Pom Bashing
11 November 2003, 10:12 AM
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Are the Aussies gutted about the prospect of us winning the RWC or what...
Epic display of England incompetence
By Simon Barnes
November 11, 2003
AT last, England have learned how to cope with the pressure of being favourites. They did it by becoming underdogs.
In an epic display of incompetence and fear, they managed to stagger past a Wales team who they were supposed to demolish.
This is a team who left England as the ultimate example of their kind, a synthesis of all that is good. Mind you, so did the Titanic.
England also have learned how to deal with the constant Australian accusations of arrogance. They have done so by becoming humble.
Throughout this World Cup we have been waiting for the moment when England emerge from the pupa of preparation as a gorgeous, victory-driven flying machine. It hasn't happened.
Metamorphosis has been put into reverse. England started as pupa and on Sunday night they crawled over the finish line like a grub.
We have been watching the preparation of this England team since the last cup and they have got everything right.
Naturally, they went into this cup as favourites. They had beaten everyone else during their preparations. Has there ever been a team better prepared?
England were a machine: sleek, polished and immaculate. The players were lean and hungry and took absolutely nothing for granted. They told us so, often.
We assumed that a very decent display in the cup was inevitable. But England have not once played well - well, that is, by the standards they have set in recent times.
We assumed that Wales would be wafted away, that this would be the match when England found their stride.
But it wasn't and it had only so much to do with the excellence of the Welsh. England met them more than halfway.
We assumed that England would at least reach the final; they go into their semi-final as underdogs after France's devastating display against Ireland.
France are playing better and better, England are going the other way. There is a bizarre expression in racing: you discount a dreadful performance because it was too bad to be true. It is the most foolish error in betting.
England have shown one good thing and one alone, and that is an ability to win matches while playing badly.
That is, of course, a mentality thing; you win not by means of excellence but because both teams expect that result. But if we measure England in terms of quality of performance, the tournament so far represents the most massive choke of all time.
In a series of faltering performances, England have resembled a team who dare not win the World Cup. They know they are good enough to beat any side in the world, but that, somehow, is not enough.
The great ones - teams, individuals - do it when it counts.
It counts now, and if England have got the results, they have failed badly in terms of quality.
The most obvious example is Jonny Wilkinson: that figure of perfection, the treasure, the nonpareil, the man who is time and again England's match-winner. He has been suffering from nothing less than an attack of the yips.
His place kicks seem to have a magnetic attraction for the posts, he muffed a drop goal, his kicking in hand was poor, his tactical choices were up the creek and his handling went dreadfully wrong.
We must salute a temperament that was able to put a personal nightmare behind him and kick flawlessly in the second half.
In fact, England played their best during the interval, and I don't mean that entirely facetiously.
They regrouped, made a decisive tactical shift and addressed the problems. It certainly wasn't a shift from mediocrity to excellence; it was a change from awful to really-not-too-bad - and that was good enough.
The Times
Epic display of England incompetence
By Simon Barnes
November 11, 2003
AT last, England have learned how to cope with the pressure of being favourites. They did it by becoming underdogs.
In an epic display of incompetence and fear, they managed to stagger past a Wales team who they were supposed to demolish.
This is a team who left England as the ultimate example of their kind, a synthesis of all that is good. Mind you, so did the Titanic.
England also have learned how to deal with the constant Australian accusations of arrogance. They have done so by becoming humble.
Throughout this World Cup we have been waiting for the moment when England emerge from the pupa of preparation as a gorgeous, victory-driven flying machine. It hasn't happened.
Metamorphosis has been put into reverse. England started as pupa and on Sunday night they crawled over the finish line like a grub.
We have been watching the preparation of this England team since the last cup and they have got everything right.
Naturally, they went into this cup as favourites. They had beaten everyone else during their preparations. Has there ever been a team better prepared?
England were a machine: sleek, polished and immaculate. The players were lean and hungry and took absolutely nothing for granted. They told us so, often.
We assumed that a very decent display in the cup was inevitable. But England have not once played well - well, that is, by the standards they have set in recent times.
We assumed that Wales would be wafted away, that this would be the match when England found their stride.
But it wasn't and it had only so much to do with the excellence of the Welsh. England met them more than halfway.
We assumed that England would at least reach the final; they go into their semi-final as underdogs after France's devastating display against Ireland.
France are playing better and better, England are going the other way. There is a bizarre expression in racing: you discount a dreadful performance because it was too bad to be true. It is the most foolish error in betting.
