England Rugby ( as bad as the football team)

[mr.bluesky]

Today England rugby took on and we're thrashed by the Barbarians team ( for those who don't follow Rugby the Barbarians are an invitational team made up of many nationalities, although today mainly French players) with a three match tour to Australia next month and a World Cup in France next year Eddie Jones is proving to be as clueless as Southgate has been recently. England finished runners up to South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup but since then have gone backwards in massive strides. Two poor 6 nations championships in the last two years says it all. No Saracens or Leicester tigers were available for today's game as they were playing in yesterday's Premiership play off final. Not that it would of made much difference to today's result. The suits who run English Rugby are as clueless as the suits who run the FA. Eddie Jones should have been replaced a long time ago and replaced by an English coach

[lamboman]

Agreed his coaching record is really poor and he comes across as a complete arse.
England should be top 2 in the world with their resources and players.
On the bright side as a Welshman I take some comfort from that.

[radioman33]

I enjoyed the 2019 World Cup now it’s just embarrassing.

[RedKettle]

Eddie says the game was “great preparation” for the Australian tour.

I was going to say unbelievable that he said that, however perhaps he is right that England need to get used to being thrashed by a far better team.

I see Shaun Edwards was on the coaching team, so frustrating that Wales let him go.

[dexpunt]

I agree the decline in our national team is worrying. I'm not one for changing managers/coaches etc but surely this is the time for him to go

[chrishornx]

Today England rugby took on and we're thrashed by the Barbarians team ( for those who don't follow Rugby the Barbarians are an invitational team made up of many nationalities, although today mainly French players) with a three match tour to Australia next month and a World Cup in France next year Eddie Jones is proving to be as clueless as Southgate has been recently. England finished runners up to South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup but since then have gone backwards in massive strides. Two poor 6 nations championships in the last two years says it all. No Saracens or Leicester tigers were available for today's game as they were playing in yesterday's Premiership play off final. Not that it would of made much difference to today's result. The suits who run English Rugby are as clueless as the suits who run the FA. Eddie Jones should have been replaced a long time ago and replaced by an English coach

if you look closely it was 'mainly French players' as the entire team and bench were from the Top 14 plus a French coach and back room staff - it was specifically known as the French Barbarians

[RedKettle]

if you look closely it was 'mainly French players' as the entire team and bench were from the Top 14 plus a French coach and back room staff - it was specifically known as the French Barbarians

The French are looking fantastic at the moment - the team to beat.

[jackdaw]

if you look closely it was 'mainly French players' as the entire team and bench were from the Top 14 plus a French coach and back room staff - it was specifically known as the French Barbarians

Good points.

They did have 2 non French tough old nuts at lock…probably a better combo than our second row.

But looking at the “detail” it gets even worse…the Barbarians were playing a man down for a lot of the match (Will Skelton red carded for violent play) and George Kruis took last 3 conversions, taking one by back heeling it with his weaker left foot.

[mr.bluesky]

Good points.

They did have 2 non French tough old nuts at lock…probably a better combo than our second row.

But looking at the “detail” it gets even worse…the Barbarians were playing a man down for a lot of the match (Will Skelton red carded for violent play) and George Kruis took last 3 conversions, taking one by back heeling it with his weaker left foot.

It doesn't bode well for England if we play France in the world cup next year .Danny Care was originally chosen to play for the Barbarians

[ulstersubbie]

It's usually a team from the southern hemisphere that wins the Rugby World Cup. The Boks or All Blacks, they were always the teams to beat.

[mr.bluesky]

It's usually a team from the southern hemisphere that wins the Rugby World Cup. The Boks or All Blacks, they were always the teams to beat.

I fancy France to buck the trend especially playing on home soil. Their club teams have been dominant in European competitions this year, but next year is a long way off and all the major teams will be hoping to avoid injuries to key players.That could be the key. The All blacks will be there or there abouts.

[conrod]

Both England's football and rugby teams look like that they are overcoached to the point that none of the players can't think for themselves. So they become extremely predicatable in what they do and the opposition know how to nullify them.

Hey presto, the results get worse and worse.

[Gordon Bennett]

Doesn't Jones just say it's all part of the plan building towards World Cup? In his view, it seems all the games and tournaments between world cups are just meaningless bollocks where he tinkers and fiddles.

One thing with previous Rugby World Cups is they seem to have had perverse seedings worked out way too far ahead. Maybe they have addressed that problem now but I wouldn't be surprised if France were seeded 7th or something silly.

[lamboman]

Doesn't Jones just say it's all part of the plan building towards World Cup? In his view, it seems all the games and tournaments between world cups are just meaningless bollocks where he tinkers and fiddles.

He does and it's ridiculous,no other nations coach does this it's just an excuse for his poor performance.
It's also very bad for potential sponsors as he's basically saying we will be shit for 4 years but might be good for 6 weeks at the end of it.

[mr.bluesky]

So England take on Australia tomorrow in the first of 3 test matches against them. England have an 8 game winning streak against the Aussies but I am not convinced this current England team has got what it takes to beat them now. I think it will be a 2-1 series win for Australia.

