Not Again

Here we go again, the Tour de France is again under the microscope, the current champion Alberto Contador has tested positive for a stimulant. He is protesting his innocence with talk of food doping. Whether he was doped or not it shows the sport is still rotten at its core. The cycling union has always talked about how the sport has changed and how it has had a fundamental move from its drug ridden past. 

Cycling has been riddled with drugs since the early days. The book Rough Ride by the Irish cyclist Paul Kimmage is a warts and all autobiography of a professional cyclist. The issue of drugs is dealt with almost as a matter of fact part of the story. In fact drugs were a necessity to get through a punishing season. It seems like that the legacy of drug taking has continued. The drug taking legacy will not stop until those remnants of the past are taken out of the sport. 

The American perspective of the Ryder Cup

http://goo.gl/ALw7

Great article from the New York Times

Where Have the Rugby Crowds Gone

The 2010 rugby premiership season has started and the rugby has been fantastic. Last weekend I settled down to watch Saracens versus Northampton. It was a fantastic game of rugby that ebbed and flowed. This has not been the only great game. The Exeter chiefs upset Gloucester and Leicester the pre eminent force in English rugby have struggled. Predicting results of games has been impossible which has been great. The big queston is where have the crowds gone with the product being so good. 

It is sad to say but the answer maybe the quiet summer of rugby may have damaged the game.Football had a world cup that although not spectacular was surrounded by controversy and sex scandals. Cricket was like something out of a John Grisham novel with match fixing and bribery in the ascendency. Rugby had a quiet time no bloodgate, no speculation on the future of the England manager. It was just a productive summer of building for the future. The autumn internationals are now on the way and watch the crowds explode as rugby gets itself back on the back page. 

The culture of American Sport

They say the US and the Uk are two countries separated by a common language. I would add to that sporting culture. The US is a country obsessed with sport but not the game but the ritual. What do I mean by that? The US love the preparation for sport. This shown by the fact one of the top programmes on the American network HBO is a about the training camp for the New York Jets. Is it better than the european equivalent no just different.

The Greatest show on Earth continued

The Tour De France completed the final mountain stage today. The two protaganists went wheel to wheel up the highest point of the tour. It was incredibly compelling this article sums it up nicley.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jul/22/tour-de-france-stage-17

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Tour de France ends on Sunday and it without doubt it is one of the most exciting sports evens in the world. The football world cup came and went this year, a circus yes a spectacle no. The open championship of golf came and went, without Tiger the game of golf has needs another huge star. 

The tour de France has lived up to its billing as a great sporting event. This has not always been the way. Cycling is a sport that has lived in the shadows for years. The drug scandals have wrecked its reputation. This tainted image is always going to be surrounding  the sport. This Tour de France has been a true opera. The end of a great hero in Lance Armstrong, the rise of Andy Schleck, a brilliant aggressive cyclist from Luxembourg and the current champion doing whatever it takes to retain the yellow jersey. 

This tour has been brutal as a physical event, the climbs have been terrifying and difficult. Even the flat stages have been incredibly taxing with stages over the brutal paved roads of the low countries and northern France. Why has this captured my imagination is that everybody can ride a bike. What these cyclists put themselves through on a daily basis is unimaginable. Their is no hiding when you get tired the tour grinds on and you either make it or not no sport is that brutal this is why it is compelling. 

The Last Days of Football

It is the end of English football premiership today and two billionaire clubs are up for the championship. Barring shocks Chelsea will be the champions. This title run in has the look of the last days of the Wiemar republic. While the world economy is imploding footballers are demanding more money and driving round in more ludicrous cars. With Liverpool football club announcing debts of over 351 million pounds. What hope does the rest of the game have? Austerity measures are on the way and some grand old names of football will vanish. Feel for the fans but understand that their thirst for success has led them to this place.

 

French Finale

Work has kept me from the world of the blog for a while but I feel it proper to return with a posting regarding the Heineken cup. The French have two teams rightly through to the final. Why? The reason probably is due to one reason and one reason only. Cash. The French league has no salary cap. This has meant the French have never had to think about squad sizes. International prop injured no problem get another one. The great thing about this is that French team have never been handicapped by this. It also helps the finances that the French sides play in Stade municpales paid for by the cities. 

Can the French translate this club and international success into the greatest prize of them all and win the world cup? I think so, the reason why is probably due to the fact that the influx of foreigners into the game has given the French discipline. This is very exciting. The French have always played a great Gallic game of rugby. The problem is they have never had the Anglo Saxon discipline required to win a tournament. That certainly is not the case now. 

