Shane Williams. Best player in the world? Never
Have the International Rugby board gone totally mad? Are they so dazzled by a bit of fancy footwork that they can't recognise a show-pony when they see one?
Wales wing Shane Williams has been named IRB world player of the year from a shortlist containing four northern hemisphere players and just one from the south.
That's got to be wrong given the recent results in games between Tri Nations and Six Nations countries which have produced nine wins from nine matches for New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
How can Sergio Parisse be nominated ahead of Pierre Spies? Mike Blair ahead of Ricky Januarie? Ryah Jones ahead of Schalk Burger?
Even the sole southern hemisphere representative, Dan Carter, is the wrong one. Matt Giteau is surely in better form.
To me Williams is merely a luxury player. Yes he scores tries and so he should do given the number of games he plays and solo runs he goes on.
He has scored eight tries in eight internationals in 2008 - four in two against the combined might of Scotland and Italy. He didn't score against England and has not scored in the autumn internationals.
Set against the try record are the amount of turnovers and penalties he concedes as he heads off on his indulgent merry way. He might be a nightmare for opponents but he's one for team-mates too.
All I hope is that this award doesn't make him a shoo in to the Lions side ahead of more rounded players like Paul Sackey, Shane Horgan, Chris Paterson and Ugo Monye.
The last time Williams pulled on a Lions shirt he was rag-dolled by the All Blacks and given the way JP Pietersen dominated him a couple of weeks ago it'd be the same against the Boks.
Shane Williams. Best winger in Wales? Probably. Best player in the world? Never.
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Martin Warrillow - Birmingham journalist and Tamworth FC fan
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Shane Williams surely deserved to be in with a shout for the award.
You claim that Paul Sackey, Shane Horgan, Chris Paterson and Ugo Monye are more rounded. In what way do you mean that? If they were more rounded then surely they would have featured in the nominations.
He has scored 43 international tries for Wales and all these aren't against lesser nations. He is an accomplished player both at club and international level.
A player not only has to have the ability to score a try, but also has to get into the positions to do so. I suppose he's been lucky in your eyes to manage to this 40-odd times for Wales.
You just seem very bitter that a Welshman has won the award and I can't see why. If an Englishman had been in the same position, I think you'll find you'd be writing your article in a very different light. Whereas if you are a fan of Rugby, like myself, you would be gracious and congratulate the player and not write a non-story.
Dan Bennett.
Actually, Shane isn't even the best in Wales at the moment - Leigh Halfpenny (who can kick goals too) is probably ahead of him. Gatland suggested the selection for NZ was Halfpenny on one wing and then one other out of Shane and Mark Jones, with Williams getting the nod.
Shane is a luxury and although he played badly in a bad team performance against South Africa this month, back in the summer and (crucially) over in SA he ran rings around the Boks backs. He also left Habana on his backside - although his shout of "Mismatch!" was probably misguided bravado.
So I'd suggest Shane is a luxury the Lions could afford, with the right backline alongside him and the right set of forwards in front of him. That backline is unlikely to feature Sackey, Horgan, Patterson or Monye - I'd rather see the likes of Matthew Tait and Luke Fitzgerald ahead of those you cite.
(I'm not a fan of awards, so I don't see the point in naming anyone Player of the Year).
Thanks for your thoughts, you're right this is a non-story, it's an opinion.
The four wingers I mentioned are less likely to concede possession, either through turnover or penalty and all of them are defensively more sound.
Bitterness has nothing to do without, as a Scot I don't begrudge fellow Celtic nations anything and had an England player been given the award I'd have made the same points.
There are many more deserving recipients in the southern hemisphere.
Err Brian, your article overlooks the fact, that along with Scotland and Italy, Shane Williams also scored tries against France, South Africa and Australia in 2008.
As an opinion piece I tended to ignore it for the fluff that it was.
But the inclusion of Sackey et al as "rounded" players gave me my absolute best laugh of the day.
Brian Dick, comic genius.
Brian Dick. Never has a nom de plume been more apt.
This is an excellent article. It really made me laugh. I can't believe anyone would actually call Paul Sackey a "rounded" player. I take it the journalist who wrote this didn't notice how he directly caused at least one of south africas tries against england during the autumn internationals and has offered next to no threat against any of the other sides? Perhaps you should actually watch some matches before commenting on the relative merits of the players involved?
