http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/10/englands-henry-slade-shines-in-early-world-cup-farewell-against-uruguay England’s fans will look back in anger at World Cup after hollow victory England 60 - 3 Uruguay We (England), managed to beat Fiji and Uruguay. Hardly two of the greatest rugby playing nations of the world. We did not however come any where near to beating Australia and were fortunate in only losing to Wales by 3 points. Where does this leave English Rugby? Either, we do not have the necessary quality of players to compete at the highest levels of the game or we do not have the managerial skills to weld our players into a formidable, ruthless machine to drive over the top of any opposition to win ball and score tries. Now I was one of those people wh...
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Another of Sandra's poems from some years ago. “Perfidy” You who spoke with twisted tongue, You who Glory's emblem hung Above the world to mask your lie And doomed the innocent to die. You who told them victory Would bring them strength and unity. How dared you dignify a war? You whose hand was but a claw, Talons grasping. Power lust Crushed their hope and faith to dust. You their honour so defiled When to the human race you lied.
My wife Sandra, (Facebook page Sandra Yates), has for some years been writing poetry as a hobby. She has recently become interested in politics, and has joined the Labour party. During the Labour party conference, the issue of, “pressing the button” arose which generated a great deal of comment in the media and amongst members of the party. It also caused Sandra to recall a poem which she had written some 25 years ago. This is it. “Desolation” The grass is white: In England The cattle graze no more In once luxuriant pastures Enjoyed by them before. The trees are bare: In England The birds no longer rest Within once laden branches So safely in their nest. There is silence now: In England No children's voices bring To once vivacious playgrounds A happy, lively ring. What happened to the grass and trees? What hushed the child at play? What happened to the cows and birds, What made them die away? Well, a finger pressed the button Meant only for ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/six-nations-2015-not-acceptable-rfu-chiefs-stinging-verdict-on-nearmiss-from-lancaster-10131429.html?icn=puff-9 Six Nations 2015: Not acceptable: RFU chief's stinging verdict on near-miss from Lancaster Stuart Lancaster England managed a win at Twickenham beating Scotland and taking the Calcutta Cup. Mistakes, squandered try opportunities (not to mention 2 tries disallowed due to forward passes) and elementary errors meant that a scoreline which at 80 minutes showed 25-13, should have shown 55-13. England came within 7 points, just 1 converted try, of winning the 6 Nations Championship. However, too many mistakes during the match and certainly too many during the other matches in this season s tournament, resulted in England being runners up to Ireland on points difference. A good final game and win against France but disappointment with how the Championship ended. With this sort of p...
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/cricket/england-need-change-paul-downton-peter-moores-and-james-whitaker-must-go/ar-AA9yze9?ocid=U142DHP England need change The country that taught the world how to play cricket has (hopefully) learned the lesson. Being obsessed with how much money can be made from match fees, wages, product endorsements, sponsorships, television deals and all the other financial benefits accruing from the game is not the objective. Far and away the most important factor is winning matches. (The misguided person who came up with the nonsense that "it is not winning that is important, but taking part and playing th e game" was clearly not a Scorpio and did not understand that there are no prizes for being a good looser). With any luck, the people involved in the organisation, management and playing of football and rugby will have seen this humiliation and will apply the lessons to their own sports. The rugby world cup is later this ...
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/21/roy-hodgson-build-better-stronger-england-costa-rica The standards of refereeing need looking at too. I gave up playing football some years ago.(My brain knew where I should be, but my legs will not get me there quickly enough). I gave up watching football when it became abundantly clear that money had become infinitely more important than skill, talent and ability. At one time, admittedly many years past, players would have pulled on an England shirt, simply for the honour of paying for their country. Now, it seems, the first consideration often appears to be the question of settling the fee for "appearance". It is also, abundantly clear that the media and vast sections of the country, consider that England can/will/should win every competition trophy that they qualify for. When this does not happen, the media certainly, treat everyone to the "I told you so" ...