Time to fulfill their potential and make things happen. Time to write your name large, or make that fortune you think you deserve. Time to write that novel you have been planning for decades. Time to get your preparations right ahead of the World Cup.
But time is not infinite, it's a luxury, it waits for no man. Lost time can never be made up and one day comes the crushing realisation that it is quickly running out which is always very interesting in the sporting context. It adds a sharp edge to proceedings.
Or rather it should but for the first 65 minutes or so yesterday there was precious little evidence of this from England as what many would consider their Gun XV sauntered around Twickenham in rudderless fashion. No urgency, no electricity, or imagination, no joie de vie. Discipline lax, a complete shambles. It's difficult to believe a highly paid group of professionals who have been in camp all summer could play so poorly. It was bloody odd. As recently as Monday, 33 Englishmen stout and true got picked for the World Cup and posed for the squad picture in the sun at Twickenham. In midweek their families and loved ones were invited down to training for a feel good day and at the very least yesterday there should have been an explosion of optimistic exuberance and a sense of mission against what in essence was a Wales Second XV.
Instead, for the first hour or so we were served up both rugby incontinence and incompetence. It was hide-behind-the-settee awful and, amongst other things, as an exercise in selling the game to the floating sporting voter and new, young fans, a complete disaster
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
