Andy Robinson: Agent for Change or Standing Still?

A REAL CHANGE MASTER
By A Different Slant
June 15 2006

England's latest purgatorial tour once more shows up the paucity of ideas that has been in evidence ever since "Bill" was paraded atop an omnibus in December 2003. Rather than move on to attack goalposts anew, the coaching has becomed mired in stagnation.

 

That self congratulatory party two and a half years ago should have been consigned to the scrapbook come the 2004 Six Nations. What we have witnessed since has been excuse after excuse, resignation when the writing on the wall became too large to ignore, and a string of staggeringly predictable tactical displays, particularly during the closing stages of the 6N and on tour.

So, what do we witness this summer after the latest clearout of the coaching staff? Pretty much the same old, hoary chestnut. Well-meaning noises, clapped out players -- most of whom have played in excess of 32 games (in part or in full), and the usual old faces. Where is the development of the squad with the 2007 Rugby World Cup in mind? Contractual obligations to tour and receive tourists keep getting in the way of change.

Let's make no bones about it, change is required, but not in the way the RFU envisages. Forget the demand for a stuctured season with central contracts. Forget foppish franchise football that panders to the media on a Friday night, forgetting that fostering the family audience is the real path to the future development of the game. Get the balance right, and success will follow.

Mr. Robinson, what are you doing picking old favourites barely 16 months before the defence of the top prize? How does Iain Balshaw get picked without having shown any form of late? Mike Catt? Explain! Where is the development path for young hopefuls such as Magnus Lund and Matthew Tait (hokey kokey)? Why be conservative with the captain's armband when other candidates can step into the no.8 shirt so effectively? Just how do quality players like Tom Voyce and Mark Van Gisbergen lost their way when in the clutches of the Red Rose? And why do game breakers like Stuart Abbott get consistently ignored?

Why? Because difference is harder than indifference.

However, there is one silver cloud in Robinson's maddening indifference! Wasps' England tourists, messers Voyce and Van Gisbergen might well be available a week or two earlier than the long suffering, ball carrying, lasso-tackling Joe Worsley and the ball handling, there-by-process-of-elimination Tim Payne -- picking Graham Rowntree may give Robbo experience, but aren't we forgetting a certain date with destiny in late 2007?

Wake up and smell the linament Andy, not the bull shot. Boris has the answer but are you listening? Read 'em and weep, or have a punt on the other World Cup as we're not winning the next RWC at this rate -- you know it makes sense!