England inflicts rugby gloom on France

The English destroy the dream of an entire nation. So said the headline in le Parisien this morning after England ejected France from the rugby world cup in a semi-final that had stirred a wave of patriotic hope.

Rugby is only a game -- and one that is played only in parts of France -- but the match yesterday had been invested with all kinds of symbolism. It's always like that when the two ancestral enemies face off on a sports field. After their miraculous elimination of New Zealand last week, France believed that Gallic flair would triumph over the stolid rosbifs. They led for much of the game, but the genius was missing. Instead of daring runs to touch down, they kicked and blocked. The word today was that France blew it "by playing like the English".

Bernard Lapasset, the president of the French Rugby Association, sounded off on this theme after the 9-14 loss, largely to the magic boot of Jonny Wilkinson. "I don't understand the way we played tonight," Lapasset said. "When you play against the English, you don't play like the English. You play à la francaise and pass the ball."

The man being blamed this morning, inevitably, is Bernard Laporte, the  team  manager who is due to take over as President Sarkozy's Sports Minister next week. Sarko will still give him the job, but he may not last long.   

As drunken English fans were still staggering around the Left Bank early this morning, l'Equipe, the sports daily, summed up the gloom. "The only thing that is beautiful is victory, especially when it is achieved against our strange neighbours. ... The big lesson of yesterday's match is this: the English won because they never gave up being English. So English."

A disappointed French fan summed up the disgust on the lunchtime TF1 television news: "Ces anglais nous feront chier jusqu' à la fin de nos jours  [Roughly: Those English are going to screw us around until the end of our days]

France will now try to forget about rugby for a while -- at least after next weekend's final -- but the defeat is adding to a down mood as the country faces the first show-down between President Sarkozy and the unions (last posting).

It's certainly not going to be a great week for Sarkozy, who watched France's rugby defeat in the stadium along with half a dozen of his ministers. By all accounts, he is going to go public this week, possibly as early as tomorrow, over his estrangement from Cécilia. I have held off posting on this for a week because nothing has emerged beyond the fact that Mrs Sarkozy spent a couple of days in Geneva. I have heard that David Martinon, the presidential spokesman, will make a statement on the couple's separation. That comes from a reliable source in the Elysée Palace, but he cautioned that plans there are changing all the time. And that's getting away from the rugby.

[For anyone interested in seeing how the rugby, Cecilia and French politics tie together, here's a link to a TV show that I took part in yesterday on Canal +. They have split the topics into segments.]

Comments

[Julie D]

It's always rotten to be beaten by les Onglish. We didn't deserve it!

[rocket]

I hope Sarkozy doesn't get depressed with the impending announcement of his separation and divorce coupled with this defeat on home turf and press the nuclear button.

[rocket]

Very strange indeed I did not see Sarkozy's face (he was at the game?) once on all the fanatic coverage of the defeat since yesterday.

Strange indeed.

[Juliette]

The news in the next few days are going to be dreadful. I think I'll avoid TV and newspaper altogether to be spared the images of the entire nation (allegedly) in mourning. It's just a game for God's sake!

Oh, and by the way, the Sarkozys might split, but won't divorce in the next five years. The Constitution, article 67, forbids the President to go in front of a judge (separation of powers) - and to divorce in France, you need to go in front of a judge.
We now understand why Cecilia didn't vote for her husband...

[Dominique]

Don't blame the english! Blame Sarko! ;=))

we've had the worst leader of all time : Laporte

He made a political fight out of this cup with words like "the team was great, just like our president". Only with Laporte this kind of thing can happen! He used historical figures such as Guy Moquet in order to make players believe they were fighting against "nazi occupied France". How obcene! More, he also officialized the use of doping in rugby for the last 5 years by not fighting it.

The truth is that he had the worst result ever. France is always at least in semi-final in rugby world cups. That's the minimum. France often wins when competition is at home (football 1986 & 1998). So reaching the semi final home is the worst we could have. Laporte's efficiency!

