England V Italy - Rugby

Papers are suprisingly leinient on England today after their almost total capitulation yesterday. 2nd half they were utter rubbish, and had Italy not dropped a couple of passes, England would still be pointless after 2 games.

Brian Ashton has been quoted as saying he was never worried, he didn't think England were ever in any danger of losing.

What game was HE watching?

He even goes on to say that England finished the game attacking the Italy try line.

Only because Italy were going all out for a match winning try, and that's when a team is most vulnerable to mistakes and a counter attack. I think Englands suprise achievement in the Wolrld Cup has masked a problem, and it's given Ashton a false reprieve. I don't think Ashton can coach an Engilsh game. He was good at Bath because they play an expansive free flowing running game, but England are a "stick it up the jumper and maul it through the forwards" team, and Ashton doesn't coach that way.

Gutted I missed this but from what I heard, Italy should have won!

they won the second half 13-3, I would have been the happiest rugby fan ever if the Tallies beat them!

(would have made it better for Ireland since our rediculous effort on saturday)