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.