just after dawn here on the opening day of RWC 2011. The sun is already bright down here in Dunedin. It's had a bad press has Dunedin as a cold, distant place. Couldn't be further from the truth. It's been a great week's build-up to England's opening game. All looking forward to the stadium. I'm not a fan of the Aviva in Dublin, great from the outside, poor and lacking in old Lansdowne Rd atmosphere inside. I don't like the Millennium with its roof shut either. And yet the Otago Stadium, an indoor stadium, looks is if it might be the business.

Anyway, table talk from Thursday night. Why wasn't the opening game NZ-France,  the sort of attention-grabbing fixture that we had in 2007 when France hosted Argentina? The Pumas' victory put the tournament on the map straight away. Much as RWC 2011 dominates the airwaves here, it needs to make an impact in Europe. The All Blacks facing France would have ensured that.

A few thoughts.

1 ) England will win with reasonable ease on Saturday but will struggle against Scotland. I fancy Andy Robinson's side might be the surprise package.

2 ) Wales to beat South Africa. And if they don't, then they won't qualify from their group.

3 ) NZ will beat France and stroll through the pool. And that could yet be their undoing later in the tournament . They didn't get tested in 2007, and didn't test themselves in the build-up by their daft policy of rotation, and it cost them.

4 ) The Wallabies to win RWC 2011 ( maybe )  

5 ) Hats off to New Zealand. They've done a smashing job so far in staging the event. There's been a real buzz this past few days, everyone is getting involved, the volunteers have been wonderful and there's a freal sense of people swinging behind the entire event. Take a bow Kiwis!

 

New Zealand-France, now that would have opened RWC with a bang

Just after dawn here on the opening day of RWC 2011. The sun is already bright down here in Dunedin. It's had a bad press has Dunedin as a cold, distant place. Couldn't be further from the truth. It's been a great week's build-up to England's opening game. All looking forward to the stadium. I'm not a fan of the Aviva in Dublin, great from the outside, poor and lacking in old Lansdowne Rd atmosphere inside. I don't like the Millennium with its roof shut either. And yet the Otago Stadium, an indoor stadium, looks is if it might be the business.

 

Anyway, table talk from Thursday night. Why wasn't the opening game NZ-France,  the sort of attention-grabbing fixture that we had in 2007 when France hosted Argentina? The Pumas' victory put the tournament on the map straight away. Much as RWC 2011 dominates the airwaves here, it needs to make an impact in Europe. The All Blacks facing France would have ensured that.

A few thoughts.

1 ) England will win with reasonable ease on Saturday but will stuggle against Scotland. I fancy Andy Robinson's side might be the surprise package.

2 ) Wales to beat South Africa. And if they don't, then they won't qualify from their group.

3 ) NZ will beat France and stroll through the pool. And that could yet be their undoing later in the tournament . They didn't get tested in 2007, and didn't test themselves in the build-up by their daft policy of rotation, and it cost them.

4 ) The Wallabies to win RWC 2011 ( maybe )  

5 ) Hats off to New Zealand. They've done a smashing job so far in staging the event. There's been a real buzz this past few days, everyone is getting involved, the volunteers have been wonderful and there's a freal sense of people swinging behind the entire event. Take a bow Kiwis!

 

Rugby World Cup 2011: My predictions – Scotland to beat England, an early exit for Ireland, Wales to top Pool D

Under 24 hours to go to Rugby World Cup 2011 kick-off (at the time of writing), so time to spell out how I think the pools will develop. Is this what I hope will happen, or think will occur? Not entirely sure myself – probably a mix of voices from the heart and the head – but no matter, here goes.

And please let me know how and where you agree or disagree.

Pool A

Very much a two-horse race, with the only real significant match on September 24 between New Zealand and their nemesis, France. On paper you'd have to say the All Blacks, but then you think back to 1999 and 2007, and suddenly it's one of THE biggest pool matches imaginable.

Can Les Bleus upset the apple cart true and proper by beating the hosts? Both will obviously want to win the group – thereby, on paper at least, securing an 'easier' quarter-final – but Pool B is wide open and coming second in Pool A might ultimately not be a massive price to pay.

Being the hosts has huge pros and cons for NZ – possibly unbearable pressure and expectations, but also masses of support. The current All Blacks seem to be open and relaxed, mingling with the public and coming across confident. Compare that with the siege mentality of previous campaigns (and failures), and they may just be on to a good thing here.

Prediction 1 NZ, 2 France.

Pool B

One of two 'pools of death'. And gut feel says this is so tight to call that bonus points – for scoring four tries or more or losing by seven points or under – may just come heavily into play.

