Wales: Something to celebrate

The problem is that the manager of the team is totally inexperienced. Martin Johnson has made some real howling errors which is no surprise but if he does not surround himself with the best available men he will sink far and fast.

Stuart Barnes
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Well done Wales; an awful autumn of humiliating loss for the traditionally weaker (but rarely this poor) Northern Hemisphere was rounded off with victory over Australia in Cardiff.

The Grand Slam champions of Europe gave South Africa a second half fright, New Zealand a decent forty minute scrap before combining each half to beat the Wallabies.

Southern hemisphere masterclass

What lessons for the rest of the slumbering European nations? Well first and foremost the team and their management have to believe in one another and the vision of the game being espoused. In England, in particular, and France to a lesser extent, this is not the case and until the management tightens these former dominant European players will be messing around in the midfield of the Second Division international tournament (quality on not off the pitch I hasten to add).

If England and France want to maximise their potential hard decisions are required fast. To be world class a world class coaching team is needed. Whether France possesses such a team is doubtful; England we know lacks it. The problem is that the manager of the team is totally inexperienced. Martin Johnson has made some real howling errors which is no surprise but if he does not surround himself with the best available men he will sink far and fast.

The populist nonsense which, to his eternal credit he has always laughed at, saw him as the panacea for all problems English is exposed. He cannot dominate a field with this presence as a manager as he did so magnificently as a player; he shrank a little bit this last month, even as the reputation of the ridiculously berated Brian Ashton grew.

Martyn Thomas and those men at the Rugby Football Union who demanded Rob Andrew appoint Johnson would shiver in their seats.

Of course, these are early days for Johnson. Once appointed it would be both cruel and stupid to call for his head within twelve months of being appointed. However, he has to help himself by taking the tough options of admitting his error in terms of having a captain not good enough and keeping a management team that lacks the requisite quality. Digging in and being stubborn is the weak and not the strong option. Johnson has to be strong and quickly.

Wales, in contrast, are settled as a management and a squad. Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards are the men England should have bought, at whatever price. Johnson tried for the latter but by then it was too late, Edwards had committed to his friend and Wales and Edwards has integrity.

Wales go into the Six Nations clear and deserving favourites with France and England floundering and Ireland not firing. I would not write them off too early with a cast of talented players and a shrewd coach. Scotland was much better than their critics would like to admit while the job facing Nick Mallett in Italy seems as intimidating as ever.

Return to Europe

So much for the international game; this week sees a return to the Heineken Cup, growing ever stronger as our international teams tip toe towards second rated status. I am not going to even mention the World Cup draw because - Wales apart - no side should consider 2011 until it finds itself in 2009.

But in Europe, Harlequins (with the integration of New Zealander Nick Evans coming on apace) can stun Stade Francais at the Stade de France. The Parisian giants remain in tentative form and with Harlequins having beaten Bath as a boost for confidence; they should believe an epic away win possible.

My travels take me to Montferrand after Paris where anything other than a Munster win will surprise me. The runners up in the French league are a pale shadow of last season's team that beat Munster in a thrilling game in the Auvergne. Munster almost beat the All Blacks with more than half a team missing. Surely the champions of Europe will feel confident in France.

Les miserables?

It could be a horrible week for French clubs. Cardiff - with the return of their internationals (best wishes to Jamie Roberts) should build on their crucial bonus point win against Gloucester and bag at least a win against Biarritz whilst Leicester are expected to beat a Perpignan team who cannot reproduce league form away from home in Europe.

Elsewhere perhaps Wasps season is on the line in Edinburgh where they will be underdogs against an Edinburgh team confident north of the border. It has been a hard season so far for a lot of Wasps. Defeat will be another set back after the capitulation in Dublin.

So many bubbling stories - heck, I love this tournament. Enjoy the rugby - if you are neither playing yourself nor supporting your team, tune into Sky Sports...it could be a memorable forty eight hours of rugby union.

Now to this week's post

Stuart answers your e-mails

Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...

Money talks

Stuart, It's taken me a while to write as I have been recovering from one of the best, not just games, but spectacles of rugby I have had the pleasure of enjoying for many a month. The recent Munster All Black game, in my opinion, has done more for the sport than any of the so called "internationals" of the past few weeks.

Reading comments on your column recently, I cannot understand how so many people are complaining about the All Blacks and their game. I especially "enjoyed" the comments from "your fellow countryman" from Wales!!! The All Blacks are a privilege to watch and I agree totally with your response regarding where players come from. Rugby is not soccer and long may that last! Everything about the game, everything, makes it the greatest on earth!

Finally, my question! Do you actually think, being English and all, that England had any right over the other home nations to play all 3 of the big boys after those performances?? While we (Ireland) did not show up to the All Blacks, we would have given South Africa a better game than England did and Wales beat Australia so why do England get the 3 when there are much better teams lying in wait for these boys?
Ian Byrne

STUART REPLIES: Ian, on a purely playing level there is no reason why England should have the choice cut of fixtures and certainly when I hear fellow journalists talking and writing about the All Blacks being up for England, I think, 'why?'

The World Cup run aside we are less of a threat to the Tri Nations than we have been for over a decade. There is a Byzantine element of politics involved which is not an area I tend to roam but I bet, financially, all three Southern Hemisphere nations wanted to play England...and London is a great city with a lot of Tri Nationals living there....

Collision course

Stuart, There is a lot of criticism (quite rightly) of the England team at present for shipping so many points against SA and NZ. However, I agree with Martin Johnson's comments that these are our best players. Yes, we can coach them to be more organised in defence and be more creative in attach and maybe only ship 20 points, but I just don't think we can match these teams in physicality. Our best forwards are more lean and athletic than our southern hemisphere friends. Those guys are bigger and faster. You may well refer to Brian smith's comments about identifying space, but at the same time rugby is about collisions and winning those collisions. What are your thoughts on this Stuart, especially with an eye on the Lions tour next year?
Nicholas Wade

STUART REPLIES:Nicholas, the collision is the beginning of the game, the utilisation of the space the way a team wins. For years we have endured the tired old cliché that forwards win games and backs decide by how much. Today's reality is that quality and not percentage of possession wins games, UNLESS the backs and forwards combine to waste or fail to create space in attack. As for the Lions, the fewer contacts and collisions the better, keep that ball alive. We have a chance to out think South Africa but none of out muscling them.

Rudderless England

Stuart, I have just watched the first half of the England Vs New Zealand game, I am shocked at the lack of leadership and discipline shown by the England team and in particular the captaincy, as a world cup winner Johnson should know better than anyone that discipline wins matches and he needs to be looking elsewhere foe strong leadership and a captain who can talk and control his forwards. Who do you think should be captaining England?
David Richardson

STUART REPLIES:David, I cannot disagree with one syllable of your shocked reactions to Saturday. What I will add is that the appointment of Borthwick as captain and the dropping of Nick Kennedy after one fine performance is a timely reminder that England appointed someone with absolutely no experience to manage the national rugby team. Johnson's inexperience is his defence but it does not help England and nor should it console its fans. Long term I remain in the minority of one who believes Danny Cipriani is the man to raise our ambitions and release us from the tyranny of unthinking tight five forward control. He must get his game back first, however, until he does Tom Rees gets my vote.

Thanks for the questions...to France and the Heineken Cup and a sneaking feeling that Harlequins must just.......