Here I am, trying to remember that there are more important things in life than a rugby match, and turning to writing to shake off the gloom…

Here for your consumption, dissection and consideration, are some thoughts.

November 2003 seems like a long way back in the past – winning the World Cup was the crowning of a year that saw a Grandslam for England and a superb summer tour down-under. Some would say the cracks were appearing in the RWC, with stuttering performances and a scoreless second half in the final, as today. But in those days, the team was there with the ability to hold-on, turn nothing into something and finish the job. This ability was formed from experience playing together, through good and bad, and learning together. With that in mind, let us not be disheartened.

But, on the other hand, with the World Cup approximately two years away there is certainly reason for discontent. England do not intimidate teams anymore, Fortress Twickenham (built on an old cabbage patch) is more of a rotting shed, with a dodgy padlock and a desperate need for creosote. Ireland, Australia, France have all broken out of their shackles, despite (excepting Ireland) being outscored on tries, and beaten the World Champions at home – something they had not managed for a long while. I imagine Italy are probably licking their lips and thinking the at one time impossible thought. At club level, English teams (including the defending champions) have had a pretty poor Heineken Cup. If wheels are on the chariot, they seem to be flat.

I do not believe we are looking at the team that will attempt to defend the world cup. Charlie Hodgson will not, I think, be present for one. He is a great fly-half, but if he does not have the strength to overcome his demons now, after pretty regular test exposure, he never will. Whether Wilkinson will be there is also contentious, with different theories abounding regarding his injury status and enthusiasm. In the pack, I think Thompson, Rowntree, White and Worsley will be missing, the middle two due to international retirement, and the first and fourth due to loss of form and the emergence of other more suitable players. Glances should be cast in the direction of the likes of Chuter and Sheridan, so that they are a little more experienced come France 2007. As for the backs, Ellis will be there, almost certainly, but fly-half is a more uncertain. Will Wilkinson return from injury(s)? Who will emerge to contest the 10 jersey? I think everyone has an opinion on that, but for my money I do not think it will be Andy Goode or Alex King. Whoever it is, they need to show up sharpish. Josh Lewsey will still be a force amongst the back three, probably Jason Robinson as well, although at the moment, the spring is certainly not in his step. Mark Cueto is a good player, but certainly needs the rest of the team to be firing before he does: compare the autumn internationals, with four tries from three matches, to these performances when he has had to look for work and has not had much chance to shine. Whether he remains a passenger on the new Chariot will depend on the overall functioning and style of the team. Ben Cohen’s fate is in his own hands, with form. In the midfield, much is also vague. Henry Paul will have disappeared off the international radar, as will Greenwood (some would say he has already gone). Tait? Noon? Barkely? Who knows? I don’t and won’t even try and predict.

The other issue facing England, which also has a lot to do with the reason that England do not intimidate teams, is the absence of a Johnsonesque figure as captain. Jason Robinson, for all his talents, is not a captain. His club side, the team I support, have lost three matches in the last minute of injury time this year, and England have lost three matches in the last knockings under his captaincy. I have not had the opportunity to see many of the Sale matches this year, and none of those which I refer to, but I being to wonder if both sides could benefit from a more intimidating captain and one who will bully the lads into playing till the final whistle, and keep going. If JR were to relinquish the captaincy, or have it relinquished for him, maybe we would see him return to his previous form. Who should captain? I for one disagreed strongly with AR’s decision to nominate Wilko as captain, before the guy had played a test after a long lay-off. Whether JW returns to form or not, he is not the ideal captain. A player of strength and passion is required, someone who will be there putting his body on the line. Once upon a time that was JW, but now I am not so sure. England should look to a man who cast his doubters aside today. They said he would not be on form after 6 weeks out with a dislocated elbow. Infact, after that injury he shouldn’t have been back at all, but he was, he was on form and he played his heart out. Martin Corry should be the captain, and the man to lead England on to 2007.

Having glanced at the team, lets consider now the Head Coach. A man who was given a lengthy contract prior to his first game in charge, and seemed to be worthy of that during the autumn. He certainly has good pedigree as a player and a coach, and let us remember that SCW was a manager. AR was the man in the tracksuit, and still is. The style of rugby in the autumn excited all England supporters. The defeat to Australia was bearable as the mistakes were clear, Australia had competed, it was early days and we had outscored them on tries. This afternoon, the try consolation doesn’t hold and one must question several of his recent decisions, starting with the replacement of Henry Paul (some would argue his selection in the first place) last November, the selection and rapid de-selection of Tait, and his excursion into rugby league joint sessions that do not seem to have brought England anything. (Before I get into trouble, I am certainly not against RL and am all for closer relationships, but one has to question whether it was the best use of limited time for the squad to get together). His enthusiasm to stick to some things, whilst chop and change with others, is as baffling as some of SCW’s last decisions. As an example, why sub one player within the first 30 minutes, but not use fresh legs in the pack at the end of today’s match? Why sub two players who had done what they could all match for one who should have retired after the world cup (Dawson) and one who is struggling for form? Refreshing 2/3 of the front row wouldn’t have hurt for the final scrum, but Sheridan and Titterall remained on the bench. Andy Robinson, in a similar fashion to Lawrence Dallaglio, has to step into the shoes of individuals whom it is almost impossible to follow. Let us hope he does not go Dallaglio’s way, and give up, but he needs to find his style and his squad, equip them, and lead them on. Chopping and changing, whilst muttering about percentages of improvement required, will not help. All in all it is too early to pass comment, but there are worrying aspects to his approach. Mind you, if Clive had been dropped on his posterior after WC ’99, what would have happened?

On the bright side, I suppose I now know how it feels to be an England soccer supporter, and loose so often. Insights and empathy are always useful…

The England A side beat their French counterparts, the U21s are not having such a good time, but the U19s are giving it a go. If they are the future of England Rugby, lets hope they keep up the good work….

This evening I feel gutted. Gutted that England could have dropped so far since November 2003. Gutted that the promise of the autumn has seemingly evaporated. Gutted that fourth looks like the highest place England will make in this years six nations and gutted that as yet I cannot see a clear path to the next World Cup for England to follow.

I hope I am wrong and that lots of e-mails arrive after England’s victory in France 2007 that make me eat my words.

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