Yes, Argentina seem not to be the force they were in 2007, but I think they may still be good enough to trouble their opponents. Fence-sitting? No way! England to beat the Pumas by a comfortable few, before backs-against-the-wall Argentina rumble Scotland.

All which sets up the group perfectly for a killer clash at Eden Park on October 1. And in an ugly, messy, attritional slug-fest among the two packs, I predict the Scots to squeeze home by a point or two (all courtesy of kicks). And so we're back in bonus-points territory and possibly points difference.

Prediction 1 England, 2 Scotland.

Pool C

The most predictable in terms of who'll finish on top. Can't see any of the four teams remotely threatening Australia. The Wallabies are also in the comfortable position of having played their two 'big' pool opponents by September 17, allowing some rest for key players in preparation for the play-offs.

Who'll finish second is the exciting bit. On paper it would seem to be Ireland by a country mile – but Italy will fancy their chances given Ireland's lacklustre warm-ups and the narrow 11-13 defeat in Rome in February. Having both lost to the Aussies come October 2, I think the pressure will simply mess with the Irish players' heads. Their dismal RWC record will play on their minds – and continue.

Prediction 1 Australia, 2 Italy.

Pool D

The most physical, closely contested group of the lot – and the other one in which bonus points could determine the final standings. Spare a thought for Namibia, who will be lambs to the slaughter in every match. And much as I like the Fijian way of playing – and despite their heroics last year – this year they'll end fourth in the pool, leaving it to South Africa, Wales and Samoa to slug it out.

This may sound like a caveat, but much depends on whether Wales learn to play the full 80 minutes or stick to exerting themselves only in the last 40, which, against the Boks and Samoa, could mean both games are lost for them by half-time.

Much has been made of Samoa's win over Australia in July, but it was against a mix-and-match team, so I'm going to discount that slightly. Ultimately, then, I somehow believe Wales will win both matches while South Africa's rather boring but efficient kick-and-chase game will stifle Samoa (of course, and I expect some biffo from both, this match could be won by the team who earns the fewer yellow/red cards).

Prediction 1 Wales, 2 South Africa.

Now kick that ball in anger!

Finally, you can still enter the competition to win Maximuscle gear and products by predicting the England v Argentina and Wales v South Africa scores (see the previous blog).

And very finally, my predictions for the big opening matches: NZ 35 Tonga 13, England 22 Argentina 10, Wales 20 South Africa 17. Now let the games begin.

Follow me on Twitter @lookdownsouth

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team, go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt

Rugby World Cup 2011: My predictions – Scotland to beat England, an early exit for Ireland, Wales to top Pool C

Under 24 hours to go to Rugby World Cup 2011 kick-off (at the time of writing), so time to spell out how I think the pools will develop. Is this what I hope will happen, or think will occur? Not entirely sure myself – probably a mix of voices from the heart and the head – but no matter, here goes.

And please let me know how and where you agree or disagree.

Pool A

Very much a two-horse race, with the only real significant match on September 24 between New Zealand and their nemesis, France. On paper you'd have to say the All Blacks, but then you think back to 1999 and 2007, and suddenly it's one of THE biggest pool matches imaginable.

Can Les Bleus upset the apple cart true and proper by beating the hosts? Both will obviously want to win the group – thereby, on paper at least, securing an 'easier' quarter-final – but Pool B is wide open and coming second in Pool A might ultimately not be a massive price to pay.

Being the hosts has huge pros and cons for NZ – possibly unbearable pressure and expectations, but also masses of support. The current All Blacks seem to be open and relaxed, mingling with the public and coming across confident. Compare that with the siege mentality of previous campaigns (and failures), and they may just be on to a good thing here.

Prediction 1 NZ, 2 France.

Pool B

One of two 'pools of death'. And gut feel says this is so tight to call that bonus points – for scoring four tries or more or losing by seven points or under – may just come heavily into play.

Yes, Argentina seem not to be the force they were in 2007, but I think they may still be good enough to trouble their opponents. Fence-sitting? No way! England to beat the Pumas by a comfortable few, before backs-against-the-wall Argentina rumble Scotland.

All which sets up the group perfectly for a killer clash at Eden Park on October 1. And in an ugly, messy, attritional slug-fest among the two packs, I predict the Scots to squeeze home by a point or two (all courtesy of kicks). And so we're back in bonus-points territory and possibly points difference.

Prediction 1 England, 2 Scotland.

Pool C

The most predictable in terms of who'll finish on top. Can't see any of the four teams remotely threatening Australia. The Wallabies are also in the comfortable position of having played their two 'big' pool opponents by September 17, allowing some rest for key players in preparation for the play-offs.