He used the tactic he knows : trust the casinos! (he owns some...) and , make money, and help mafia friends (famille Fargette). For info, he is in trouble with the ministere des finances for tax fraud. No wonder he wants to be minister...

This man is clearly a loser. I wonder if Sarko, who loves winners, will still use him as a minister. "Dopping for every one" will be his motto!

The only proper comment is Olivier Duhamel's : "un type comme ça ne devrait pas pouvoir être ministre".

But with Sarko, "tout est possible".

[Andrew C]

i am not a fan of england as i am irish but i have to say the english did deserve credit for last night and they fought back for their reputation after many years of mocking and how the great has fallen.

[Sea-Bass]

It was so true, the French tried to beat the English in the British way. If they had even hinted in the way they played in the Six Nations against Ireland, they would have still been in the race.
They lost to England in the same manner this spring and beat them in test matches because they were playing 'á la francaise'.
They have only themselves to blame, because they were fully capable of winning the Webb Ellis trophy after beating the All Blacks. What a shame.

[colin grayson]

as we say in england , c'est la vie

btw , you DID deserve it ..as usual with these close affairs , it's the team that keeps it's nerve which wins , france had the rub of the green in the first half but didn't exploit it , so the home advantage was dissapated

[John Silich]

Unless you are English, that has to be the most boring semi final in RWC's short history. Wilkinson and Jason Robinson aside, they are a bunch of plodders who are in the Final! Go figure!

[Carlos OLGUIN-TRELAWNY]

As an Argentinian, I'm DELIGHTED that Laporte's team is out. He tainted a sport like rugby which is not manage by a mafia like football is and used it as a political springboard. Now, if we defeat the Springbocks today—which could be done, mind you—I'm absolutely convinced the Pumas will win the Cup. You'll see. Besides that, hurrah to England! Good game!!!

[Peter Athey]

I've been reading reports of this match across the internet and almost all writers (cf, in this blog john silich) complain how boring, monolithic and one-dimensional (the boa-constrictor of world rugby according to Sydney Morning Herald) the English game is. But how effective also.

This put me in mind of a story that sums up the English team throughout the entire competition.

A Farmer wanted to get married but, despite putting ads in Le Chasseur Francais could find no woman prepared to move to an isolated country farm far from the bright city lights. So he decided to sign up with a marriage agency to help him find a suitable partner. The manageress of the agency took out her books and showed him page after page of beautiful, sensual women from around the world. He looked at the first few pages then closed it:
"I don't care what the woman looks like. All I want to know is ... has she got a tractor?"

In Wilkinson, Robinson, Sheridan and the others, the England team has a fleet of Massey Fergusons and John Deeres to plough their furrow and reap their harvest.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dominique,

"un type comme ça ne devrait pas pouvoir être ministre". (a guy like him should not be considered to be able to be a minister - sorry for the approximate translation).

Dominique, I agree totally with you and Olivier Duhamel on this point.

Two days ago, Laporte has been interviewed by the anchor woman of TF1, Claire Chazal, who is an educated and always very elegant lady. He deemed appropriate to appear ill shaved in front of her (and of the camera), sitting casually both thigs wide open, leaning backwards and delivering his "message" at high speed as usual with his heavy South Western French accent.

In short, he behaved like a "goujat" crossed with a macho ("goujat" means boor, churl if I believe my on line dictionary).

PS : congratulations to the British team. They won - that is all.

[Twickenham Simon]

I am a devout England fan – through and through. However……………..

I was crying at the end of last night’s game- never before. Two teams that truly believe and truly have passion. As an England fan it has been 4 years of ridicule from all over the globe. We have been rubbished from all angles.

The sheer joy of breaking clean of those shackles is al due to one man – Brian ‘Yoda’ Ashton. The Adidas pretty boy All blacks – self obsessed with image and pumping out videos of them in the gym – Kelleher showing his 6 pack – having lived there for nearly 3 years – The Adidas all Blacks should grow up and fly off in their black painted 747. It’s a sport for god sake not a brand - we have a diversified life. NZ has F all apart from The All Blacks.

