Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 10:15 am
Phuzzy wrote:
And yet it's garnered multiple posts from your good self. Go figure!
I'm sorry, I'm not defending Wane as international coach per se and I agree with much you're saying, particularly regarding picking players with no chance of being around come the next world cup. I said exactly the same earlier on this board. But by God you're contradictory.
You say you want entertaining rugby as we should be attracting new fans and not concerning ourselves with winning a meaningless series yet, at the same time we should be preparing to succeed at the next tournament. When exactly would we prepare for this next tournament if we're using these friendlies as an advertising exercise?
You say that Wane isn't the man to win us a tournament during a series he's actually winning! Moreover, he's making it clear that he's fostering a winning mentality above all else. Would you prefer we pratt about throwing the ball around so that the odd neutral might take an interest and then, suddenly out of nowhere, breed a winning mentality only when the next 'important' (as defined by you) games come along? I can assure you of one thing if nothing else; unlike yourself, Wane doesn't see these games as meaningless.
It seems to me you're complaining for complaining's sake and no matter what he does you'd find fault. Answer me this one question: Had we thrown the ball around in atrocious conditions the other day and got absolutely tonked could you, hand on heart, tell me that you wouldn't have been using that as a narrative to show how Wane's coaching is too naive to win a tournament against the Aussies?
I'm sorry, I'm not defending Wane as international coach per se and I agree with much you're saying, particularly regarding picking players with no chance of being around come the next world cup. I said exactly the same earlier on this board. But by God you're contradictory.
You say you want entertaining rugby as we should be attracting new fans and not concerning ourselves with winning a meaningless series yet, at the same time we should be preparing to succeed at the next tournament. When exactly would we prepare for this next tournament if we're using these friendlies as an advertising exercise?
You say that Wane isn't the man to win us a tournament during a series he's actually winning! Moreover, he's making it clear that he's fostering a winning mentality above all else. Would you prefer we pratt about throwing the ball around so that the odd neutral might take an interest and then, suddenly out of nowhere, breed a winning mentality only when the next 'important' (as defined by you) games come along? I can assure you of one thing if nothing else; unlike yourself, Wane doesn't see these games as meaningless.
It seems to me you're complaining for complaining's sake and no matter what he does you'd find fault. Answer me this one question: Had we thrown the ball around in atrocious conditions the other day and got absolutely tonked could you, hand on heart, tell me that you wouldn't have been using that as a narrative to show how Wane's coaching is too naive to win a tournament against the Aussies?
I must have missed the part where playing entertaining rugby and winning are mutually exclusive? Obviously if we got smashed by Tonga, then questions would need to be asked. We certainly have players capable of playing to a decent standard, should we really NEED to resort to safety first, crap rugby in a friendly to beat a poor side? You also don’t really need to “prepare” to play safety first rugby either. Surely in these games you can take the chance to work on plays and combinations? What exactly is Wane preparing in this case? He’s got a load of players that won’t be playing in the next World Cup, driving the ball in for 5 tackles. What’s that preparing us for exactly? Surely you’re not telling me that these Saints lads that won 4 on the bounce and a WCC, and the Wigan lads that have just done the double need to be taught a winning mentality by Shaun Wane?
Yes, I’d be more accepting of it in a major tournament provided it was working,