[binbag]

A disappointing loss for Ireland, a heartbreaking loss for Wales, an embarrassing loss for England. The North/South divide looks as strong as ever but at least Ireland and Wales seem to be having a decent go at changing that perception by playing good spirited rugby. I'm at a complete loss to understand what's going on with the England side. Is it the rugby equivalent of Ali's 'rope-a-dope' fight against Foreman? Unfortunately I don't think so. England and/or Eddie Jones seem to be content to play weak minded, mundane rugby in the hope that someday everyone else will be even worse and when that happens, hooray, England will be the best team in the world! Adding Danny Care to the team (at last!) should have been a good move but the poor buggar had to go digging through his own players to get the ball instead of it being delivered to him. Australia, still a bit fragile as they rebuild, in the first half lost 3 starters to injury and one to a red card and still managed to outplay England. They showed greater commitment, endeavour and intelligence but we're still hearing this is great prep work for England's World Cup. I don't believe it myself. Does anyone else?

[mr.bluesky]

A disappointing loss for Ireland, a heartbreaking loss for Wales, an embarrassing loss for England. The North/South divide looks as strong as ever but at least Ireland and Wales seem to be having a decent go at changing that perception by playing good spirited rugby. I'm at a complete loss to understand what's going on with the England side. Is it the rugby equivalent of Ali's 'rope-a-dope' fight against Foreman? Unfortunately I don't think so. England and/or Eddie Jones seem to be content to play weak minded, mundane rugby in the hope that someday everyone else will be even worse and when that happens, hooray, England will be the best team in the world! Adding Danny Care to the team (at last!) should have been a good move but the poor buggar had to go digging through his own players to get the ball instead of it being delivered to him. Australia, still a bit fragile as they rebuild, in the first half lost 3 starters to injury and one to a red card and still managed to outplay England. They showed greater commitment, endeavour and intelligence but we're still hearing this is great prep work for England's World Cup. I don't believe it myself. Does anyone else?

The scoreline flattered England considering Australia played most of the second half with 14 men. Only a couple of very late tries by England made the game seem closer than it was. Marcus Smith was mainly anonymous in that game, likewise Owen Farrell who's kicking wasn't up to his usual standard. New Zealand looked powerful against the Irish and seem to be getting back to how they once were. Wales were very unlucky not to get a result against South Africa . Dan Biggar needs to keep his emotions under control,  his constant complaining to the referee doesn't do himself or the team any favours. England need to up their game next week in the 2nd test or the series will be lost. Eddie Jones keeps coming out with the same excuse after every defeat now. This England team under Jones look a million miles away from being contenders in next year's World Cup but no doubt we will be stuck with him until then.

[mr.bluesky]

So England manage to hold out for the win in the 2nd test which sets it up nicely next week for the decider. A great result for the Irish beating the All Blacks

[mr.bluesky]

So England get the 2-1 test win over Australia.  A good result however I think it merely papers over the cracks with this team. A great result for Ireland winning the series 2-1 over the All Blacks but Wales loosing the 3rd test to South Africa and Scotland loosing to Argentina prevents a clean sweep for Northen hemisphere teams over Southern hemisphere teams. Englands win over Australia almost certainly means we will be stuck with Eddie Jones as manager going into next year's World Cup.  England still look a long way off a team that's going to be challenging for the World Cup next year

[lamboman]

So England get the 2-1 test win over Australia.  A good result however I think it merely papers over the cracks with this team. A great result for Ireland winning the series 2-1 over the All Blacks but Wales loosing the 3rd test to South Africa and Scotland loosing to Argentina prevents a clean sweep for Northen hemisphere teams over Southern hemisphere teams. Englands win over Australia almost certainly means we will be stuck with Eddie Jones as manager going into next year's World Cup.  England still look a long way off a team that's going to be challenging for the World Cup next year

Yes not exactly a stellar Australian team to beat,Irelands series win is something else though I don't expect Foster will last as ABs coach.
Wales really ought to have won the 1st test and a vast improvement on the 6Ns,outmuscled in the end.
Didn't see any of the Jocko matches so can't comment on those.

[mr.bluesky]

Yes not exactly a stellar Australian team to beat,Irelands series win is something else though I don't expect Foster will last as ABs coach.
Wales really ought to have won the 1st test and a vast improvement on the 6Ns,outmuscled in the end.
Didn't see any of the Jocko matches so can't comment on those.

Yes, considering the number of  injuries Australia suffered during the test series England made hard work of it. like you say Foster will be on borrowed time as New Zealand coach after loosing the series to Ireland,  By all accounts he wasn't a popular choice when he was first appointed.  Wales can count themselves as desperately unlucky not to have won the first test. If they had then that series would have been a whole lot different.  Argentina and Scotland looked evenly matched throughout out their test series but Argentina playing at home are much tougher to play against but they are a team that doesn't travel well .

[bigden40]

Yes not exactly a stellar Australian team to beat,Irelands series win is something else though I don't expect Foster will last as ABs coach.
Wales really ought to have won the 1st test and a vast improvement on the 6Ns,outmuscled in the end.
Didn't see any of the Jocko matches so can't comment on those.

Caused our own downfall through poor game management, blowing a handsome lead in the last 20 mins yesterday to lose at the death.  Far from a full strength side though as a few key players were rested for this tour.  I hope we’ve now realised that Kinghorn isn’t an international 10.