English rugby should strive for more intellect, not more entertainment in the coming year says Stuart Barnes.
Players must improve their impact without the ball as much as with it
This New Year resolutions lark is far too sober for my tastes but what the hell - here are a few on behalf of English rugby.
The first concerns the nature of the game itself. 2009 was not the year of beautiful rugby in England. Performances at both country and club level frequently stooped to gargoyle depths.
The most obvious resolution is to produce more entertainment. That's a resolution to unite directors of rugby, players and referees. But it would also be the wrong way for the sport to travel. Friends with deep roots in the sport keep espousing the cause of 'entertainment'.
Rugby, I am told, is now part of the entertainment business and must compete at whatever level 'entertainment' sets.
In this day the quality is low brow to the point of Stygian. Off the field it means the tyranny of the X Factor with its low grade degradation of music. It is - and was at Harlequins - on the 27th December style over substance.
Superficial
A rugby version of this is a simplistic one with heaps of tries, obsession with personalities and a lack of subtlety to a sport that's difficulty for some is its charm and allure for others.
It's where Super 14 headed for a while before refereeing interpretations swung so violently from the side of the attacker to now, where we have found ourselves mired in the morass of the breakdown with too much advantage accorded the tackler.
The laws never changed just the International Board's suggestions to its referees. Such is the danger of superficial thought.
It is not more entertainment required but more intellect. On behalf of all the professional coaches in England let us resolve to concentrate on playing as much with as without the ball.
This and not some ill conceived interpretation at the breakdown is the prime issue of substance. Resolve this and we can have a game with guts and glory.
Inspiration
Instead of the eternal tedium of the aimless kick and chase, teams will plot how to punish the dull witted kick. This is not some wide-eyed piece of utopian thinking as the negative coaches would have us believe. Even the referees are conspiring on behalf of the counter attackers.
In recent months they have been ordered to penalise the forwards who have mastered the art of taking offside positions leaving the catcher with an eyeful of opposing shirts slowly advancing across the field.
The strong refereeing makes a difference and allows teams like Northampton to benefit even more from the ball kicked to them by sides that prefer to destroy than create. Of course it takes some coaching to create intelligent back threes capable of judiciously choosing when and when not to counter but isn't that what coaches are paid for? Technical competence is the climbing frame for inspiration.
Responsibility
Regular Premiership watchers will be alarmed at the fall off in terms of such competence. Come on coaches, create. Oh and while Brendan Venter was not 100% right, let us see less guessing and prescriptive refereeing while we are at it.
For the players, a resolution not to turn to the touch line every time a decision must be made. Curse the coaches who have created this vacuity. The time has come for professional players to demand the responsibility of being elite performers in their profession. If they cannot decide whether or not to kick for goal how will they make that split second decision that wins or loses a game during the course of live play?
One thinks back to Martin Johnson's decision to risk carrying the ball back into contact against Australia in the World Cup final to give Matt Dawson time to wriggle from beneath a host of bodies thereby allowing Jonny Wilkinson that all important extra moment to set himself for glory.
Mindset
As a player Johnson set an outstanding example of independent leadership but as a manager he seems to have become an autocrat trusting himself before his players. The longer this continues the longer English internationals will fail to think for themselves.
The manager of England should resolve to back players with a different mindset from the one he trusted many years back. Admirable as he was a team of fifteen Johnson's would have won no more than a team of 15 Jason Robinsons.
Johnson should resolve to think beyond his own experiences and history that are possibly in the process of creating a failed rugby state.
England might not possess talent enough to light a fire in 2010 but there are enough sparks to produce some dazzling rugby to go with the substantial stuff on which he built his playing career.
Twaddle
Time has not run out on him but it is quick marching. If he continues with some of his erroneous ways (a choice of captain who simply is not good enough to lead a top rate rugby nation to a World Cup) it will soon be impossible for him to change direction because that would be to admit his mistakes.
His faithful captain, Steve Borthwick, should resolve to quit burbling what the Germans call 'mumpitz' - exalted twaddle. He hides behind the corporate claptrap and clichéd lines of 'the boys could not have given any more'.
That is the basic requirement for any sportsman, not some virtue to be offloaded on a public that might have a bit too much time for X Factor for my liking but has seen through the excuses that scarred the RFU in 2009. No more excuses, Rob, treat the supporters as supporters not customers and treat them with respect, that's the final resolution. Happy New Year to you all!
Stuart answers your emails...
Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...
