Cup finals and test matches have a similar intensity. Sure, the level and crowds may have been different but both the Chiang Mai Cobras and the New Zealand All Blacks demonstrated a deep will to win to come from losing positions to score pulsating wins last Saturday (Nov 2).
At a sold-out Allianz stadium in Twickenham, England failed again to beat the All Blacks, falling to a 24-22 loss despite leading 22-14 with 15 minutes to play. In fairness an England win would have been an injustice. The All Blacks outscored England 3 tries to one, with England’s only try coming from a Marcus Smith interception.
There is no fluency in England’s attackand both wingers need to go looking for the ball in midfield.
They fail to build pressure through continuity and go-forward. Players choose to kick as the pressure mounts, rather than run into the “tough areas” to continue the attack.
Meanwhile, the back row is one dimensional. Earl should be moved back to 6 as he is just a runner. Cunningham-South could be a longer term 6, but he is more of a big-hitter than a constructive ball handler. Curry was struggling to make an impression. Both Savea and Cane were quicker to get over the ball and their targeting was far superior.
The England replacements were illogical. Ford for Smith, considering Ford had played only a few minutes of club rugby, and Smith was kicking penalties, seemed more like a case of giving a player game time rather than trying to win the game. The front row was changed completely and completely beaten at the next scrum.
England would be well advised to consider: “Using the ball is a blend of understanding with attitude; of team awareness with individual virtuosity; of practised patterns with spontaneous reaction. The blending is elusive and short-lived.”
Elsewhere, Scotland demolished a new look Fiji, with several players missing 57-17 and an All Blacks A team beat Munster 38-24, emphasising again that New Zealand rugby is about try scoring and entertaining.
At the domestic grass roots level of rugby so many good things are happening in Northern Thailand and most are emanating from the Chiang Mai Cobras rugby club. The culmination of the Amora Hotels & Resorts CNX Dimbulla Rugby 11s final, played in front of a rousing crowd resulted in a comeback 19-17 win for the Cobras over the Lanna Rugby Club on Saturday.
Lanna rugby club has contributed hugely to the emerging force that is Chiang Mai rugby. Increased youth playing numbers, ladies’ teams and World rugby coaching courses have all contributed to this thriving environment.
This coming weekend there is a smorgasbord of rugby Internationals with Ireland vs New Zealand and England vs Australia the standout fixtures.
In Chiang Mai it may be time for some well-earned rest before the Chiang Mai 11s later this month. (Nov 23-24).
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.