Who'll finish second is the exciting bit. On paper it would seem to be Ireland by a country mile – but Italy will fancy their chances given Ireland's lacklustre warm-ups and the narrow 11-13 defeat in Rome in February. Having both lost to the Aussies come October 2, I think the pressure will simply mess with the Irish players' heads. Their dismal RWC record will play on their minds – and continue.

Prediction 1 Australia, 2 Italy.

Pool D

The most physical, closely contested group of the lot – and the other one in which bonus points could determine the final standings. Spare a thought for Namibia, who will be lambs to the slaughter in every match. And much as I like the Fijian way of playing – and despite their heroics last year – this year they'll end fourth in the pool, leaving it to South Africa, Wales and Samoa to slug it out.

This may sound like a caveat, but much depends on whether Wales learn to play the full 80 minutes or stick to exerting themselves only in the last 40, which, against the Boks and Samoa, could mean both games are lost for them by half-time.

Much has been made of Samoa's win over Australia in July, but it was against a mix-and-match team, so I'm going to discount that slightly. Ultimately, then, I somehow believe Wales will win both matches while South Africa's rather boring but efficient kick-and-chase game will stifle Samoa (of course, and I expect some biffo from both, this match could be won by the team who earns the fewer yellow/red cards).

Prediction 1 Wales, 2 South Africa.

Now kick that ball in anger!

Finally, you can still enter the competition to win Maximuscle gear and products by predicting the England v Argentina and Wales v South Africa scores (see the previous blog).

And very finally, my predictions for the big opening matches: NZ 35 Tonga 13, England 22 Argentina 10, Wales 20 South Africa 17. Now let the games begin.

Follow me on Twitter @lookdownsouth

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team, go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt

Why England are doing us all a favour by playing so badly

Muddling through: Wayne Rooney is the one shining star in England's indifferent current crop

It’s the hope that kills you with England. In recent years the hope has come from increasingly desperate places. In Euro 2004 it came from a prodigious 18-year-old called Wayne Rooney. He’d score our goals. He’d lead us to glory. He’d tell us what to do.

In 2006 hope became a year younger in the form of 17-year-old Theo Walcott. When it became apparent he was in Germany merely as a tourist, I canned logic and put my faith in meaningless precedents. We couldn’t lose on penalties again, surely? “It’s our time,” I argued. “It’s the law of averages. How can it be that difficult for a team of professionals to win on penalties?” In the quarter finals against Portugal we scored one of our four penalties, David Beckham cried, and we all went home.

Last year things took a truly forlorn turn. With other avenues for optimism destroyed by a sobering failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and by years of painful, repeated evidence of ineptitude, I remember glibly predicting we’d win the World Cup because “we’ve got a very nice kit.”

We had also qualified impressively, but qualifying isn’t proof of anything other than an ability to steer clear of horrible embarrassment. Passing a driving test doesn’t make you Sebastian Vettel, it just demonstrates you can operate at a competent enough level not to run over pedestrians. And maybe do a reverse parking manoeuvre.

A central midfield three of Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and James Milner is very much the reverse park of football: unspectacular, dull and unlikely to impress anyone. But like putting your car neatly between two others, such an uninspiring trio is also necessary sometimes.

Capello’s system is defined by a midfield that stops the opponents from playing and looks to spread the ball wide to create chances. Fine, but what happens against technically superior teams like Germany, Spain, Holland or Italy? Is the solid but resolutely one-footed Stewart Downing likely to unlock their defences under pressure at an international tournament?

It’s a system that does a job in qualifiers, as evidenced by Capello’s good-on-paper record since taking charge, but has an in-built admittance of inferiority which gives England supporters no cause for optimism whatsoever at Po-kraine 2012.

Frankly, this is for the best. There is no way England can match the aforementioned teams with its current crop of players. Wayne Rooney is the only member of the squad who consistently displays the touch, awareness and skill to trouble international sides.

We are a quarter-finals sort of team, and without a remarkable turnaround in footballing ability or a gigantic slice of fortune it’s unlikely we’ll be anything more than that for the next generation.

And yet… there’s always one plucky underdog that unexpectedly goes the distance in the finals. And the last time expectations were as low as they are these days was Italia ’90. Look how that turned out! Glorious defeat, sure. But at least it came one stage later than usual.

There’s that hope again. It’s a circle more vicious than piggy in the middle sessions at Stoke.

