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'How s*** is some of the ruggers?': The Rugby Pod's blunt weekend verdict

(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Ex-international out-half Andy Goode has called on England to show a bit more ingenuity in attack after reviewing the latest forwards-dominated display by Eddie Jones’ team, the suffocating 18-7 win over Ireland where they were happy to allow the opposition have the ball and just tackle all Saturday long. 

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Having opened their autumn Test programme with a stuttering attacking Six Nations performance against Italy, England are now on course to top Nations Cup Group A and set up a final with France following victories over Georgia and Ireland.

However, former No10 Goode would like to see England threaten more in attack to give the fans watching from home a greater level of entertainment than they have been getting across the entire Autumn Nations Cup, the pandemic era tournament dreamed up to replace the traditional tours to Europe by the big southern hemisphere rugby countries.

Video Spacer

Sam Underhill reflects on England’s defensive masterclass versus Ireland

Video Spacer

Sam Underhill reflects on England’s defensive masterclass versus Ireland

“Great England won but I’m just looking at all the games – how s*** is some of the ruggers? England, unbelievable defence performance, but we’re celebrating us not having the ball,” said Goode on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, the show he co-hosts with Jim Hamilton, the former Scotland forward. 

“I don’t know whether it’s because there are no fans. International rugby as it is at the minute, I just don’t think it’s that great the quality of rugby.

“Apart from Jonny May’s try, which was just unbelievable, a lot of the England game there wasn’t much get out of your seat and jump for joy. It was just a calculated, physical training session. It was a bit of anti-climax to us beating Ireland. 

“I want to see us attack more, I really do, but then we are very good at what we do. We’re winning games by not playing too much ruggers, booting the leather off of it, letting Maro (Itoje) go around and smash people, and the back row, Underhill and Curry, what did they make, 7,400 tackles or something between them? It’s just madness.

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“We’re very good at what we do. Our kicking game is on point, our kick-chase is ridiculous at times and just putting pressure on teams, it’s very difficult to see how teams can break us down with the physicality from one to 15 and then you bring on boys off the bench as well, the workrate is phenomenal. 

“It’s just missing a spark. Apart from Jonny May’s worldie of a try – and by the way, his chip kick definitely came off the shin but a hell of a finish – that’s exciting, that’s what gets you off your seat but England are very… I don’t want to say dour, we’re just damn good at playing the percentages.

“I just see we are good at crash and bash. Sometimes you want a bit more. We could have put 30, 40 points on that Ireland team had we had a bit more ingenuity in attack. But hey, I’m just picking on the fact that we are the best team in the world right now and I just want us to be better. We’re great at what we do but it’s just not getting us all out of our seats and exciting us as much as we want.”

Co-host Hamilton didn’t agree, the former engine room operator instead claiming the physical battle was sufficiently entertaining for him. “I’m the opposite,” he said. “I like the physical aspect of rugby. That is something that I really enjoy watching, even to the point where I put out a tweet about Quinn Roux. 

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“People are like what are you talking about? You watch how that bloke was entering rucks, I was loving it. His physicality of smashing England players around the breakdown, I was loving watching it. The scrums, the mauls. 

“I don’t know whether there was an element of all of us thinking that because there are no fans we are all a little down on it. We all feel like we should be there, the atmosphere, what is the Autumn Nations Cup – is it an important championship for these players?

“Scotland should have been playing New Zealand last weekend but they were playing France in front of no fans… but how good are England though? That is the point of it, what do you do if you are England, just do what works? The physicality they have got, it’s unbelievable and it was the part I enjoyed watching at the weekend.”

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J
JPM 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

13 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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