The comments of the ARU and French President sums it up – they hat e England. They hate England because we didn’t cave in to the Germans like the gutless French did – we fight – it is in our Anglo Saxon blood.

France are a great nation and a great team -and as my best mate said who is French – ‘You stuck it up us’.

I suggest those that knock England should have a look at their past histories and work out what sort of nations they really are.

Cometh the hour – cometh the man.

So stop lecturing us about basketball champagne rugby. You simply don’t have the mental strength. Whoever wins next weekend – whether it be Argentina, England or South Africa – they will deserve it. Al 3 teams are fighters.

Passion + mental strength = win.

[David Crawford]

All those comments about how "boring" or "one-dimensional" the English side is, or was. Blah, blah, blah. The job of that team WAS NOT to amuse some viewer in Australia or France. It's job was to win. Period.

As the great Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi, famously said:

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."

[river]

"Les Blues inflict rugby gloom on France" is a more appropriate heading. Last night's performance by France was as inept as their 1999 victory over the All Blacks was brilliant.

[Seb]

All the credits to those bloody rosbifs for their victory yesterday. Not that they played particularly well but it's the score that matters. Honestly I thought we had a marginally better team: more possession, more territory, slightly more offensive... We were in front most of the time. But then, NZ can claim the same of the quarter final against France.

[rocket]

I laugh at all of these talking heads who criticize the French coach LaPorte. 5 little points, one goal that could have come down at the end. At the end of France was driving and could have gone into the end zone (sorry for the American Football terms). Then Laporte would have been a genius. But as most of the French news stations said all during the day, France awoke this morning with "60 millions d'entrainers" Each and every one of them knows better than the coach.

AS USUAL!

I'm sorry France lost for the team members but I'm not sorry that France lost for the French.

[Sandrine]

lol, wow there's a bunch of new guys on the blog ! Great !
I wonder if we would have seen them if France had won...

This comment might be the best :
"Whoever wins next weekend – whether it be Argentina, England or South Africa – they will deserve it. Al 3 teams are fighters."

Which means we French are definitely NOT fighters... pff, whatever !!

[azloon]

Sandrine -- consider these newcomers as a bunch of (likely) british rugby blogging hooligans (blooligans). at least they can't throw rocks and bottles here.

btw, did sarko make a public appearance with the blues after the match, consoling these fine atheletes? if no, he is making a big mistake. he needs to 'get right in there' and praise these guys on whom he raised such high expectations and put so much pressure..

[Dot KING]

Rocket - Sarko was there - see my post of last night on "lady vanishes" blog. We had a shot of Jean-Paul Belmondo, we saw the arrival of Johnny and Laetitia, and a split second od Sarkozy's arrival with no commentary - i'm fairly convcinced there's a news block - not a word about him on TV or radio for a couple odf days - I'm beginning to miss him :( ! The cameraman responsible is probably fired by now
After using against him time after time the fact that De Villepin wasn't elected, Président Sarkozy is busy adding lots and lots of unelected people to his government, but he calls it "ouverture". Ouvrez Laporte? Qu'il la ferme!

[Dot KING]

Sandrine, nothing to get excited about - on one blog they all talk politics on the other they all talk rugby and have a down on France.
Sheesh!

[John Arc]

France lost the game but 2 members of my Enbglish staff will be getting the sack, the boot first thing tomorrow.

In my arena, the English lose.

[Dominique]

Rocket,

"At the end of France was driving and could have gone into the end zone. Then Laporte would have been a genius"

No quite. Even if France had won, Laporte would not be a genious, believe me. This guy is a jerk. The Forrest Gump of rugby, tainted with a drop of Al Capone.

[azloon]

"The Forrest Gump of rugby, tainted with a drop of Al Capone." Dominique

nice image !