HOME TRUTHS
Stuart, I have the utmost respect for your comments on rugby. Please make a meal of Brendan Venter's comments in discussion this week on Rugby Club and please, please attempt to get some change for the good of rugby. I sent this e-mail to BV at Sarries so strongly did I feel in his support: 'I am not particularly a Sarries fan but I am a long standing supporter of rugby. I am so pleased that Brendan Venter has stood up yesterday to the match official. What happened is symptomatic of where rugby has fallen to. I support Wales and in two of the autumn series the side were booed for kicking. Not heard of in 30 years! Kicking because attacking rugby is stunted by laws that are randomly applied by poor referees. Stephen Jones in the Times match report v Leicester has Brendan as man of the match. I agree. So Brendan...if you get fined someone e-mail me and I will send the club a tenner. You have done so much to at least attempt to improve the poor frustrating situation we all feel. I hope others follow and some consistency can be applied.' It needs sorting. SB...please help...IRB..inept and unable to change or have the vision for what they are doing to our attacking game. Don't get me going! Pete Mills
STUART SAYS: Peter, Brendan Venter has a strong point and the authorities would do well to listen rather than jerk their knee in anger and embarrassment. There are too many home truths for comfort but the argument of the Saracens boss was undermined for a couple of reasons. The most obvious is that his team lost and while Venter is a man of integrity defeat still chisels a different and more frustrated mindset. I was at Cheltenham races on New Year's Day and after winning the first race jockey and trainer, Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson questioned the safety of the course. That was an argument that could not be questioned.
I will also add (I will see the game Wednesday so I cannot comment on the officiating) that when I read that Steve Borthwick was binned to Venter's fury for lazy running I raised an eyebrow. This has been an issue before for Saracens this season and suggests they are not quite as pure in their desire to play the game in its truest spirit as the broadside might try and convince. There are always more sides than one to a story. Yes, laws and referees have been a problem but so has cautious coaching (please see column).
FODEN FOR THOUGHT
Stuart, watching Northampton and Ben Foden lately I was wondering your thoughts of Foden playing 13 for England. It seems to me he is one of the few English backs who has the quality, pace and time on the ball to play 13 on the gain line, something England rarely do. Tom Hill
STUART SAYS: Tom, Ben Foden stills lacks a few basics before he should be considered in his favoured position of full back before being considered as a centre. By all means include him in the squad and put him on the bench but right now he lacks the requisites to start in any position for England. If anything Chris Ashton is overtaking him.
O'GARA A GONER?
Stuart, as an independent observer, can you give us your opinion on the Ronan O'Gara v Johnny Sexton for the Irish number 10 jersey debate? The Irish Media appear to be grossly biased in favour of Leinster (more people in Leinster to read and watch than Munster) and hence have almost demanded Kidney give Sexton the starting role. As a Munster fan, I acknowledge my bias for Ronan O'Gara. However, the facts are Ronan O'Gara is the highest point scorer in Heineken Cup history, has pretty much done it all for Munster and Ireland. Lets face it the Magners League is not a true indication of O'Gara, it is in the Heineken Cup and Six Nations that it matters most. O'Gara's last two matches for Ireland, his drop goal won the Six Nations for Ireland for first time in 63 years and last game he helped Ireland draw with Australia. For most of his career he has had to play with a poor Munster backline and a dodgy Munster and Irish scrum. This must not be forgotten now that Munster finally have threat from 11 to 15. Sexton has done the business in recent times but only came on in Heineken Cup semi-final and started in final. Sexton has immense talent in the backs of Leinster which always helps (Brian O Driscoll et al). How would Sexton fare if Leinster had a poor scrum and little options outside the number 10 jersey. Michael Harty
STUART SAYS: Michael, yours is a persuasive set of factors set in your man's favour. Ronan O'Gara is not the sort of player to dismiss lightly. He has a rugby computer for a brain in a not particularly refined age of rugby thinkers but time is ticking on and with Sexton looking so good at the moment he surely must be given first shot at making the position his if Ireland wishes to mount a sustained World Cup campaign which should be the next agenda after the Grand Slam. If, on the other hand, Ireland are limited in their vision as England were back in the Will Carling era, the case for playing O'Gara in this Six Nations grows but I would like to think Ireland has more than parochial aspirations. I wouldn't worry about what we media types write and say, you've the best coach Europe has produced for a decade to get the choice right and I certain Declan Kidney will, irrespective of Munster/Leinster rivalries (which, as an English rugby man I envy all Irish supporters)..
TOP TRAVEL TIPS
Hi Stuart, although not a standard question for your Sky Sports forum, I would be grateful for your advice nonetheless. Me and a few friends are hoping to go to the south of France in the New Year and were planning to go to a couple of Top 14 games. As a regular visitor to those shores with in-depth knowledge of the area, it would be extremely helpful if you could direct me to what you feel are the better stadia/more atmospheric grounds. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Alun Johnson
STUART SAYS: Alun, Toulouse is a joy for the rugby lover; Biarritz is a disappointment, if you get to the coast Toulon crackles and don't forget Montpelier, a lovely stadium and gorgeous city...Perpignan can rumble on its day too although the Gallic voices were restrained on my last visit there!
