It’s frustrating to watch and even more so knowing that the lads are playing some very good rugby at times but the key seems to be three C’s, confidence, concentration and consistency. While we seem to have the ability to put any team on the rack we don’t seem to be able to do it for long periods and kill them off, Worcester were there for the taking on Saturday but we just didn’t push the advantage when we were on fire.
Let’s hope the current predicament is not leading to doubts because it seems at times once we suffer a knock back we go back into our shells to start building up that head of steam from scratch again. Having said that though it was an improvement on the previous weeks showing and despite the doom brigade still rattling on that the end of the world is nigh I still think we are slowly getting there slowly but surely. A month away from the pressures of the Premiership, giving us a breathing space while the game develops and maybe some confidence building along the way might just be what the team needs and what better place to start than at Welford Road this weekend.
So it’s off up the road to our nearest and dearest neighbours on Saturday for the final Powergen Cup group game against Leicester. The group hangs finely in the balance and the game is all but a playoff for a semi-final place at the Millennium Stadium in early March. We currently sit at the top of the group undefeated, four points clear of Tigers, a bonus point could see us through, although that would not be definite and I can see it being an afternoon of bitten fingernails and slide rules as the why’s and wherefores change as the afternoon progresses.
What a confidence boost it would be though if be hook or by crook we edged past Tigers into the final four of the competition. Then who knows what kind of form we will be in by March. It’s even feasible despite our current predicament that that elusive Heineken Cup place could be within our grasp.
That’s all in the future though, on Saturday I’m backing the lads to hang onto the Tigers coat tails and just, only just, book their place at Cardiff. If you cannot make the game, and there are tickets still available, it is live on the BBC.
NEW ZEALAND
Don’t tell Keith Barwell but two weeks ago I passed up going to Yorkshire to watch the Saints and instead headed to his ‘friends’ Nigel and Rupert’s place at Twickenham to see England take on New Zealand. While KB is probably right in saying that the interest in watching the national team is fading the draw of the All Blacks is always going to pack out HQ, even though the atmosphere is a little muted with a gaping hole where the south stand used to be.
Of course the new world order completed their Grand Slam over the four home nations this but against England, who it has to be said were arguably missing their two most influential players in Wilkinson and Dallaglio, they certainly did not look as invincible or indeed as well organised behind the ball as they did in the Lions tour just five months ago.
The question will be raised sooner or later, have New Zealand yet again peaked too early, midway through World Cups? I think, especially with the likes of ex-Saint Wayne Smith involved, that there will be a few more twists and turns yet before France 2007 but I think England too showed they may be on their way slowly but surely towards the form that won the RWC in 2003. They still have a long way to go though but almost pulled off the result and the quote of the day had to go to All Black coach Steve Hansen after his team ground out the win. “They (the All Blacks) showed more guts than I do wearing a pair of Speedo’s.”
ON REFEREES
Okay I admit it, in the heat of the moment I’m likely to question the odd refereeing decision though I purposely never have a go at the performance of the match officials in this column as lord knows there is enough of us amateur whistle blowers on the terraces and in the stands all venting their particular view of how the game should be reffed. However this week, in print, I’ll make an exception as I think even the one eyed chap that stands behind me that shouts “coming in from the side”, “not straight” and “holding on” all afternoon could have done a better job than the referee who officiated on Saturday.
Now don’t get me wrong people shouldn’t be deterred from going into refereeing and youngsters should be encouraged but the display we saw on Saturday plainly was not up to any kind of standard we should be seeing at the top end of the game. It was clear that early on not only had he lost the players (was I the only one who noticed players totally ignore his instructions to move back at a line out?), but he tried to regain his authority by handing out card after card, including one to Seamus Mallon which plainly looked like he had lost the plot completely.
Having said that he did not cost us the game, that was in our own hands but if this is the standard of refereeing coming through it is a worrying trend. I would like to think the guy just had an off day, if not perhaps the powers that be should take a long hard look on the structure, support and training of match officials.
Let’s hope the current predicament is not leading to doubts because it seems at times once we suffer a knock back we go back into our shells to start building up that head of steam from scratch again. Having said that though it was an improvement on the previous weeks showing and despite the doom brigade still rattling on that the end of the world is nigh I still think we are slowly getting there slowly but surely. A month away from the pressures of the Premiership, giving us a breathing space while the game develops and maybe some confidence building along the way might just be what the team needs and what better place to start than at Welford Road this weekend.
So it’s off up the road to our nearest and dearest neighbours on Saturday for the final Powergen Cup group game against Leicester. The group hangs finely in the balance and the game is all but a playoff for a semi-final place at the Millennium Stadium in early March. We currently sit at the top of the group undefeated, four points clear of Tigers, a bonus point could see us through, although that would not be definite and I can see it being an afternoon of bitten fingernails and slide rules as the why’s and wherefores change as the afternoon progresses.
What a confidence boost it would be though if be hook or by crook we edged past Tigers into the final four of the competition. Then who knows what kind of form we will be in by March. It’s even feasible despite our current predicament that that elusive Heineken Cup place could be within our grasp.
That’s all in the future though, on Saturday I’m backing the lads to hang onto the Tigers coat tails and just, only just, book their place at Cardiff. If you cannot make the game, and there are tickets still available, it is live on the BBC.
NEW ZEALAND
Don’t tell Keith Barwell but two weeks ago I passed up going to Yorkshire to watch the Saints and instead headed to his ‘friends’ Nigel and Rupert’s place at Twickenham to see England take on New Zealand. While KB is probably right in saying that the interest in watching the national team is fading the draw of the All Blacks is always going to pack out HQ, even though the atmosphere is a little muted with a gaping hole where the south stand used to be.
Of course the new world order completed their Grand Slam over the four home nations this but against England, who it has to be said were arguably missing their two most influential players in Wilkinson and Dallaglio, they certainly did not look as invincible or indeed as well organised behind the ball as they did in the Lions tour just five months ago.
The question will be raised sooner or later, have New Zealand yet again peaked too early, midway through World Cups? I think, especially with the likes of ex-Saint Wayne Smith involved, that there will be a few more twists and turns yet before France 2007 but I think England too showed they may be on their way slowly but surely towards the form that won the RWC in 2003. They still have a long way to go though but almost pulled off the result and the quote of the day had to go to All Black coach Steve Hansen after his team ground out the win. “They (the All Blacks) showed more guts than I do wearing a pair of Speedo’s.”
ON REFEREES
Okay I admit it, in the heat of the moment I’m likely to question the odd refereeing decision though I purposely never have a go at the performance of the match officials in this column as lord knows there is enough of us amateur whistle blowers on the terraces and in the stands all venting their particular view of how the game should be reffed. However this week, in print, I’ll make an exception as I think even the one eyed chap that stands behind me that shouts “coming in from the side”, “not straight” and “holding on” all afternoon could have done a better job than the referee who officiated on Saturday.
Now don’t get me wrong people shouldn’t be deterred from going into refereeing and youngsters should be encouraged but the display we saw on Saturday plainly was not up to any kind of standard we should be seeing at the top end of the game. It was clear that early on not only had he lost the players (was I the only one who noticed players totally ignore his instructions to move back at a line out?), but he tried to regain his authority by handing out card after card, including one to Seamus Mallon which plainly looked like he had lost the plot completely.
Having said that he did not cost us the game, that was in our own hands but if this is the standard of refereeing coming through it is a worrying trend. I would like to think the guy just had an off day, if not perhaps the powers that be should take a long hard look on the structure, support and training of match officials.
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