[Pierre Bernardi]

Like to say anything about Hanane (France 3's report) before her appearance before Portsmouth Crown Court tomorrow Charles? Slightly more interesting than Cecilia Sarkozy, given that she seems to be facing 14 years for allowing two Chinese into Britain in the boot of her car (which she denies).

[Valentin]

This is just out:
it has been heard that President Sarkozy has just sacked Bernard Laporte, former coach of the French rugby team - even before hiring him. Amongst reasons, it is quoted President's embarrassement: it is well known that Nicolas Sarkozy has a true difficulty working with losers, people having failed fulfilling their goals.
Laporte is however suspected to have already received certain propositions from the socialist party... talks about a charge in his native region of Aquitaine have been held... it appears (although it is yet to be confirmed) that the French socialists are making their own ouverture to the Right... à moins que, mécontents de ne pas avoir tous les mafieux chez eux, ils ont décidé de racoler ceux qui leur manquait encore ! :))

[The 3rd Column]

Unprecedented, unsportsmanlike and very plonker reaction by England coach after last Saturday's match!

The French media, players, and the rugby fans had nothing but praises for the English team and even the losing French coach showed 'magnanimity' in defeat but not the English coach Brian Ashton.

There was a comment by England coach Brian Ashton captured by Le Figaro that smacked of gratuitous arrogance, ungentlemanly attitude and thoroughly foul behaviour in the Rugby world which I believe should not be allowed to go unnoticed.

Ashton, being the coach should give the lead. Where the English pack showed a respectful gesture toward their opponents, Ashton's reaction after the England win showed that he was a pillock! Somebody should tell this uncouth English bulldog in no uncertain terms that in sports, the victorious coach must respect his opponents -- never mind if he hasn't realized that France team were as good and as deserving of a place in the finals.

The French media, players and the public, my friends and I had nothing but praises for the English team and I believe even the losing French coach Laporte said the right thing about the England pack but not the English coach Ashton towards the French pack.

Pound for pound, the French team are as good as the English but England was extremely lucky last Saturday. Need we remind Ashton that England lost and lost resoundingly against France in August?

Brian Ashton is a pillock, an arrogant provincial Englishman who thought that he grew in stature personally because England players had been lucky last Saturday. What he doesn't realize is that his ugly comments brought him down to the size of an arrogant dwarf in the eyes of rugby fans.

Read his statement in: Ashton : «Redonner la balle aux Bleus» (Ashton: "Give the ball to the Blue team" 14/10 19h28) in Le Figaro:

Après le succès sur le XV de France, l'euphorie anglaise est passée... Et l'arrogance de nos amis britanniques peut reprendre le dessus. Brian Ashton n'a pas sa langue dans sa poche et il l'a encore démontré dimanche (Brian Ashton did not mince words on Sunday)

«Il y a des moments samedi où on a même trop joué au rugby, notamment pendant 10 minutes en seconde période, on essayait de crier aux joueurs de taper dans ce foutu ballon pour le redonner à la France et voir ce qu'elle allait en faire, car il paraissait évident qu'elle n'allait pas en faire grand-chose de plus que nous.»

For being the uncouth and the arrogant pillock that Ashton is and for that alone, I will be very happy if the English team lose to South Africa in the final next weekend!

I hope South Africa wins the 2007 Rugby World Cup and throws a ton of shit in Brian Ashton's face next week. Ashton will more than deserve it.

[Ian]

France choked on the night. Where were the brilliant backline moves evident last week; the centre running into the back of his opposite number and writhing in agony, his opposite number getting sin binned, the forward pass(Mr. Kaplan wouldn't notice) and there were kickable penalties awarded against them in the second half surely that was not supposed to happen. No doubt the English team will be writing letters of thanks to their fellow countrymen Mr. Barnes and Mr. Spreadbury for the position they now find themselves.

[Charles]

The IRB or whoever is in charge of Rugby these days need to change the rules. Backs should stay 10 metres back when defending during a scrum, maul or ruck. Rugby should be about passing and running into free space, not passing and running into a 15 man wall every 30 seconds.

