RFU Reports leaked

[Peat]

In both the Times and Torygraph apparently.

Heavily condemnatory of Smith, Ford, Wells, Alred and senior players. Johnson too loyal to sort out an absolute ******** of a situation.

Anyone else read them yet? I'm just about to go down the road to pick up some papers methinks...

 

[oldscumbagonian]

Sounds like the usual RFU approach - blame everyone else and accept no responsibility.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I read a very basic overview of them on reuters - let me know if the full thing is in the Times, or if it's just another overview - will be worth picking one up if it's the whole thing

One of the reviews was a series of anonymous interviews, and apparently one of the players said he heard someone say, while walking off the pitch after losing the QF, "Well thats £35k gone"
They didn't even care about losing the match, just the money

 

[oldscumbagonian]

The Guardian has what seems to be a comprehensive account on its (free) website. Reports were made by Rob Andrew, the Players' Union and the professional clubs. Seems the whole thing was a complete shambles with players more concerned about money than performance. Could make selection for the 6N very interesting.

 

[Peat]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...t-blames-greedy-players-and-weak-leaders.html - here is the telegraph one, its basically quotes from the report compiled by players association. Some shocking quotes in there.

I don't want to judge unilaterally here - the player who said that might have cared a lot about losing the match, it could have been a flippant throwaway remark simply to say something - I wasn't there, I didn't hear, and the disgruntled players aren't unbiased witnesses. Nor would I overlook the RFU's roles in some of this, etc.etc. and so on, or Andrew's love of covering his arse. However, even with the most generous possible interpretation - **** was ****ed-up people.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was just about to post that link myself

Good to see that some of the players were thinking what everyone else was thinking (people picked on reputation, Robshaw should've been there, Wilko past it etc.)

Wish they'd name names though - I reckon Tindall and Easter are the "senior players" that aren't mentioned in a favourably light

 

[oldscumbagonian]

I think you're right, especially re Tindall. Love the quote along the lines of "We didn't understand that Tindall being a member of the Royal Family and the fact that we were in a Commonwealth country would generate press interest."

 

[Gavin]

When will this rubbish end? Getting a bit sick of it now, they are flogging a dead horse.

 

[Teh Mite]

I bet the money mad player was Ben Foden

on what basis do you make that assumption apart from a bit of name calling?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've seen people say it's probably Haskell, but I don't think so. He may be all about the marketing etc. outside of the game, but I get the impression that in training/on the pitch he'll give everything to it


Looking at the team list I couldn't imagine anyone saying that, to be honest

Suppose we'll have to wait for the autobiographies in 10years time...

 

[Saintjay]

I bet the money mad player was Ben Foden

Lol, coming from a supporter who's team brought us Gavin Henson pot calling the kettle me thinks

Not to mention the Ospreys on going ban on fake tan.

 

[Teh Mite]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...t-blames-greedy-players-and-weak-leaders.html

Says a senior player made that particular comment, I wouldn't be surprised if the leek came from Haskell, Foden or Hartley

 

[Saintjay]

The BBC are having it as senior players led by Moody.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15853364.stm

 

[Seaton]

The plot thickens!

Lol, we are lucky because if the RFU managed to get their act together...

 

[Teh Mite]

Don't be silly man.

Besides, the PRL will break away before the old farts sort their house out.

 

[Saintjay]

Don't be silly man.

Besides, the PRL will break away before the old farts sort their house out.

Feel sorry for Tom Wood looks like he was awesome and got shafted by the old boys network and it's who you know not what you know.

 

[oldscumbagonian]

Talking about who leaked the reports - there were three reviews carried out; one by the players' association, one by the clubs and one by Rob Andrew. Now who would have been in a position to leak all three, assuming that the three had been merged into one document? Answers on the back of a €5 note (sorry, my keyboard doesn't do pounds!) to the RFU.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lol, coming from a supporter who's team brought us Gavin Henson pot calling the kettle me thinks

Not to mention the Ospreys on going ban on fake tan.

What's that got to do with anything?
Just because the Ospreys players were a bit diva-ish doesn't mean he can't speculate on who it was :huh:

Talking about who leaked the reports - there were three reviews carried out; one by the players' association, one by the clubs and one by Rob Andrew. Now who would have been in a position to leak all three, assuming that the three had been merged into one document? Answers on the back of a €5 note (sorry, my keyboard doesn't do pounds!) to the RFU.

Nope, no idea!

 

[j'nuh]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...t-blames-greedy-players-and-weak-leaders.html

Says a senior player made that particular comment, I wouldn't be surprised if the leek came from Haskell, Foden or Hartley

On Brian Smith:
“I would be delighted if he went. Our attack play was boring, uninventive, lacklustre, even schoolboy at times.â€
“At one stage it was Ben Youngs who was coaching. Ben would come up with a strategy for how to run off the 9 and off the base of the ruck."

Just... wow.

Hopefully all these issues are really intimately linked. A new coach in, he decides his assistant coaches, altogether they're more tactically aware of the game, this coach doesn't have links to old players so the old boy network goes, which also makes the squad a lot more mature and up for playing for England etc. All-in-all, a new coach could potentially turn around most of our playing and discipline problems.

Of course, it'll be more difficult to rearrange those at the top. Who has the say in this? How much power do the clubs have?

 

[Peat]

Olyy, that is one of the world's most superbly appropriate photo uses ever. Outstanding.

Only problem with the theory is that the reports quoted so far contain a few direct criticisms of Andrew and quite a lot that indirectly makes him look bad - ergo, likelihood of him being the leaker seems low to me.