“I love the thought of England travelling to the World Cup as the number one team,” he said ahead of that year’s global gathering in Australia. “It means everyone else will be looking up at us, wondering if they’re good enough.”
Martin Johnson? He took a different view ahead of the 2011 tournament. “Does anyone really care what the rankings say?” he would ask the usual suspects in the Fleet Street hack pack during his time as Woodward’s successor but two in the Big Man’s Chair. “Does it have much relevance?”
This last question was one we routinely asked when discussing the IRB as an organisation, and have been asking it ever more urgently since, after a long and expensive consultation process, it rebranded itself as “World Rugby” – better known to readers of this column as the “Non-Governing Governing Body”. Indeed, it is possible to argue that for all the complications of its methodology, the ranking system makes far more sense, and is of significantly greater value, than the body responsible for running it.
But as the epic failings of the NGGB are precisely the same today as they were yesterday and will be tomorrow – like taxes, the poor and Nadine Dorries, it seems they will always be with us in one way, shape or form – there is no pressing need to trek over familiar terrain. With a World Cup less than a week away, there are better things to discuss.
Denne historien er fra September 03, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra September 03, 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.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
