Pool B - Australia, Canada, Fiji, Japan, Wales

[BoyBrumby]

From the Beeb. Quite right too; one win in the 6 Nations and a first round exit in the WC now. Amazing to think that Mike Ruddock had lead them to a Grand Slam two years ago before being (****ing disgracefully IMHO) ousted in a penis-brained display of player-power.

I'm no fan of the Welsh, but they deserve better than this.

[Perm]

Can it all be blamed on Jenkins though? Haven't Wales had some injuries concerns since his appointment as coach?

In any case, there will be a lot of interest in the job. Eddie Jones, Scott Johnson, Nick Mallet, what about Sir Clive Woodward and John Mitchell?

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Perm

Can it all be blamed on Jenkins though? Haven't Wales had some injuries concerns since his appointment as coach?

In any case, there will be a lot of interest in the job. Eddie Jones, Scott Johnson, Nick Mallet, what about Sir Clive Woodward and John Mitchell?

Not all, no. As I alluded to some of the senior players (Gareth Thomas being the obvious example) clearly got ideas above their station. I don't know if you've ever seen the clip, but on Scrum V over here (Welsh rugger magazine program) he basically had a public nervous breakdown when Eddie Butler quizzed him on his role in the untimely exit of Ruddock. I suspect Jenkins perhaps wasn't a strong enough character to quell such murmurings.

Jenkins didn't help matters tho by leaving out Brent Cockbain (clearly the Welsh enforcer in a powerpuff front 5) & Gavin Henson (overrated, yes, but a better option in the centre than Sonny Parker or Mr Thomas himself). He left himself a hostage to fortune if things went tits up.

[Perm]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Jenkins didn't help matters tho by leaving out Brent Cockbain (clearly the Welsh enforcer in a powerpuff front 5) & Gavin Henson (overrated, yes, but a better option in the centre than Sonny Parker or Mr Thomas himself). He left himself a hostage to fortune if things went tits up.

Cockbain was that Aussie bloke wasn't he? I'm pretty sure he had a brother who played for the Brumbies, definitely somebody with the same last name and I think they were relatively. Also, hasn't Gavin Henson been plagued by injury lately? I was under the impression he wasn't fit for the tournament, hence why he wasn't picked. Would be madness to leave him out TBH.

[Turbinator]

Originally Posted by Turbinator

Go Canada Go Canada .

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Perm

Cockbain was that Aussie bloke wasn't he? I'm pretty sure he had a brother who played for the Brumbies, definitely somebody with the same last name and I think they were relatively. Also, hasn't Gavin Henson been plagued by injury lately? I was under the impression he wasn't fit for the tournament, hence why he wasn't picked. Would be madness to leave him out TBH.

I missed this at the time.

Yep, Brent's brother Matt played for the Wallabies, IIRC he was on the bench for the 2003 final. & Henson had been injured, but was fit enough to be playing for his province by the start of the WC.