From: grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com (Graham Cutting)
Subject: Re: Brittish Lions
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 18:04:47 GMT
Organization: HP, Berkshire, England
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Simon Davies (Simon.J.Davies@cm.cf.ac.uk) wrote:
>In article <Bz221G.4uG@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com>, grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com (Graham Cutting) writes:
>
>|> Don't apologize!  But, why do you dislike the England team?  Is it personal?
>|> If so, don't explain :-).  Or, is it because of the way they play?  In which
>|> case I would be interested to hear (read) your views.  
>|> 
>|> Many people have criticized England (and rightly so!) but not always 
>|> explaining their views.  I would be interested to know why folks feel 
>|> that _any_ team is "boring", "brilliant.
>
>
>	As you probably know, us Welsh have always had this in built
>	dislike for the English as a country which includes the rugby
>	team. 

That's a nice generalization of 40 million people (approx.) !!!  I thought
that maybe in this modern age the old prejudice's would be less prevalent and
that people or teams would be judged on their merits.  BTW, a couple of my
best mates over the years are Welsh (v.much so) and I noticed no smileys in
your post, I guess you're serious :-(.  So what do you think of Copsey?

>	      Up to two years ago I also disliked the rugby team due to
>	their very boring, kicking ten man game BUT I do accept that this
>	is not the case any more and that is why I think they will make
>	up the bulk of the Lions team.
>

They peeved me off too.  I blame the Scots for beating England in 1990 ;-).

Mind you, most of the other 5N teams have also played some restricted, 10
man, rugby; including the French under Forroux (sp?).  England have probably
been the team to most benefit from the tactic but the wingers have still been
scoring tries, if not in the style we would like to see.

>|> 
>|> I would agree in parts to Wales' more positive play.  I think they have 
>|> certainly had to use their backs more due to a "weaker" pack.  I was
>|> surprised when, against Aus, they won so much lineout ball, it seemed
>|> to surprise the backs.  Shame they had Colin Stephens at fly-half.
>|>
>
>	Quite right. Cloin Stephens is quite good at club level but has
>	not played one good match for his country. Jenkins has not played much 
>	better either. Adrian Davies is in the squad and is far better than
>	both the previously mentioned outside halves. Aled Williams, who isn't
>	even in the national squad and is (I think and many others) the best 
>	outside half in the British Isles. Alot of folk in Wales can't believe
>	that he is not playing. He's not even included in the East v West clash
>	next week.

The East v West clash; sounds a bit like Englands Divisional Championship,
basically a trial.

Going back to the opinions of my Welsh mate, he was at the Arms Park when 
they met Aus.  Throughout the match a bloke behind them kept slagging
Stephens off, bad kicking, bad decisions.  Eventually someone told him to 
give Stephens a chance, to which he replied, "I should know, I watch him
every week".  So even his club supporters aren't behind him for the National
jersey.  

I have only seen small clips of Williams on Rugby Special (which
for my money is far too short) but he has always appeared to
be a solid player and capable of making breaks.  Whatever Wales do they 
will need a decent fly-half, they seem to have too many to choose from,
and the ones they have been using haven't played behind a decent pack,
although they have always had a decent scrum-half.  Robert Jones gives
the fly-half so much extra time from his passes.  
 
>
>	Hwyl Fawr,
>		Simon.
>

Cheers,
Graham

--
Graham Cutting
grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com
Hewlett-Packard, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HN, England