: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:30 pm  

I can not believe that every post in this thread doesnt start with a "YES".


You got what you should have expected from Smith though.



I wonder if Rickey Stuart has a brother who could coach England but not get a look in for an NRL side.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:32 pm  

go now for god's sake, 4 games and 4 very poor performnces from a lack lustre tem that were outplyed in every department. Lack of pride and passion we couldn't even get to the final in a rigged farce of world cup.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:35 pm  

flatcap wrote:

Yes, get rid. This world cup has seen some of the worst Eng/GB performances I've ever seen.

In errors and missed tackles. That's the players I think you've got confused with.

With regards to his position, I think he wants to be coaching week in week out so GB/Eng will prob look for new coach anyway.

Shaun Edwards?

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:48 pm  

Paul Thexton wrote:

If smith wanted his loose forward to ... you know .... play like a loose forward, and muscle in with the forward pack to gain yards (which admittedly I'm afraid didn't happen), then yes, it was the correct choice.

Sinfield has what I like to refer to as Andy Farrell syndrome, stick him in a 13 jumper and he seems to think that makes him chief playmaker, it takes out a huge amount of go forward - Farrell did eventually calm down and start playing like a forward though, and when Wigan moved him to prop for his last couple of seasons he was a revelation, absolutely superb - I'm not convinced that Sinfield has the ability or strength to fulfil that role when what his team needs is the ability to gain field position.

If Sinfield wants to make a career out of being a play maker, then he needs to move out of the pack in to the halves, and let someone else who can gain ground in the tackle or god forbid even bust a tackle get the 13 shirt.

Well, given that you seem to think a "better" coach could have produced a different result for England you quite obviously do think the players are capable with "the right man" in charge.

I must be getting a bit old or something, but I've always seen a Loose Forward as a physically strong extra back. How you've described the position is exactly how I see what is wrong with our game. We try to be the Aussies instead of using parts of their style to improve our style.
As I say though, I'm getting on a bit and was brought up with loose forwards like Steve Norton and Mick Crane, and half backs that had a bit of nous.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:52 pm  

is it bad coaching???
surely we cant blame Tony Smith for the stupid knock ons which i feel cost us the game, and we cant blame him for the poor performances of some players, he picks a team to do a job, but once they go out on the field its out of his hands then isnt it?

if he goes then who will do better with these players?

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:57 pm  

Mark_W wrote:

In errors and missed tackles. That's the players I think you've got confused with.

No - also in terms of defensive structure, team selection, passion, attacking options. Sorry dude, but this world cup has seen some of the most inept England performances I've ever seen. And the coach must take a lot of the blame for that, as should the players.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:59 pm  

Cut it back to the very basics......lets say its 1895.....


The coaches job is to prepare the team.


Were England prepared for what they come up against in this WC as far as tactics and such were involved?


No.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:07 pm  

I think Tony Smith got it wrong, he played a open style game of rugby which he promised but it just does not work at this level as a rhinos fan it his great on the eye and works in super league, you do not notice it as much in a normal league game. Where was the kick on the 3rd or 4th tackle , tactically we were very poor . No completed sets maybe 5 in whole of game, I dont blame Tony for drop balls or cheap penalties but the lads never went out with a game plan apart from maybe keep the ball alive, this is down to the coach simple as. We need someone who has played or coached at this level, my choice is the black pearl , Ellery Hanley is still an icon with the modern day players and is the most mentally strong person in rugby, his tactics are simple 5 drives and a kick, win the arm wrestle then play. Work to a 70 or 80% completion this with great defence is what wins games at this level. Leeds did it in this yrs grand final.

[Paul Thexton]

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:22 pm  

airliebird58 wrote:

I must be getting a bit old or something, but I've always seen a Loose Forward as a physically strong extra back.

Which Sinfield isn't. I honestly get embarrased at how he gets, to use a phrase I normally despise, "owned" in every tackle. He couldn't bust his way out of a wet paper bag.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:23 pm  

A lock being a physically strong extra back?

WTF!