MAILBOX: 'Au Revoir' England?

England's wobbly start to their World Cup defence against the USA has attracted a few annoyed readers, who generally feel coach Brian Ashton and his troops may as well start packing their bags and call it a day.

England have been the targets of fierce criticism after struggling to overcome a determined Eagles outfit 28-10 during the opening World Cup Pool A match in Lens at the weekend, hardly convincing by any standards.

Now, with Jonny Wilkinson injured and captain Phil Vickery looking at a lengthy break after being cited for a silly trip on United States centre Paul Emerick - the alarm bells must ringing louder than ever in the England camp.

With a crunch match against South Africa just days away - we asked you if England stand a chance against the Boks.

The answer was: NO!

Soccer is ok. Cricket is ok.

But the rugby is something else. How we could struggle to beat the yanks i will never know!

It was shameful - a load of old stiffs and useless up and coming youngsters. The best player was Barclay at number ten filling in for the injured Wilkinson. With Wilko out - he too is now one of the useless players in the squad.

We haven't a hope against South Africa - it will be 40-0 or thereabouts. I see the dead hand of Rob Andrew at the helm of this shower - we're doomed - doomed i tell you! I also have a feeling that England players all think they are now superstars and it's therefore someone else's responsibility to do the hard work.

I predict we (they) will also be beaten by Samoa and fail to pass out of the Pool stages.

Patricia Graham

With a couples of breaks the USA could have won this game.

Congratulations to the Eagles!

Brian Lowe (USA)

England did not perform as well as they could have done against a defensive USA. It was hard for them with Mr.Kaplan making so many decisions in their favour, I lost count of how many knock-ons they got away with, high tackles, and errors, it's a wonder Ollie Barkley got up after that 80th minute illegal spear tackle, Hercus deserved a red card.

England wasted opportunities and the silly errors are still there, they must stop. They would find it very hard with a ref like that against South Africa, why not start with Nick Easter and Lawrence could replace him after 50 minutes?

It is questionable whose pay-roll Mr Kaplan is on.

Paul Gibbs

Were most of the England team on drugs - tranquillisers that is?

Nigel B.

Was it that bad? Unfortunately yes.

Where do we go from here? I am a passionate England follower but felt sad once again after our opening game against the Eagles.

I cannot understand Ashton's selections in picking old men like Dallaglio who quite simply are past the sell by date.What a contrast watching the All Blacks earlier with the likes of Collins and Mc Caw in the back row whilst other then Rees we looked like some old veterans 15.

I felt sorry for those who had spent their hard earned pound to watch some a shambolic performance. Sorry if I sound bitter but as a die hard England supporter the effort and quality was shame not up to it tonight. We will get destroyed by South Africa unless we actually start to believe in ourselves again.

Come on Brian, it's time you started earning your money.

Rick

Setanas post match commentators appeared to be in agreement that the USA is in the same group - ability wise - as Japan and Italy, who both got totally destroyed. The intangibles that propelled the Eagles in the England match would have also served them well had they played New Zealand or Australia - they may not have won, but the score would have been closer than either Japan or Italy could manage. Just watch, in RWC 2015, the Eagles will be considered serious challengers for the Cup.

Nick

For a team of talented individuals, England's performance was awful. Should their coaches be blamed? The Pumas' coaches showed how a weaker team can play to their strengths and win.

Gordan

England have selected too many old men and the pace of the game against the Eagles was far too slow. Perry's delivery to Barkley is too slow and Andy gommersall should start against South Africa. Mike Catt said he is better than ever, whose he kidding? Dan Hipkiss is more attack minded! We need more from the scrum base with Easter or Corry taking the ball forward.

Tony

Phil Vickery must be cited for his cowardly trip on Emerick! It is in my view worse than the professional foul by Dallaglio and Hayman's punch. Such a cheap act of cheating should be confined to the football pitch where it belongs.

Joe

Never mind about Phil Vickery's possible citation. What about Olly Barkley being pole-driven into the ground by one of the USA squad members? Surely some action should be taken on this player otherwise it makes a total mockery of the whole game.

Sorrel Speller

Hmmm, do England have a chance? I doubt it. Every other team have managed to down the easier sides, racking up great leads with all the bonus points and a wonderful 'Points for' average. England did none of those, failing to get the bonus point (they only needed one more try!) and only a points difference of 18 against a not-so-brilliant USA. Very poor. After watching Samoa and South Africa, I very much doubt we'll beat the former, never mind the latter. England will be lucky to get out of the pool stages! The only consolation is that France is in the same position, but Argentina is no USA. The sweet chariot is swinging very low...

Sam (English Supporter in Pembrokeshire, Wales)

Does England have a chance? Who cares, their rugby is ugly and there not even yesterday's news.....they are ancient history. The sooner these sorry wannabes get knocked out, the better.

Rugby deserves more than the boring 10-man, pedestrian rugby these fools follow. Good riddance!

Howie

Yes, of course we have a chance. I truly believe that, the players should too or there is no point being there. We didn't go to make up the numbers!

But if we continue to play like we did against USA then we might as well pack up and go home!

USA put in a very solid and gutsy performance but without any disrespect to them, we should be putting teams like this away in the first half, but this is not the England team of old.

I believe we have the backs to punish any side and really threaten defences, but only if they have ball in hand. The forwards were terrible, no hard running, no decent carries, no willingness to offload in the tackle to say nothing of the fact that it seems our pack seem incapable of holding onto the ball in or out of contact!

it's all very well having a backline that's all whistles and bells if they cannot get their hands on the ball. I would honestly rather we went back to pre professional days where the backs hardly touched the ball, at least we had a pack that could out tackle, out scrummage, and out muscle all that stood in their way! Our pack had no physicality at all, time was when other sides would tremble at the thought of playing against an English pack, not anymore, I doubt that the Women's Institute would even drop a stitch at the current pack. The frustrating thing is we do have the players to do this, Dallaglio, Vickery, Shaw etc all have a big match mentality and the presence and physicality to intimidate and outmuscle the very best, so where were they?

I only hope that we had one eye on South Africa and we were playing it safe, I hope so! But what if it was South Africa yesterday and New Zealand was next week, we wouldn't have the luxury of that convenient excuse and consequently we would be on our way home. We definitely do have the backs to threaten and breach defences, but the forwards need to give them quality ball by smashing the rucks, bossing the scrums and supporting each other on the rare occasion we do break through. What is needed is good old fashioned doggedness, one only needs to look at Argentina for an object lesson.

The time for excuses is past, some hard work and some grit is needed if we are to even compete in RWC!!!

Phil (Middlesbrough)

In all honesty, who really bought all the "footbalesk" hot air and cliches that the England camp has been producing?

As an Englishman I would love to have seen England win it a second time but their coach (or any other for that matter) needed much longer to sort things out. Just why Farrell and Dallaglio have been selected is beyond me.

I've heard all the "passion" and "the team is up for it", time to stop yakking chaps. It's time to start passing and scoring.

WP Engelseman

On current form England should pack their bags and save us the supporters any more embarrassment. But I know they can't and they always play better against the top three or four nations, interesting times ahead with Samoa to play.

Living Rugby

Never underestimate the English, it could cost any team dearly!!

Though I am sure they could summon the mental courage to come back and put on a spirited and motivated show against South Africa, the question is whether they have enough plans and tactics in the bag to out maneuver a highly organized Springbok team. Me thinks not!

Paul Troskie (South Africa)

England must be shaking like a leaf. Go the Tongans for second spot!

Roger Hampton (New Zealand)