[Frank Schnittger]

One of the attractions of Rugby is that it can be marvellously unpredictable. Ireland beat England by 30 points last spring, and have won hardly anything since.

France beat what has been the best team in the world over the past 4 years - and then lose to England who have been one of the worst.

England lose by 36 points to the Springboks only a few weeks ago, but could well beat them in the final.

Argentina surpass all (except their own) expectations, and could well have been in the final had they stuck to their conservative game plan of previous games. Instead, they try to play like the Springboks and are badly mauled.

Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Japan play some of the most attractive Rugby, but only Fiji get to the knock-out stages of the competition.

A lot of it has to do with having the mental toughness to play well when under extreme pressure. The Springboks are a far better team than England, but they haven’t had a really tough match in the competition so far – a bit like the All-Blacks before their fateful encounter with France.

So we don’t really know who is going to win – and that’s what makes it such an exciting spectacle. Well done to France for hosting the competition so well.

I’m afraid Sarkozy is going to have to learn the hard way that nothing worth winning comes easy in this life. The phoney war of PR and media spin are almost over. The real political battles are about to begin.

[christopher muir]

If Sarkozy employs an astrologer he should consider replacing the present palace soothsayer with a more competent one. But possibly the president is sidelining any unpleasant occult advice. Whatever the reasons, surely events aren't playing out as had been envisaged during the May glory days.

[Wilbur Watson]

The French rugby team has and probably always will be totally unpredictable. Sometimes they are brilliant but more often than not they are pedestrian in the following match.

[Ros]

Rocket: Yes, Sarko was at the match - there was only one shot of him, at the very beginning (busy straightening his tie)! - probably, if France had won there would have been a few more at the end?

[Geoff R]

Valentin - bad harvest this year? Just how sour are those grapes??

[Albert]

We are taught to be magnanimous in victory, so any gloating from England supporters is indeed unfortunate. However, there was provocation. It is not easy to be a citizen of the country that produced Shakespeare, Newton, Darwin, etc. etc., that invented rugby and the worldwide web (the 2 things that make this current debate possible!) and yet to be continuously accused of being provincial and of lacking flair. Such stereotyping is clearly absurd and unjustified. There is an undertone of anti-English sentiment from regular contributors to this blog. France and England are both great countries, very evenly matched, and therefore intensely competitive. France was unlucky on Saturday, but c'est la vie.

[Tim]

3rd Column - grow up. Did you pick up some unpleasant STD or something on your last trip to these shores? Good lord above - you lost a game of rugby is all. Brian Ashton is entitled to feel a little smug - he got nothing but a kicking from the media and everybody else up to and including the Australia match.

[Dot KING]

Hands off Valentin!! He doesn't know his rugby from his politics!

[Valentin]

Geoff R: you speaking about MY grapes there? No love, my grapes are juicy and jus'meltin' in da mouth, this year just like the last year and the years before! Care for a bite? :) And bring Dominique along too, will ya!

[Valentin]

Thanks Milady, indeed it was politics I was speaking about. The guys here are much more competent in rugby matters, so I stick to my own chasing ground :)

[The 3rd Column]

By the way, foro the defenders of Brian Ashton, here is a 'liberal' translation in English of what he said, just so they understand (am not a professional translator):

"There were moments last Saturday when they tried to play rugby too much and especially during the first 10 minutes of the second half, we were yelling at the players to dribble the bloodly ball and to give it back to France (team) and see what they would do with it because it was obvious that they couldn't do anything with it." - Brian Ashton

[Frank Schnittger]

The 3rd Column - you got so vexed about those anodyne comments? Brian Ashton was just talking tactics - and noting that when teams like England (and Argentina) get too adventurous with the ball - they just give up turnovers and intercept tries.

England simply don't have the players to play an adventurous type of game in the backs (an approach to the game for which Ashton has been noted in the past). He has simply saying the obvious - France were showing no signs of breaching the English defence and the obvious tactic was to do what Argentina did against France - and that was to kick the ball long and high against them or dribble it behind their first line of defence.

