wallmeister says...

sorry guys I had had a drink before I skimmed the artiicle!

Posted 17:00 18th November 2011

APV1 says...

@ wallmeister - sorry. That was probably a little too harsh. Dick Greenwood is Will Greenwood's father and someone else worth listening to.

Posted 10:55 18th November 2011

sandal says...

12Counties says...

""The issue here is not their behaviour, its that they didn't win. If they went out drinking every night and won the world cup they'd be heroes! Lesson: If you're going boozing on tour, you better make sure its likely you'll win.""

Interesting viewpoint. I'm inclined to agree with you. As a player, Johnson himself was an enforcer. He made no excuses and the British media didn't mind where he put his fists. Johnson didn't care what kind of rugby England played either. Again, he made no excuses, so long as they won. The media were happy with that.

Johnson was the same as England coach. He didn't care what anybody thought. Instance: adopting the host nation's colours at the world cup? So what, I've more important things to think about. Players drinking? So what.

I suspect the players picked up on Johnson's attitude. Few of them gave a damn about anyone else. So long as they won. And Johnson always told us that was his only concern.

Problem was ... yes, their real sin was that they lost. Now all the world cup shenanigans are something for the media to beat Johson and the players with. And the people who are beating them had never given a rat's arse previously.

Posted 04:13 18th November 2011

wallmeister says...

do you think they mean Dick Best? Disck Greenwood sounds like a strange amalgamation between Dick Best and Will Greenwood. Personally, I think Dick Best is full of *** and does not know a lot about rugby. Will Greenwood however is a guy I would listen to.

Posted 18:44 17th November 2011

APV1 says...

@ jose_jones - Hear! Hear!

Posted 17:58 17th November 2011

jose_jones says...

Welcome to the professional era,... there is no point talking about who did what back in the day, it was an amateur sport back then, rugby is a professional contact sport and it can't (or at least shouldn't) be approached half arsed. World cup trips are funded by rugy unions these days not by whip rounds in the local RFC, unions are funded by the ticket paying fans who have to watch the players drink their money up against a wall. It's not some factory jollie to the seaside, it's representing your country in front of the world, I think it should be treated as an honour.

I'm not saying any team is worse than the other, it's just this case in particular is highlighting everything that is still amateur about our game.

This is not isolated to one player in one team, it's endemic in the sport in general and I think some players need to remember who they represent,...

Posted 14:27 17th November 2011

12Counties says...

I'm not English and I still think this is nonsense. 1974 Lions run amok on tour and are heralded as legends. England players out of control are lambasted for their behaviour. Lions win test series, England bomb out in quarters. The issue here is not their behaviour, its that they didn't win. If they went out drinking every night and won the world cup they'd be heroes! Lesson: If you're going boozing on tour, you better make sure its likely you'll win. If not, its going to look bad

Posted 12:12 17th November 2011

rugby_rockstar says...

Yes, certain players did behave like extras in the inbetweeners movie. It was cringeworthy at the time. where was the pride in the England shirt? Unforgivable.

Posted 10:29 17th November 2011