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20/8/07
Ashton has few players either good enough or
ready for this test and has inherited a
shambles of a situation. The gloom deepens
for the world champions. Patriots, call
England that while you can, for those days
are numbered. In a bid to create a team of
functional power to bandage over the brain
drain of rugby intellect England has
witnessed in the last four years, Ashton has
played a part in creating what for him must
feel like a Frankenstein of a team.
Big and heavy and physically brave, there is
an absence of variety, no width at all with
a resulting predictability that makes them
easy to defend. Hence France managed 160
minutes of action without conceding one try.
France are a good defence but not that good.
Those who thought ten-man rugby - pure and
simple - as England's escape route from the
mire can think again. This team is too much
John Wells and not enough Brian Ashton.
As England are highly unlikely to win the
tournament, the head coach should at least
try and inject something of his essence in
this stodgy team. He has made some serious
mistakes in weighing so heavily in favour of
bulk and experience against original
thinking and youth. Two honourable defeats
and a quarter-final loss will not be
particularly creditable unless a few
attacking blows are struck.
Ashton has few players either good enough or
ready for this test and has inherited a
shambles of a situation. He just about
admitted it when he came into office but the
pressure of the impending tournament
understandably changed his mindset. A few
first phase moves and some ambition would
not go unnoticed by England fans who know
this tournament is too early. Ashton has
already sacrificed his men for 2011, he can
yet restore a hint of the style he would
adopt given a decent time in charge.
France are not looking like world beaters
yet but with Yannick Jauzion returning to
full form and a nation behind them, they may
yet emerge as the main threat to New
Zealand, especially if the more corporate
Parisian crowds can adopt the magnificently
supportive approach of the Marseille crowd.
It was hostile but a joy to see and hear the
passion. France also have a bench with an
ability to lift the tempo, that makes them a
powerful last quarter side. Only New Zealand
match them in this department.
To avoid the All Blacks they must win their
pool. Encouragement was forthcoming in the
Argentine loss to Wales. The pack was not
the stuff of legend and Gus Pichot was slow
in the pass. The one will improve but
whether the wily scrum-half can lift it is a
stiffer question. It will not be easy for
the hosts, the Argentine backs possess
marvellous individual skills but it appears
that it will take a French freeze to lose
the opening day, although Argentina remain
dangerous with the imminent return of
Hernandez.
How Eddie O' Sullivan must have wished he
had kept Brian O' Driscoll away from Bayonne
last week. It was a strange fixture and a
strange selection. Let all the rugby world
hope Ireland's captain makes it for the
heart of the tournament. After the last
Lions tour he deserves a chance to prove his
greatness on the big stage. Only the small
minded will wish to see him missing.
Wales had a better week than Ireland with a
vital win for morale against Argentina. The
scrum was much better and with James Hook at
ten there was ambition -although not
perfection. The Welsh team will score tries
if someone can ignite them and Hook is that
man. He should be fly-half. The line-out was
the big negative and the decision of whether
Wales opt for Martyn Williams or Colin
Charvis the major call. Admirer as I am of
the Cardiff flanker, the three missed
tackles from scrums reminds me he has a
habit of being blown away by the very
biggest and best. George Smith fits that
category.
STUART BARNES |
SKY Sports | Monday, 20 August 2007 |
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