England could also learn from the French experience. Marc Lieveremont has experimented and been given time to experiment. Martin Johnson has certainly been given time. He has not experimented, perhaps this is why England have not moved on any further. 

The super 14 vs The European Cup

The contrast between the two tournaments could not be greater. Is this because the super 14 franchise is not rooted in the community such as Munster or Perpignan?

What to do with a problem like Danny?

The six nations finished a couple of weeks ago and the overwhelming issue has been the impotence of the English back line. Danny Cipriani came off the bench yesterday and immediately made an exciting impact. This is what the English back line needs. Is Martin Johnson afraid of Cavalier spirit in his backs? Lets hope when Cipriani gets back from his year in Australia a better player and full of confidence that the English back line needs.

The Six Nations 2010

Originally this Six Nations Championship I was going to blog round by round however this was not possible due to my own rugby commitments. This even restricted my own watching of the grand old championship. However I saw enough to offer some comment on each team.

France: Although in the final game against England they were clinical rather than exciting, they got the job done. Far and away the best team in the championship. This achievement of a grand slam should not be under estimated, this is a French side that Mark Lievermont has put together through trial and error. This team is now performing and performing with flair and excitement as you would expect but also has a steel like spine that helps them win games.

Ireland: The grand slam hangover season and possibly the end of the greatest era in Irish rugby history. The side played up and down rugby but their are signs of hope especially with the emergence of Jonny Sexton at 10. The provincial system seems to be producing good players without the stress that English game puts on the players.

Wales: With golf buggies on the motorway being one of the stranger sights of the Welsh six nations championship. The Welsh are not really sure where they are. Without a doubt the most exciting back in the six nations championship is Shane Williams, James Hook is the most natural ball player and Lee Byrne is a brilliant full back. However, the lions tour acted like a tremendous anchor on them depriving them of their best forwards especially in the front row next season willl be the true indication on how far the welsh have progressed.

Italy: Progress was made in the back division and the forwards held their own again a win against the Scots was just rewards and the progress on the rugby field has to be measured on their worth in the six nations. Without a doubt the Italians are worth their place in the six nations. The improvement in the club structure is dramatic with back play being the major weakness.

Scotland: Most improved. Andy Robinson has developed a pack of forwards capable of competing with any body in the six nations a win against Ireland and a draw against England shows improvement. The key for the Scottish improvement will be keeping the pack together.

Finally the English question what  is wrong in Twickenham? The component parts would seem to be there from the premiership clubs. What happens when the players put on the red rose of England? The front five looked toothless the back row was functional without being dynamic. The lack of a proper old fashioned open side was obvious especially in open play where the lack of continuity was painful. The back play was painful and did not improve until Ben Foden was included.

Six nations Week 2

The second week of the six nations and the championship has finally sparked into life. The Wales, Scotland match was brilliant. Thrown away by Scotland but brilliant none the less. France, Ireland was a great display by the French. The Irish look like a side suffering from a slight grand slam hangover.

The game that really was a let down to what was an excellent weekend was England against Italy. Italy have nothing to be ashamed of as they are a side who know their limitations and play to them. They have a tough pack who disrupt ball. England on the other hand look awful. The forwards look comfortable , in a good way. The problem is out in the back line. Every back from Wilkinson to Tait, are decent players however put them together and they look awful.

It is a safety first back line. That having the ball kicked to them causes problems no one takes the ball into the tackle. The option provided seems to be kick the ball in the air. How to fix this? The coaching staff need to let go. The backs are running without inspiration the only way to get it back is to run with the ball and accept errors will occur but don't let that stop the ball being run .

Six Nations Blog

First weekend in the six nations championship. It was very strange the standard of rugby was generally quite poor with mistakes being made. The biggest culprits were Wales not least Wyn Jones the trip that got him sent to the sin bin was endemic of a larger problem. Ball was wasted and turned over the game was won by England on mistakes. The Irish walked a game against Italy again at a canter again not a performance to thrill spectators. France played Scotland again winning at a canter. Hopefully week 2 will give us a better idea of what to expect this week.

The Ruck and Roll Years

On the BBC website at the moment there is a feature called the ruck and roll years. It is a news, rugby union montage.

All I can say is that it is fantastic and more importantly it is a great way to get perspective on the game of rugby union. It should be required watching for every young player in an academy. It shows there is more to rugby union than what people lift in the gym. Decent skill levels have and always be the lifeblood of this game and always will be.

