No mate!
Explanation:
We have no pride or passion!
I was there on Friday and was disgusted with the lack of belief before the kick-off, let alone in the game itself! You can see it in players eyes when they want it!
2007-09-17 23:40:29
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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No, their team is in bits at the mo, they dont have a strong leader. the main problem is that England will look for a strong leader someone like Johnson, however there is no one there to fill that role. Johnson was an average second row there was much better players than him, but he was a leader and knew how to manage his team on the field, his own players repected him while others feared him. Very few players through the history of world rugby have this quality, and they are all legends. John Eales was another great.
As for the current england team they still have the ability to be great, but are missing a leader, Corry and Vickery are what i like to call "temporary" captains but not solid enough to fill the role on a permanent basis. They are also suffering from the days of "dads army" the team from 2003 was strong and had been building towards the world cup for years, england relied on these players but never seemed to groom enough players to take over for them. Injuries have also played there part in preventing england in retaining the cup, without Johnny they stand little chance against the Boks, meaning they will finish 2nd in the group and face Australia. Brian ashtons selection was dodgy to say the least he picked an average crop of players, but thats all he had to pick from, basically the talent this time round doesnt have the unity of 4 years ago and without a captain to bind them they will be scattered against teams like the Boks
2007-09-14 05:16:51
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answer #2
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answered by Patron 3
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I very much doubt it England are a shadow of the side that won it 4 years ago, when you think of the team you look at the front row it was solid and all of them were at the top of there game and in the second row you had Martin Johnson who was the best second row in the world at the time and the best captain of any team in any sport. The back row of Hill Back and Dallagio was the best in the world. Matt Dawson and Jonny Wilkinson were a solid pairing and Jonny was at the top of his game......Basically across the whole pitch we had quality and players who would have walked into any international team and held their places.
The 2007 team might have some better individual players but there is no team and no settled game plan, I mean ashtons idea of total rugby and the game plan is 'there is no game plan' is just rubbish. There is no settled positions and no settled team selection either, does Ashton know his best 15? I doubt it.......He would have been better off taking the likes of flood, cipriarni, haskel, lund, jones and prepared for winning it back in 2011.
So I could go on and on but basically the reason is this years team is just not good enough and will have to settle for a quarter final place at the best and thats if they beat Samoa!. Which I would be surprised if they lost.
Of course I would love to see them stuff the Boks tonight and go on a role and beat every one who stands in the way of them lifting the cup again but its not going to happen.
2007-09-14 02:47:42
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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No, England haven't got a chance, when you look at an England team sheet there is not a single name that you think are likely to score. The forwards are incapable of keeping hold of there own ball and turning over ball left right and centre. This coupled with a set of backs lacking any imagination, pace or basic ball skills is why England are struggling to score points. Can anyone remember the last time England broke cleanly through a world class defencive line? Defensively they're not organised and it is apparent that after 2003 England thought that as long as they had Johnny they could beat anyone unfortunately as old legs either side of him retired no one has steped up and took there place, Andrew Sheridan is the only name that comes to mind of a player not in the world cup winning squad who is above average for players of there position
2007-09-14 10:55:06
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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No they wn't,even if Johnny Willkinson is fit to play.They dn't have the players to mount any sort of a serious defense of the W.Cup.Their display against a second tare team U.S.A was very ordinary,their forwards look slow and the backs arn't creative enough.To me they look as if they are there to make up the numbers,good luck to them i hope they beat SouthAfrica this weekend .England seem to not have furthered their game style since they won the cup,they look preditable are teams have worked them out.I hope my team the AllBlacks win this year and to England,try again in 4 years
2007-09-14 02:59:13
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Mathematically speaking the answer is yes, because we're still in the competition.
realistically it's a long shot because we're not as good as we were 4 years ago.
However, if we beat South Africa this evening, we have a good chance of finishing top of the group which should mean avoiding either NZ or Australia. If those teams could cancel each other out in the quater finals and the semis then.....who knows?
We have to keep supporting them.
2007-09-14 02:42:13
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answer #6
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answered by Barry K 5
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Regain it? Sure maybe in 20 years time when we have a crop of flair players. Retain it now? (lol) I think you know the answer to that if you saw the Springboks game. ?
2007-09-15 05:39:51
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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No, they want. There's really nothing much to explain other than if they manage to hold on to the A2 spot (runner-ups of A group), they're gonna get seriously bumped by the Wallabies in the QFs.
2007-09-17 09:16:09
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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no, as the team playing are too old and have been in decline since they last won! Plus it would be boring if they won again! Its likely to be one of the tri nations - unless a pluck Celtic side can do it!Ok - Wales!
2007-09-14 22:34:27
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Surely this is in the wrong category.
Try "Jokes" or "Fantasy"
England retaining the RWC - now that IS funny.
2007-09-14 11:28:06
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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