Instead of doing what French teams are famous for - counter attacking from deep - the French just kicked it back to England in the mistaken belief that they were going to win anyway.

England were playing to their limitations - and strengths. Had France done the same they would have won. Brian Ashton was simply stating the obvious - another English strength!

[azloon]

[In response to growing criticism surrounding the credo, Lombardi eventually came to regret the "winning is the only thing" statement and offered a repudiation, implying that what he meant to say was, “Winning is not everything - but making the effort to win is."] wikipedia

a little background on vince lombardi's quote, cited above somewhere in this testosterone-soaked discussion.

[Daniel Strohl]

"Our President chocked on a pretzel and nearly died"

Il n'est pas donné à n'importe qui de manger des bretzels impunément ...
(Alsatian saying I invented on the spot!)

[rocket]

Daniel

Is there an art to eating Bretzels (Pretzels)? Should you wash them down "mit ein gut Brau"? That's about the limit of my German sorry.

[colin grayson]

why don't we all face the fact ... the blacks should have won this tournament , but they employed the wrong tactics ...winning ugly is the common parlance for the required strategy I understand

my father taught me that in life , as in sport , it is important to play to win , but within the rules

wouldn't take much to change the rules of rugby to bring about the sort of play that I prefer to watch ; and yes , NZ would still have the best team

[Gill]

Sandrine I was not aware that this was a private blog for regular members only. I read this blog every time that it appears but do not usually comment as, although I spend a lot of time in France and have a number of french friends I do not feel knowledgeable enough on most of the topics raised to make any worthwhile comments.

However, surely it is right for a newcomer to be able to express a view on something that they do have a special interest in if only to widen the appeal of the blog and to keep it fresh. Otherwise it can become a little dull and incestuous
with no surprises as one can often anticipate how the various contributors will react.

I don't mean that it is dull - I really enjoy reading the opinions of those resident in France and those with particular knowledge of french issues. But please don't try to make it a private club.

[azloon]

"I do not feel knowledgeable enough on most of the topics raised to make any worthwhile comments." GILL

if 'this' (being knowledgeable) were a blog requirement, i certainly wouldn't be posting.

i say, the less knowledgeable the better :)

[Sandrine]

"Sandrine I was not aware that this was a private blog for regular members only"

I'm sorry Gill, I never said it was. It's just strange to see newcomers only to gloat over France's defeat. That's why I was wondering if we would have seen them if France had won. Am I allowed to ask this question or is free speech a pb for you ?

Feel free to do whatever you want on this blog, it's not mine.

[Dot KING]

Hello Gill, I looked everywhere but couldn't find Sandrine's post to read what she'd written, so it must be on another blog. Your experience as a part-time resident is just as valuable as anyone else's, whyever not?
What impresses me most about this blog is the number of French bloggers who bravely launch themselves into "conversations" in English with native English speakers or other English speakers from all over the world. Sometimes, if you don't know what's been translated, I mean the exact French wording, you can get the wrong impression.
I clicked on for the first time a couple of weeks ago and already I think I'm going to have to join Bloggers Anonymous, or start it if it doesn't already exist.
In the end there's no right and no wrong, there's always someone out there to disagree with you!
Courage ma brave, bloggez!

[Gill]

Sandrine free speech is certainly not a problem for me which was exactly the point of my comment. I do take your point that some of the contributors to the rugby blog would not have bothered if France had won - I doubt if they would have been praising the French team.

Thank you to Azloon and Dot King for your encouragement. I am also very impressed by the linguistic abilities of the native french bloggers. I feel ashamed that I could not participate in a french blog in the same way. I have, however, learnt some useful new phrases when bloggers resort to the french language.

[richard jones]

Am reluctant to enter this discussion after being taken to task by Mr. Rodney Goodarce about the origins of rugby in France. I should have checked Wikipedia rather than relying what I was told by a certain Jacques Delmas in the late 30’s.

