2016: OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Eddie "Miracle Worker" Jones has finally decided to rid English rugby of messrs. Farrell, Rowntree and Catt, replacing them with (probably) Steve Borthwick, Paul Gustard and Alex King. I personally think a "clean sweep" is the right decision, leaving no bad odours lingering for the players, who should now feel they all have a fair chance of being selected for the Six Nations and beyond. There just remains the small issue of paying off the Funboy Three, whose contracts the RFU had extended to 2019 just recently (yes, I know, they can afford it though).

Funboy Three have left the building

All of Eddie's selections have good reputations, from Borthwick's obvious influence on Japan in RWC 2016, Gustard's effective Saracens "wolf pack" defensive system conceding only six tries in 9 games and King's attacking CV demonstrating obvious progress at Clermont Auvergne and Northampton. The clubs affected, Bristol, Saracens and Northampton, are not impressed and are typically flexing their (legal) muscles to prevent such change, but we assume the RFU will chuck more cash at them (the only language millionaire owners understand) and England will move slowly forward.

JONES WORK VISA DELAYED

Despite a quick appointment by the RFU following Stuart Lancaster's rapid departure, Eddie "Miracle Worker" Jones is still stuck in Japan awaiting approval of his work visa for UK. Unfortunately he is now into Xmas party season, meaning everything at the Home Office (and RFU) will be focussing on other more important activities.

Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come...

RFU let off steam and celebrate another successful season

BURGESSGATE - THE FINAL WORD

I heard from a reliable source in Australia that apparently Big Sam had always planned to play Union in England for one year, tick the RWC box and then return back to Sydney. If true, I am sure that the RFU, Stuart Lancaster, Bath Rugby plus all the dozen or so players affected by the Big Man's move (listed below by Gareth Chilcott in the Rugby Paper) will not be too impressed.

The players affected by Experiment Burgess

EDDIE JONES BECOMES NEW ENGLAND COACH

RFU has moved quickly to prise the ex-Japan coach from the Stormers SA franchise in Super 15, by awarding him a 4 year contract as Head Coach of England. With everyone else ruling themselves out, it came down to Jones v Jake White, the current Montpelier coach, who grinded (and kicked) SA to the 2007 RWC (ironically with Jones' help).

LANCASTER RESIGNS (UPDATED)

Inevitable but sad - no better English coach so assume they will look overseas. Unfortunately, being an RFU sponsored appointment (who are expert backside coverers), if results did not go to plan, then he was always going to be expendable. This is evidenced by RFU distancing themselves quickly from Sam Burgess experiment. Ironically, Lancaster was the antithesis of his predecessor, Martin Johnson, being rooted in a very different set of cultural values, big on player discipline and connection to the grass roots of the game. He was deliberately chosen by the RFU on that basis, but unfortunately, some players did not respond well to his school teacher attitude, no drinking (or fun) policy and his overcoaching philosophy, and the Burgess experiment caused much friction and resentment in the squad. England, as hosts, looked under pressure from day one, and became terribly low risk in their approach to key matches (especially Wales), with the result that, when faced with having to think on their feet and conjure up a Plan B, failed miserably. Stuart Lancaster is a decent man, but he simply didn't have the international experience required to beat good opposition (he only won 3/15 v Southern Hemisphere teams) or win big tournament games (England never won a Grand Slam Six Nations during his tenure) especially in a RWC Group of Death. The Southern Hemisphere teams have left the North behind in terms of basic skills, mental strength, game strategy and ability to manage the scoreboard. All the money (and power) is with the English and French clubs, who really don't care about the international team, so Lancaster's successor will have a hell of a fight on their hands to achieve a sensible compromise on player time between club and country. I hope that they are successful in relaxing the non Premiership rule to allow Armitage to be selected, but think this will remain off the table. 

CHEATS

So do we assume that as Bath, Saracens and Leicester have refused to deny they breached the salary cap or remained silent that they did and cheated. Did we have a Premiership final contested by two cheats? Apparently their excuse was competing with French clubs? Great, the French Top 14 is an unskilled forward slog unattractive to watch (and does not benefit the national team), and judging by the Sarries Saints game over here last weekend, the English Premiership is heading the same way. Luckily the Sale Quins game was a great spectacle and true 15 man rugby from both teams. The lesson is support a team that doesn't cheat.

ENGLAND INQUEST LEAKS BEGIN

As the RFU Committee goes through its inquest into the squad's dire performance in RWC 2015, inevitably bits and pieces start to leak out, including one bizarre rumour that some players were distracted by having lost money on a share recommendation from the kit man. Why they didn't take professional advice, like anyone else, is a mystery. There is also a story doing the rounds that Stuart Lancaster will be staying with the RFU, but not in his current role (they are probably unwilling to pay him off). Maybe he could train as an in-house IFA to avoid a repeat of the share scandal?