Andy Carroll needs to take Capello warning seriously or he will fail at Liverpool

If Andy Carroll isn’t careful he will have achieved the seemingly impossible on Tyneside – made Mike Ashley look good and the decision to sell him to Liverpool for £35m a masterstroke.

There were those who, even if Carroll went on to play 100 games for England and led the Liverpool line with distinction for the best part of a decade, would have argued the money was too good to turn down.

At least they would if Newcastle had actually spent any of it on incoming transfers this summer rather than grabbed it to balance the books.

Others, the more romantic souls, who were thrilled to see a Geordie in the club’s iconic number nine shirt again, will never accept it. Well they might, if as is rumoured, Newcastle have a buy back option should Liverpool decide to part with him and Carroll returns to St James’ Park for less than they sold him for, but I’m getting off track here.

At the moment, even though Newcastle have ridiculously failed to sign a replacement for Carroll this summer despite sitting on a great big wad of cash, it is the selling club who have come off best in the deal.

The stark, brutal stats of his time at Liverpool, are this. Carroll has played 13 games for Liverpool and scored just three goals, one of which came against Exeter City in the Carling Cup. The other two in a solitary game against Manchester City.

To put the Carroll transfer into some sort of context he is the most expensive British footballer and joint 13th in the all-time world list.

Yet, this is a player who moved to Anfield after just six successful months in the Premier League. A year earlier, the young striker had not even been guaranteed a start in Newcastle’s Championship-winning promotion side.

Liverpool paid a huge price for potential, but potential isn’t always realised, particularly if the person in possession doesn’t fully appreciate what needs to be done to unlock it.

Early days of course. Carroll hasn’t even been at Anfield a year and has spent a lot of that time recovering from a niggling knee injury.

There is still plenty of time for the 22-year-old to come good and rediscover the rampaging, uncontainable old fashioned centre-forward quality he appeared to have in black and white stripes. But, for the first time in his young career, Carroll is under pressure and we don’t know if he can cope.

He is being questioned and criticised, something he never had to contend with on Tyneside. For £35m, Liverpool don’t want potential, they want performances and goals, or at least a suggestion they are on the horizon.

As a local lad, fresh faced out of the Academy, Carroll’s failings were ignored at Newcastle, his bad behaviour forgiven and his liking for a night out just part of his charm in a city where everyone, young and old, enjoys doing the same.

At Newcastle, Carroll could do no wrong. He was encouraged and supported, even when he first broke into the first team and was so raw he looked blue.

Carroll thrived in that environment as an unknown quantity and was more accustomed to having smoke blown where the sun doesn’t shine rather than kicked around the same area.

The move to Liverpool looked a good one. He would learn from an old master like Kenny Dalglish and would develop at a club which could curb his wild streak and turn him into a finely-tuned athlete.

It has not quite worked out that way. Carroll regularly returns to Newcastle to enjoy his home town and he does not appear to have curbed anything.

Dalglish is sensibly trying to protect his player and has never criticised Carroll in public, but England manager Fabio Capello will be gone in a year’s time and has no interest in the long game or the hope Carroll matures with age.

He wants performances from Carroll now and he isn’t delivering them, hence his presence in the stands, not the squad, when England beat Bulgaria last week. Carroll has looked heavy and slow so far this season and there are suggestions he has put on weight since he left Newcastle.

No wonder Capello is worried about his lifestyle. The English drinking culture is alien to the Italian, but he has a valid point where Carroll is concerned.

There was another player like Carroll who once took the Premier League by storm. He was unplayable on his day, a devastating target man defenders were terrified of. His name was Duncan Ferguson.

Ferguson was a nearly player, someone who had 10 excellent games a season when he was fully fit and firing. As he got older and his lifestyle caught up with him, his body began to protest and he spent most of his time at Everton and Newcastle injured or recovering from them.

He was a brilliant player, but he never did it enough to be considered a great. Carroll could find he is following in his footsteps.

Does anyone remember Michael Ricketts? He scored 24 goals for Bolton Wanderers as they won promotion to the Premier League and had scored another 15 by February in his first season in the top flight.

It was form that rightly earned him an England cap against Holland in 2001. His career has been in free fall ever since, taking in the delights of Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Stoke, Cardiff, Burnley, Southend, Preston, Oldham, Walsall and finally Tranmere, who released him at the end of last season.

Carroll is a far better prospect than Ricketts, but his rapid decline is a timely reminder of what can happen to one season wonders in the Premier League.

Carroll could be a magnificent centre-forward for club and country. He could be the player Newcastle supporters always dreamed he would be for them, but at the moment he is danger of becoming the most expensive transfer flop of all time. Capello’s warning must not be ignored.