France was not the only loser last weekend. Rugby Union was! Let me paint some pictures for you, preambled with the following sad facts. In the group ’death’ games, Italy lost but scored more tries than Scotland, Wales lost to Fiji but scored more tries (I’m Welsh but still view this as the best game so far), there are other examples. England go into the semi-finals as the survivors who have easily scored the least points and the least tries in this competition.

England’s philosophy has nothing to do with using the ball, except as a pill to be kicked. There is no thought of passing, running, handling in their heads and the way the game is now designed there is no incentive for them to do other than play very, very, big men who can apply physical pressure in the set pieces and the loose (often presence more than tackles per se) until the opposition commits a technical offence, of which there are many, and gives away 3 points with the boot. These boots have now been trained to score from at least 50 to 60 meters and from all but the very narrowest of angles.

There is no incentive to score points any other way. For the preservation of rugby the IRB needs to do the following: -

1) A try moves up to 6 points.
2) A conversion is reduced to 1 point, thus reducing the 'score risk’ of the wide ball, pass along the line, corner flag try. Thus a goal remains 7 points.
3) A Grevous Bodily Harm penalty from the centre of the 22 meter line, wherever the original offence took place. This is worth 5 points.
4) Yellow cards, which are largely ineffectual as the 14 man team slows down the set pieces and reduces the playing time with ‘les effectifs réduits’ to about 4 minutes, should be 15 minutes or until the opposition scores 6 points whichever is the shortest.
5) Stop this citing crap after the game.
6) Technical penalties remain as today except they are worth 2 points only, this way it takes three of them to equal a try not as now where 2 of them are worth more than a try.
7) Drop goal 2 points - same reasoning as above.

This will screw England. We need to do this because if they win the cup, everybody will copy their ’winning style’ and it won’t be long before we have a game approaching American football where they all dress up like refugees from a bad computer game and ’do plays’ for the TV advertising revenue industry.

The other way to stop England’s ‘trench warfare’ version of the sport is to encourage new membership, especially in the Northern hemisphere.
We need a two division championship
4 teams each division - home and away games - 12 games per season (15 in the 6 Nations)
1 team promoted/relegated at the end of each season.
Current divisions on RWC form would be
Div 1 England - France - Scotland - Wales (tries scored)
Div 2 Ireland - Italy - 2 from Romania, Portugal and Georgia.

These are the only ways to stop England taking over the sport and turning it into American Football with a Harlequins accent.

[The 3rd Column]

Agree with Richard Jones.

[richard jones]

Those who agree with these changes, notably to the tariffs should write to the Bill Beaumont who is in charge of the laws of the game (ironically) at IRB Huguenot House (more irony),
St. Stephen's Green 35 - 38
Dublin 2 Ireland.

The voting in the IRB is 2 votes each for Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Oz, All Black's, South Africa and England: 1 vote for Argentina, Canada, Japan and Italy +
FIRA (whose job is to develop rugby in Europe).

Write now before Rugby Union becomes
an unlikeable clone of Rugby League thence a form of American Football - perhaps called Walliball, in which most of today's refs will succeed as they don't have to worry about the forward pass.

[Pierre]

Having more teams won't change anything - England have rugby sussed out. If you can stop the other team from scoring tries, it doesn't matter how much penalities, drop-goals or conversions are worth.

The present French team have mastered rugby at the individual level but make mistakes collectively. For instance, after a hard slog in the opposing 22 metres, there comes a time to take a breather with 3 easy points from a penalty. Instead France, in the match last night against Argentina, banged on regardless - as they did against New Zealand pre World Cup. They should have been 6-3 up, but went down immediately 10-3. The same pattern repeated itself throughout the game, leading to comprehensive defeat.

The distinguishing feature of a successful rugby team is brains (and I'm not talking about Wales): the ability to think correctly. Fijian or French flair is a by-product.

France's sole try against Argentina was a masterpiece. Had they respected the fundamentals of the game, their energy and confidence levels would have allowed them to score many more.