to a team of professionals with far less resources and a relatively minuscule player-pool.

Getting your excuses in. If Ireland had played like throughout they would have won the 6 nations.

Talking about player numbers, resources or funding isn’t an excuse, it’s a reality.

England massively underperform every year if you consider how the player base they have (Number Of Registered Players:
2549196) compares to Ireland for example (Number Of Registered Players:
153080) or Wales (Number Of Registered Players:50557) or even NZ (Number Of Registered Players:137835).

So England have over 2million players compared to 50,000 Welsh players. Why don’t England absolutely annihilate Wales every single time, and amusingly why do they need Kiwis and Saffers filling up the national team?

Add in the huge amount of money in the English game, the blanket coverage by the national press (were Ireland playing this weekend? Not if you read some newspapers.), the fact that the BBC can only address a question if it involves an English team and you are getting close to the reasons why non-English supporters love beating the English.

Exactly what you’d exepect to hear from a sore loser. Shit excuse.
NZ have less players than most and are consistently one of the strongest teams on the planet. NEXT

anagallis_arvensis – Member
In othernews who did Shaun Edwards have a fight with?

The team psycho according to planetrugby’s forum. 😆

http://forum.planet-rugby.com/index.php?t=msg&th=220031&start=0&

Patterson is au underrated player – he is faster than folk think,good tackler, elusive runner with the ball in hand. I don’t think Foden has looked that good in the last couple of matches

Gray has to get a place in a team of the tournament

I just had a look at the first page of this thread – lots of predictions, none correct that I could see

England – improveda dn generally more consistent. Badly missed Croft and Lawes, need some pace in the back row and a centre with some skill
Worthy winners of the 6N, not good enough fora grand slam, nothing to scare the southern hemisphere teams 7/10

France – I though Leiveremnent was using all those players in preparation so he knew all the best combinations and had 2 players for every position. Instead it look like he hasn’t got a clue. France end up much less effective than they should be 5/10

Ireland – aging team able to pull off a performance when needed. Lucky to end with 3 wins. Who coated Darcys hands with grease? couldn’t hold a pass all tournament. 5/10

Wales – looked directionless and weak in some areas. Better performance that I expected. 5/10

Scotland – a major disappointment. I thought we finally had a team to do something – not the greatest back line but the forwards should be able to win lots of ball and dominate games. Instead the set piece crumbled and teh whole team was simply not good enough. No hunger from some players. Unlucky only to have one win but hardly deserved more 4/10

Italy – was this the season they came of age? Only one real beating and unlucky to only get one win – but what a win it was!
6/10 simply for the improvement and beating France

All the former players-turned-pundits are biased, only to be expected. I like Moore’s commentary and i can listen to jiffy explain the plays etc til the cows come home, what he doesn’t know about the game isn’t worth knowing i would say.

I think TJ’s last post is the only one I’ve agreed with 😉

😮

Weighs a fair bit.

8)

Well played Ireland on Saturday, they really brought an intensity to the match that blew England away. Worthy winners on the day.
It was a disappointing performance from England, gutted really, overall championship win not much consolation after giving up the Grandslam with such a whimper.

Almost… I got told off for a finger print. 😐

Congrats to the U20’s too, some real talent coming through the system now.

Yep, they showed the men how it is done. Trophy is on it’s way down the office. Pic to follow 😮

Those people that work hard in the game I guess.

You won though – you’re from further south than me! 😉

And I’m half Irish!