England Captain
I feel England need to get the right captain before they can pick the players. Corry has showed o that he does not have the tactical nous to win a game, and this is not an attack on Corry the player. I am looking back and thinking how Johnson was great at getting the team to do the right thing at the right time, confirmed by their loss of direction when he was absent. The managerial deficiencies have also been well analysed, but I believe the England players didn't know what to do, then in Europe Leicester and Sale were clueless.
I don't think Corry (as captain) was great during these games. I feel that these games were won when the players started playing and stopped doing what they were told. I don't blame Corry alone for England or Leicesters failings, there are other players and coaches who must carry some responsibility. Both England and Leicester have a plan and stick to it thoughtlessly, but in the great European comebacks the Leicester players just started running and got the result, but it was by accident not design. A good captain would have spotted the problems earlier and kept Leicester ahead or closer, thus reducing the need for great comebacks. I believe that Johnson gave a clear sense of how to win the game, and it is this direction that is missing.
The captain shouldn't really be able to dictate so much, all players should know what to do, but a failing of the English game for many years has been it's excessive discipline in only doing what was agreed before hand, and only changing when told to.
As for other premiership options, I have seen Reagan provide great direction for Bristol but I don't think he has a future with England. Cornwell lead the U21 side but he has a lot to prove as a player.
Being sure of selection is a big problem, unless we go for a Mike Brearley solution (Am I showing my age?) Vyvyan has impressed many times, but I am not quite convinced, maybe if Saracens keep going upwards in the league. Borthwick has been on the pitch during many England farces so I am not convinced by his leadership.
It is an interesting side debate; whether the captain should be a forward or a back. I remember one ref who said he would pay more attention to someone getting up from a ruck or maul than a guy running in from 40 metres away. I also think forwards by default have first shout on what happens with the ball, Carling was always at the mercy of the forwards. On the other side Umaga gets what he wants. Dewi Morris made a good point on the Rugby Club (no seriously) he thought it might be good to have Charlie Hodgson as captain so he could demand the ball. Another left field option is Perry, he captained England A (to a loss, I think I defeated myself there), but may be Paul Hodgson should be scrum half anyway. Last season I thought Hooper did a superb job with Leeds from the second row, but have seen little to back that up this season.
It seemed that there is some consensus around three players:
Keep Corry as he is the best we have (or at least best of a bad bunch) or pick Sanderson or Borthwick, on balance I will go with Sanderson with Vickery as an option if in full form and Sanderson injured.
I don't think Corry (as captain) was great during these games. I feel that these games were won when the players started playing and stopped doing what they were told. I don't blame Corry alone for England or Leicesters failings, there are other players and coaches who must carry some responsibility. Both England and Leicester have a plan and stick to it thoughtlessly, but in the great European comebacks the Leicester players just started running and got the result, but it was by accident not design. A good captain would have spotted the problems earlier and kept Leicester ahead or closer, thus reducing the need for great comebacks. I believe that Johnson gave a clear sense of how to win the game, and it is this direction that is missing.
The captain shouldn't really be able to dictate so much, all players should know what to do, but a failing of the English game for many years has been it's excessive discipline in only doing what was agreed before hand, and only changing when told to.
As for other premiership options, I have seen Reagan provide great direction for Bristol but I don't think he has a future with England. Cornwell lead the U21 side but he has a lot to prove as a player.
Being sure of selection is a big problem, unless we go for a Mike Brearley solution (Am I showing my age?) Vyvyan has impressed many times, but I am not quite convinced, maybe if Saracens keep going upwards in the league. Borthwick has been on the pitch during many England farces so I am not convinced by his leadership.
It is an interesting side debate; whether the captain should be a forward or a back. I remember one ref who said he would pay more attention to someone getting up from a ruck or maul than a guy running in from 40 metres away. I also think forwards by default have first shout on what happens with the ball, Carling was always at the mercy of the forwards. On the other side Umaga gets what he wants. Dewi Morris made a good point on the Rugby Club (no seriously) he thought it might be good to have Charlie Hodgson as captain so he could demand the ball. Another left field option is Perry, he captained England A (to a loss, I think I defeated myself there), but may be Paul Hodgson should be scrum half anyway. Last season I thought Hooper did a superb job with Leeds from the second row, but have seen little to back that up this season.
It seemed that there is some consensus around three players:
Keep Corry as he is the best we have (or at least best of a bad bunch) or pick Sanderson or Borthwick, on balance I will go with Sanderson with Vickery as an option if in full form and Sanderson injured.
posted by AJ Thomas at
12:06 pm
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