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
This story is from the August 13, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 13, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.
