Snatching Defeat from the jaws of victory.

A couple of weeks ago, and after a disappointing start to the game, England managed to heroically get themselves into a lead against the All Blacks, heralded as one of the best teams ever assembled. From that point on they made some disgraceful individual errors, the replacements were awful and collectively they played the wrong game, throwing the advantage away and resulting in a New Zealand victory. The Head coach Stewart Lancaster (a top, top guy) put on a brave face and protected his players by praising the southern hemisphere champions. However I’m certain he knew a few unforgivable individual mistakes at the wrong points in the game were made by experienced players – and that is why they lost.

We had a similar story yesterday. Yet again we started slowly. We found ourselves behind but we started to listen to advice and changed a few minor things in our play which resulted in us dragging ourselves back into the contest. Once there it seemed a mixture of laziness and panic led to a handful of individual errors which, in turn, led to them scoring a couple of crucial trys. The difference between us and the national team is that we don’t have that experience yet. Therefore I don’t mind in the slightest that we lost the game, in fact I’m really, really buoyant about the whole day! Obviously it would have been nice to beat a very useful Taunton side on their patch but there were so many positives I’m really not all that concerned with the result.

“Every defeat is a victory……if you learn from it”.

Generally speaking it was a much more mature performance than I’ve ever witnessed. Pretty much everyone tackled or at least made a good attempt when asked – what a difference that made!!!!! A bit of practice here and there in this department will make us awesome defenders. When we listened (third time of asking) to the coaches and got lower in tackles, scrums, rucks and mauls we won the period 2-0. It’s not a coincidence; if you are lower than the opposition you will beat the opposition. Why did it take 30mins to start playing like this???? Passing was good (nothing short of brilliant at times) – but we could always ask for more. Although the best thing by far for me was the attitude. We didn’t seem to blame each other, or annoy the ref with sulky faces and stories of woe!!!! Big, big step forward chaps…well done.

As for the individual errors, who cares, if you don’t make mistakes you can’t learn from them. I know there are boys out there who know they could have done more or done something differently. Next time maybe they will.

We narrowly lost to a side that haven’t lost this season, and who have been destroying other teams. We conceded less trys than any of their competitors so far apart from Exeter and Bath!!!! (Two premiership sides) and no other side has put two trys past them either!!!!! In that context I think we’d all agree we did allright. But also, if that’s the standard…….we’re not far away are we?

Finally, a quick mention regarding the newbies. Well done all of you guys who are playing for the first time this year, I am so impressed with your rugby development. We as a team have improved hugely since September, and are teetering on becoming a really good team, however I’m pretty sure the neutral onlooker would not be able to distinguish the new recruits from the old guard.

Next week (still to be confirmed) a step into the unknown as we welcome St Marys to “the vale”. All tackle, all get low in contact, always be positive, keep passing and it’ll be a breeze.