England are back...

I note that A Robinson has responded to last Sunday's thrashing by dropping seven players. a touch of desperation, perhaps?

But, it's good to see that D Grewcock (easily the dirtiest player in international rugby since Martin Johnson retired) has been left out. He's an effing liability, after all, for whichever team he plays for.

Graham

Graham55

There seems to be a fairly aggresive tone to all your posts on this thread. Are we talking about sport here or did I get confused along the way?

Sure England looked a right old mess against the French, of that there is no doubt. What is also in no doubt that Scotland played superbly in Murryfield the other week. I am concerned that England are struggling to find an effective shape and strategy at the moment but I think it is a mistake to write this set of players off at this stage.

English rugby, like football, has had a tremendous injection of cash and professionalism over the last decade. The friuts of this are a world cup victory and a very healty domestic rugby structure.

England, at present, look very beatable and will need to make massive improvements. Scotland look much more like they are close to their best. A best which is capable of beating a great team on the right day but is still IMO a country mile away from offering a level of performance capable of lifting up the world cup. Still, as opposed to football, it is a lot easier to get into the competition.

Scotland have about the same chance of lifting the rugby world cup as England have of retaining it, i.e. no chance at all.

England have a considerably better chance at the football world cup this year, however Brazil are the best team in the world by a long way.