OPINION

Soapbox

Mailbox: Your take on the weekend

Tuesday 02nd December 2008

Twickenham gloom: Spot the happy supporter... anyone?

While the rest of the world prepares to wrap up their Christmas gifts for the festive season ahead, New Zealand have already been given the perfect present - albeit an early one - in the form of a Grand Slam victory over the four Home Nations. The All Blacks win over England sealed the deal, but was met with some mixed reaction.

This is what you had to say about it amongst other happenings over weekend...

England v New Zealand

Whilst I cannot see that the result would have been any different, I would just like to thank Mr Rolland for ruining what was potentially a very good match with possibly the most inconsistent performance from a referee I have seen in a long while. If it had a white shirt it was immediately penalised and/or sent to the bin. If it was black it was fair play. Sorry, but McCaw and co. were off their feet at the breakdown as much as England. England's penalty count may well be rightly 15. But New Zealand's should have been as well.

And please note, I stated that I don't think that the result would have been any different - New Zealand were definitely the better team.

- JC

Why doesn't anyone of your writers comment on the poor showing by the ref Rolland? Whistle happy, overreacting, unfair, too fast to bring out the cards, he totally spoilt what could have been a much better game. England did not deserve four yellows.

- Patrick

Not so sure that I'd continually sing songs about the AB's being world leaders. They are a good side, but put them under some pressure, as Australia and the Springboks do and it's a different story.

Give England a chance, they are re-building. All teams peak then have to recruit new blood.

- Dave

I'm really pleased England didn't win the Hillary shield - what an appalling piece of Tin that suits the Kiwis.

- Will

The only England forward tactic was to deliberately disrupt legally or otherwise slow down the All Black flow. As a result England were lucky to get away with only four yellow cards. Rarely have I seen such a disgusting, cynical display of obstruction. So not only do England play rubbish rugby they are now World Champions for unsportsmanlike conduct. I am extremely glad to see that their ranking will mean they will face the major Southern Hemisphere nations in group play in 2011.

- Gerry Portegys (NZ)

The English never intended to play rugby and used whatever spoiling and dirty tactics they could for 60 minutes, until the sheer class of the AB's shone through. The fear of another thumping brought out their true colours, lose by as little at any cost. Four yellow cards is a disgrace, let anyone tell me the Boks are dirty team again.

- Adrian (Jo' burg)

What a shambles.

England fail to even look like scoring a try and had four yellow cards issued. Four yellow cards to an international side! That's just weak. Even the crowd had to be reminded about what good sportsmanship is about. Incapable of playing well England was reduced to trying to foul the All Blacks into submission. How sad.

After the great spectacle that the Scottish, Irish and Welsh Test were it was such a shame to end what has been a successful tour by having to endure England trying to beat up their opposition. Martin Johnson has tried to instill his famous grit. It seems too few have any of his talent.

The only shame is that the all Blacks didn't play well and truly rub that sorry team's nose in their misery.

- Sue

The general level of fitness the English team astonishes me. England were out on their feet in the last 20 minutes, that coupled with lack of basics skills is the main reason for the poor performances. Wales will destroy them in the six nations quickly followed by Ireland and France. The big question I have is why is Martin Johnson manager? If John Terry retired from football would he be appointed England manager? No, because he has never been a coach. What possessed the RFU to make this appointment? Johnson hasn't got a clue. He can't get by by just being a staunch ex player. Sure he has the respect, but that is history, what England need now is a experienced coach and to remove all the Leicester cronies.

- Michael Dalton

It is a pity that the referee became the centre of the England-New Zealand match on Saturday. But how often do we see this from this particular referee. Was he rejected by his mother as a child. He seems to crave attention and the desire to be seen as a prime player in every international he referees. A pity!

- John Foster

From what I have seen over the past weeks England do not really appear to have the quality in the squad at the moment.

Sure, some of the guys are good/great club players but they appear to be lacking at the International level. Which players from the England squad would make it into the squads from the 'Big Three' from the Southern Hemisphere? Do we have a glut of true World class players? Not really. Delon Armitage is looking like he could be the find of November and Danny Care looks like he is going to develop nicely. Flutey and Noon are not exactly a pairing to test the defensive qualities of top teams - would either of them be in contention for the Lions?

