News: Notes from Jimmies End

By Paul Shaddick
June 15 2014

The welcome return of a series of columns from Paul Shaddick. COYS' own Alan Coren.

Give him his due, Ed Griffiths certainly knows how to grab the headlines. The day after one of the most exciting cup finals ever seen in club rugby, Saints finally bagged their first premiership title.

Not only was the match totally gripping, but it was the first to go to extra time, saw Dylan Hartley redeem himself after last year's red card, and also provided the stage for Stephen Myler to make his strongest claim yet for a crack at the England fly half role.

And yet the only thing the national press (including The Rugby Paper, which really should know better) were interested in was the 'TMO shambles'. Those two words are in quotes because they were spoken by Mr Griffiths. Is Mr Griffiths Saracens' coach? Their captain perhaps? An ex-player? Surely he must have coached or played for South Africa? Er, no. He's an ex-journalist, and former chief executive of the SARU.

He can rightly be proud of his key role in promoting the South African RWC in 1995. He played a major part in getting the newly empowered black majority in that nation behind their team, in a sport that had previously been the exclusive preserve of the white minority.

But an acknowledged expert in the finer points of the laws of the game he is not. But, as I said, you have to give him his due. You can't blame a marketing man for doing his job and trying to draw attention away from the fact that his team got beat. You can however, and should, blame the media for allowing him to get away with it.

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It could certainlybe argued that Saints had a little bit of luck duringthat Premiership final. It's a cliche that these things even out over the season - but it was difficult to agree with the people telling us that after the narrow defeat at Gloucester and the early finish at home against Leicester. With hindsight, it's probably better to have your bad luck during the regular season and your good during the play-offs, and I really, really promise to remember that the next time we seem to get the wrong end of a dubious refereeing deccision.

Talking of luck, the rugby gods seemed to be smiling down on us again during the draw for the European Rugby Champions Cup (wasn't it so much easier when you could just say Heineken and everyone knew exactly what you meant?).

It's difficult to imagine an easier bunch of opponents to have been grouped with. And I'm sorry Jim, but there is such a thing as an easy pool. This is it. While I admire the principle of not belittling one's opponents, and being fully aware that rash statements can and sometimes do have a habit of coming back to bite the backside, once in a while I wonder if it wouldn't be nice for our erstwhile coach to drop his guard for a moment and let a little Cockers-style honesty to slip through.

Can you imagine the scene, as the BT Sport commentator says: "... and now over to Franklin's Gardens for Jim Mallinder's reaction to that European Cup draw..."

JM: "F*** me! How good is that! Ha-ha, we're going to absolutely p*** that group! Er, i mean, there's no such thing as an easy pool in this competition, they're all top quality sides and each will be a challenge in their own way. "

News: Notes from Jimmies End

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 15/06/2014 16:32

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