England have shown one good thing and one alone, and that is an ability to win matches while playing badly.
That is, of course, a mentality thing; you win not by means of excellence but because both teams expect that result. But if we measure England in terms of quality of performance, the tournament so far represents the most massive choke of all time.
In a series of faltering performances, England have resembled a team who dare not win the World Cup. They know they are good enough to beat any side in the world, but that, somehow, is not enough.
The great ones - teams, individuals - do it when it counts.
It counts now, and if England have got the results, they have failed badly in terms of quality.
The most obvious example is Jonny Wilkinson: that figure of perfection, the treasure, the nonpareil, the man who is time and again England's match-winner. He has been suffering from nothing less than an attack of the yips.
His place kicks seem to have a magnetic attraction for the posts, he muffed a drop goal, his kicking in hand was poor, his tactical choices were up the creek and his handling went dreadfully wrong.
We must salute a temperament that was able to put a personal nightmare behind him and kick flawlessly in the second half.
In fact, England played their best during the interval, and I don't mean that entirely facetiously.
They regrouped, made a decisive tactical shift and addressed the problems. It certainly wasn't a shift from mediocrity to excellence; it was a change from awful to really-not-too-bad - and that was good enough.
The Times
11 November 2003, 10:47 AM
#2
hmm. Interesting article. Whilst it is typical Australian pommy-bashing, there is more than a grain of truth behind it. England have not put in a particularly good performance in any of their matches so far. But then, neither have Australia. JW has looked very shaky in parts. He is rated as the best flyhalf in the world, but hasnt shown that form in the cup so far. Hardly surprising when so much is expected of him. The whole English game is dependent on him and when he doesnt perform, the rest of the team cant perform. But it looks like Mike Catt is the answer to that problem.
It is very easy to criticise England's performances so far, but they have won all their matches and that is all that counts. Australia are running scared because they know that if they somehow survive the semi against the All Blacks, they will probably face an England team who will have found their form (as they will have to if they are to beat France). But Australia shouldnt worry - all they have to worry about is the 3rd/4th place playoff as Carlos Spencer (who really is the best flyhalf in the world at the moment
) and the rest of the men in black are also getting ready to show their true form for the first time this weekend. Should be a good weekend of rugby.
Steve
It is very easy to criticise England's performances so far, but they have won all their matches and that is all that counts. Australia are running scared because they know that if they somehow survive the semi against the All Blacks, they will probably face an England team who will have found their form (as they will have to if they are to beat France). But Australia shouldnt worry - all they have to worry about is the 3rd/4th place playoff as Carlos Spencer (who really is the best flyhalf in the world at the moment
) and the rest of the men in black are also getting ready to show their true form for the first time this weekend. Should be a good weekend of rugby.Steve
11 November 2003, 03:10 PM
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Englands a slow burner and we are not trying to peek to early 
The Aussie press are a bunch of w@nkers who can't stop talking about the mother country,cut the strings guys IMHO
Btw isn't Simon Barnes a ex England player,i'm sure i've seen him on Sky?? or is he quoting someone else??
[Edited by planky - 11/11/2003 3:14:25 PM]
The Aussie press are a bunch of w@nkers who can't stop talking about the mother country,cut the strings guys IMHO
Btw isn't Simon Barnes a ex England player,i'm sure i've seen him on Sky?? or is he quoting someone else??
[Edited by planky - 11/11/2003 3:14:25 PM]
11 November 2003, 06:28 PM
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IMHO
England have suffered from lack of protection of their number 10. With Rich Hill on the sideline, the back row just aren't managing to stop the opposition back row coming through. This has caused the outside half to be pressured into making poor decisions.
Mike Catt coming on certainly aleviated the problem by changing the tactics, but England need to cure the problem and I think the return of Hill will do that. Lets just hope he's fit in time because France have the best back row in the world and without Hill, Jonny will see an aweful lot of Betsen extremely close up!
England have suffered from lack of protection of their number 10. With Rich Hill on the sideline, the back row just aren't managing to stop the opposition back row coming through. This has caused the outside half to be pressured into making poor decisions.
Mike Catt coming on certainly aleviated the problem by changing the tactics, but England need to cure the problem and I think the return of Hill will do that. Lets just hope he's fit in time because France have the best back row in the world and without Hill, Jonny will see an aweful lot of Betsen extremely close up!
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