How about the forwards? Andrew Sheridan seems to have now been found out against the best. Should Tom Palmer even have started against South Africa? Simon Shaw looks to be the real deal and Haskell is going to develop, but who else would put the fear into people?

As for the 'Hard work'? That's one thing but if all it means is playing slow dull directionless rugby then was is the point? Where are the big fellas coming from deep onto the little pop pass from the back of a ruck? Why are people taking passes from a static position?

Any answers? Well we could try? Fast, dynamic rugby: quick break down and recycling of the ball. Players taking the ball from depth at pace.

I know we will get there but it seems like a long way away.

- A frustrated fan

Good job Graham Henry

Graham Henry and his lieutenants can well feel pleased with themselves. In a year where the nucleus of the 2007 team disappeared to greener monetary pastures, the replacements have gone beyond all expectations. The Bledisloe Cup still resides in Wellington, the Tri-Nations trophy tucked away for a fourth time in a row, home wins over England, Ireland, Samoa, South Africa and Australia and now the Grand Slam in which the All Blacks were never extended.

The unforgiving New Zealand rugby public might still have their knives out of their sheaths for Henry and Co, but maybe after the results during the New Zealand winter and spring the points and blades will be a little blunter.

- Mike (Melbourne)

Ban the haka?

I have just read your article in which Ma'a Nonu gives his infantile opinion about the Welsh reaction to the haka. This has all gone on too long and gone too far, it is time to ban the haka.

Nonu says that the haka is a war dance and that to react as Wales did is asking for a fight, but then, what are the All Blacks doing by performing the haka? Asking for a battle, surely?

The haka is the issuing of a challenge by performing a war dance which contains aggressive movements like smashing fists and elbows into hands and simulating cutting parts of the body. Why should any side be allowed to do that before a game and the other side be compelled to stand passively and watch?

New Zealand have become so pathetically precious about the haka that it should be banned. If teams sing back at them, they are insulted, if teams ignore it, they are insulted, if teams stand and eyeball them, they are insulted.

The All Blacks should instruct the rest of the world how they expect the haka to be respected. If the rest of us accept their suggestion then they should be allowed to continue. It should be by the agreement of both sides, not just because the kiwis will whinge if they don't get their own way.

The haka should now be banned. If, as they say, performing it fires up the All Blacks before a game then it must be banned. Why should New Zealand be entitled to that advantage over other teams?

They gripe about how it is a tradition. However they conveniently forget that they changed that precious tradition and introduced a new haka recently when it suited their purposes. That being the case they can change that tradition again and stop performing it.

They rave on about how it is important to Maori culture, but the Maori had no concept of rugby until it was introduced by British settlers in the late nineteenth century. So, banning it will not insult anyone's ancestors.

Enough is enough, they complain about any side's reaction to it, so to rid the world of their pathetic mewling, the haka should now be banned.

- Mark Evans

World Cup Draw

"Lucky England!"

You can just hear the rest of the world whinging. No disrespect to Argentina (how could they be after their justified semi-final spot in '07?) but I'm sure Martin Johnson and co. were hoping to avoid the Boks, Aussies and AB's in today's draw. Well, they have and, no doubt, our critics - of which there are millions worldwide - will be saying we're not only arrogant (who us?) but jammy too. Well, actually, a trip down memory lane to see previous pool opponents shows we were due a few crumbs from the rugby gods:
'87: Australia
'91: New Zealand
'95: OK I'll give you that one!
'99: New Zealand
'03: South Africa
'07: South Africa

Granted, to win the Webb Ellis you've got to meet and beat the best sometimes, but I feel we can approach the 2011 finals with some optimism.

- Frank Cass

The stupidity of collapsing mauls

When will they ever learn. How many more necks must be broken in pulled down mauls before the elite law changers wake up. As far back as my college days in seventies we had a kid break his neck in a collapsed maul after a line out. This was St. John's U vs Ruthgers U in NJ. Fortunately the player did not die but to this day he is in a wheel chair.

- Alan Whelan