The Return of Basketball Rugby

Worrrying news from Australia the rugby union over there has said the super 14 sides based in Australia must play a more expansive style of rugby. The reason falling attendances. The conclusion that playing a more expansive style of rugby will attract more crowds is ridiculous.

Sport is in a worldwide recession, even Manchester United are not selling out anymore. Manchester United has sold out for twenty years. Maybe this is the reason for falling attendances in Australia. The rugby union insisting on a more expansive style is dangerous firstly for Australian rugby union as the players forget how to do the physical things well, witness the Australian scrum in the 2003 world cup. Secondly the world game may suffer as the Australians will no doubt insist on the dilution of the scrum and the lineout to make the game more expansive.

If the rest of the world is looked at the game is in rude health with attendances up all over the world and expanding into places such as Georgia. The problem Australia has is that super 14 rugby is trying to spread to non rugby areas such as Melbourne. Once the novelty wears off no wonder attendances fall. A pacific nations super 14 side would have made much more sense. When has sense ever been used by the administrators of rugby?

The England Captaincy Conundrum

Steve Borthwick has been named the England rugby captain for the upcoming six nations. This causes problems to many people in the game. The reason why people are upset is because he is being compared to his coach. Martin Johnson was a great leader of the greatest England rugby team. Steve Borthwick is not leading a great team. The current England team is so lacking in other leaders around the field that his frailties as leader are being exposed. 

The other question regarding Steve Borthwick is whether he is worth his place in the side. He was drafted into the side originally as a lineout specialist but the England lineout has hardly set the world on fire. The South African line out is the gold standard in the world, with the Irish probably the best in the Northern hemisphere. He is not a great ball carrier or overly demonstrative. In other words he is not the mercurial Simon Shaw, the evergreen athletic Wasps second row. In a perfect world England would have had Phil Vickery leading the side long term but a neck injury has halted his England prospects. I Believe that Lewis Moody should be leading the side. He is the best back row in England who has a style of play the inspires all around him and this is what England needs more than anything else inspiration.

The English and the Heineken Cup

The only English side in the later rounds of the European Cup is Northampton. The question is why?

The Leicester coach has said the salary cap is the problem. This is because he says the salary cap prevents squad size. I disagree the English sides have generally been poor. This goes back to an ongoing theme I have in this blog. Poor skill levels.

The English premiership sides are currently playing a brand of rugby so boring and safe that skill levels are suffering. The Irish, Welsh and Scottish sides have not the depth of players but play without fear die to lack of relegation. The French sides have always played with style conducive to skilful back play. English club sides play with a physical brutality this is not always ideal for skilful forward and back play.

What's the solution? Certainly getting rid of the salary cap would allow English clubs to strengthen their squads. However inequality would reign. The financial situation would mirror the English premier football league. Clubs would go broke and the same clubs would win all the time. I am convinced investement in the coaching infrastructure would be enough. Less emphasis on the physical and more on the mental and skill levels.

Six Nation predictions

The reason the six nations on a previous blog are as follows. The Irish will win as they have the most settled side with quality confident players although the pack is starting to age. The Welsh are stuffed full of attacking potential. This, combined with the movement towards freeing the ball in the break down will drive the Welsh to second place. The third place might go the Scots as they have an attacking side and had a good Autumn series. The conundrum is in the English camp, a poor Autumn series beset by injuries leads to uncertain six nations. The French are in a similar situation, despite a win against the All Blacks the French look lost again. Despite the improvements Italy will finish last. 

The House of Cards is crumbling.

The sky is blue, the earth is round and the Pope is Catholic. Football clubs in England are going bust. Hopefully this will Portsmouth Are the start of the elite to fall. Manchester united have issued a bonds offer.

The danger of this is that football clubs are now no longer the preseve of the fans but the playthings of the uber rich. What happens when the rich man gets bored. Usually the fans suffer.

Six Nations Time

The six nations starts soon my prediction for the final positions.

1. Ireland
2. Wales
3. Scotland
4. France
5. England
6. Italy.

Justification for that prediction to follow soon.

Local Pride

Watching lower league rugby this Christmas break has given me food for thought. The English premiership has good players. The problem is that the players are trying so hard that injuries pile up. The more injuries that pile up the more other players are needed. This leading to more journeyman players coming from abroad.

What is the problem with this? The more journeyman players that arrive the more local rugby clubs suffer. Players no longer feel affiliated with their home town club. Local derbies no longer have their bite. Players play out of desperation regarding their next contract. This leads to safety first kicking rugby which nobody wants. Solutions?