The farce that is English rugby continues its long downward spiral, a fall from grace unchecked since 2003. Yes, they played in the 2007 World Cup finals, but only an idiot would claim they were the second best team there.
By KYNANG (who enjoys Rookie status on The Roar)
They were hammered by SA in the group phases, snuck through against a bad Australian side in the quarters, and bettered a French team who lost to Argentina, and never quite recovered from the jubilation of shocking the All Blacks the previous week.
Week after week they revel in mediocrity, constantly excusing it through claims of injury and team building. It’s been 7 years! How long are you going to build (and go back to the same old dogs – what new, world-class talent has been discovered since?)
Martin Johnson has been an abject failure, but Rob Andrew’s should probably take more of the blame. Since taking over from Sir Clive, what good thing has he accomplished?
A player release agreement with Premier Rugby… and not a single international trophy.
Not a six nations triumph since 2003! You have to go back to the 80s to find an England as unsuccessful.
JAKE HAS ALL THE CREDENTIALS
And the solution is so simple. Jake White has the best credentials out of any unemployed coach – and most employed coaches, for that matter.
If England brought him on now, he would still have time to prepare a team for the World Cup. His first season as Springbok coach saw him take the Tri-Nations tournament, win IRB Coach of the Year, the Boks won Team of the Year, Schalk Burger won Player of the Year … there’s plenty of time yet for England to excel under new management.
Jake White is perfect for the English game too. He is a conservative coach who builds his teams around brutal defense, a low error rate, and suffocating tactics – everything England is good at. And he has a fantastic eye for talent.
As Springbok u21 coach, and national coach, he discovered star players such as: Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Bismarck Du Plessis, Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana … the list goes on and on.
In a country such as England, which boasts twice as many rugby players as anyone else, there’s no doubt Jake White could discover the talent necessary to make them a world power once more. But he does need time, which is why it’s essential they appoint him right away, so he can scour the clubs for the best and brightest.
What to do with Martin Johnson? Bump him up a notch. Send Rob Andrew’s packing, and let Johnno be rugby supremo. He can stand around looking important, keep his reputation and honor intact, and oversee a resurgent England under Jake White.
It’s so obvious that it’s never, ever going to happen and England will remain mired in mediocrity for years to come.
elcamino
ROOILEEU
Tina
logan
Deon
Thomas_Bulls
garyj1-Bulls
Aldo
Amethyst
Methos The French Stormer
KingPaul
JT_BOKBEFOK!
trevormayhew
RUGGA_MIND
Pokkel
Quinn25
Marcel
namboer
moose
Jacques(Bunny)Somtimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits
Vernonimous
Pom in Joburg
Watte
niekie
Dante
Panther
Vetgesmeerde Blits
bryce_in_oz
Kozac
Blokkies
Number12_Lions
Brutus2
Lehe6
Estian Nortier
DavidS
johanleroux13
Morné
Tafelberg
pietstreak
Ollie
Koos
March 24th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Just remember to sign eDDieMoans as weLL, and Gert Smal…..
Eish- this ince$$antGatlek@HQ is geTTing on me nerves….
Its obvious that the cuRRent lot of 57auldeFarts doesna want CoachWhite!
March 24th, 2010 at 11:02 am
The auld farts call them selves THE RFU, not England RFU but THE RFU as though they ae the only one….
The result is they cannot conceive how they could have good coaches born or raised outside of England even when the Top 14 and HC and Celtic League teaches differently…
They are incapable of understanding this….
March 24th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Reply to WiLLem @ 10:20 am:
Forget Jake, they already had their Jake in Woodward.
Get Smal and Coetzee there and they should be fine. BUT at this stage leave Coetzee alone.
March 24th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I for one is happy to see the pommies where they are, and more than happy to beat them at the end of the year, please do not give then any good ideas!
March 24th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Vloye
I can’t think of a more deserving nation to be in this position aside from Australia…. oh yes…. Australia are in this position….
Now
I am licking my lips to see Phil Waugh getting yellow cards and walking off the field shaking his head in confusion at refs who saw his cheating and chased him off….
Phil Waugh is my new Public Enemy #1
I have decided we must start a hate speech FB page dedicated to Phil Waugh
March 24th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 12:13 pm: I will be your first memeber
March 24th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 12:13 pm:
Love seeing these 2 countries where they are! Arrogant pricks.
March 24th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
And where is that StBitch of a English supporter these days!
March 24th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
fled to the hole he crawled out of
March 24th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
i agree with willem that this gatlek is very irritating as is White’s obvious touting for the job, but i will say one thing, which is he is perfect for the job.
imo if england appointed him tomoro they will again be a threat.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Schalk played in the 2003 world cup… jean would have but for injury…
so how is it that jake discovered them…?
March 25th, 2010 at 9:26 am
maybe the poms should contract Rudolph Streuli…!!
March 25th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Reply to UFO @ 9:25 am:
Based on who went to RWC 2007?
Well he did no ‘discover’ Percy and Os, but did bring them back.
Out of guys that made their debuts under White:
Bismarck
Fourie du Preez
Habana
Frans Steyn
JP Pietersen
Out of the match 22 that took the field in the final, these were debutants under White.
March 25th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Reply to Morné @ 9:43 am:
not such an endless list then…?
great players though…
March 25th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Reply to UFO @ 2:00 pm:
In the group for the WC you can also include Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky January, Akona Ndungane, BJ Botha, Gary Botha from the top of my head.
March 26th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Reply to DavidS @ 12:13 pm:
Last year Canada… this year ‘ape-man’…
March 26th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:43 am:
Ricky was also a White favourite in the beginning…