Secondly, as for Shane Williams' "solo runs" - in the past it has often been the case that these have resulted in match winning tries for Wales even when the rest of the backline (and forward pack for that matter) have been distinctly off form. Anyone remember Australia 2005? A game Wales definitely did not deserve to win, but Shane Williams scored a "selfish" solo try that I am sure any other player in world rugby (including the likes of Cullen, Robinson et al) would have been proud of. A try that an average player like Paul Sackey - dependable though he may be, could only dream of.
Paul Sackey?
Shane Horgan?
Ugo Monye?
Oh dear GOD!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
That'll keep me laughing all through the winter.
Brian Dick, Take head out of bottom! You have no idea of what you're talking about. FACT!
My Paul better than lovely Shane ?
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Shane who?
Is the answer Hay on Wye ?
Sackey? , he's good but he's no Darren Daniel.
Have you ever watched rugby.....Dick
Ben Cohen who?
you decide
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V7fTYdDV-dQ
Are you real? My mums pet cat would score more trys than Sackey. He's good but he's no [color=blue]Nicky Griffiths[/color]
Shane is at least 240,000,000 times better than Sackey
How can you possibly write such an article like this without mentioning the fact that he is too small? It really is very remiss of you not to mention his stature.
Shane is too Ikkul he will never be as good as SSSHHHHEEERRRIIIDDDAAANNNN who must be the lion's pack next year
I think you need a KFC mate.
The blog made me sad - it's not only English rugby in the doldrums but English rugby journalism, it seems.
I realise that columnists are meant to be controversial but they don't have to be stupid in what they write. Mr Dick is in a minority of one among the 'informed' English commentators in ranking Sackey and Monye, Patterson and Horgan above Williams.
England only have one midfield back or wing curently capable of playing anywhere near as well as Shane - and that's James Simpson Daniel. But because of the pedestrian thought processes of the other England backs who cannot see the opportunities he can, Sinbad finds himself relegated to the wings.
Wales, by contrast, give our thinkers freedom to express themselves unfettered.
Just like the editors of the Birmingham Mail do with Mr Dick. It's a shame he can't reward them with a coherent argument.
I think Mr Dick should stick to watching his rugby games on Ceefax. It's probably as close he will get to understanding the action.
BTW, who the hell is Ryah Jones?
Mr Dick, proof read, mun.
Fair comment IMO
Shane isn't much of a rugby player but a pretty fair part time IT technician and a top
sock puppeteer.
http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/people/person_details.php?PersonID=16
Monye and Horgan are more rounded wingers in the same way that Andrew Lloyd Webber is a tall incredibly handsome bloke.
Every wondered why you work for the Brummie Evening Post Mr Dick?
There isn't much call for a Rugby correspondent in Birmingham. Just as well because they haven't got one.
Finally some sense.
I agree whole-heartedly with this perceptive piece of journalism.
Brian Dick. Best Rugby Correspondent in the Birmingham Post. Never.
Oi Brian
http://www.jobs-midlands.com/jobsearch/page.cfm?location_id=10320&industry_sector_ids=8&text=&x=45&y=9&searchtype=Advanced&searchLangCode=en&search=search&objectid=15818103&siteid=67910&method=default&tab=quick&cfnocache=true&searchResultsPage=true
Brian Dick said:
"Thanks for your thoughts, you're right this is a non-story, it's an opinion.
The four wingers I mentioned are less likely to concede possession, either through turnover or penalty and all of them are defensively more sound.
Bitterness has nothing to do without, as a Scot I don't begrudge fellow Celtic nations anything and had an England player been given the award I'd have made the same points."
Had a current England player won the award then you may well have been able to make the same points. Forunately they didn't one of the worlds best wingers did.
Well said Dick
Ever watched the game or just listened to people bigging up Jonny?
Even I must admit that Shane is better than our Paul.
If we are talking about performances against next years opponents South Africa, you only have to look at Shane's wonder tries in both tests for Wales last summer out there.
Let's face it, Shane would urinate all over our Paul.
What a staggeringly inept piece of journalism.
Brian Dick or Dick Brain? Should get out more - watch some rugger preferably.
What a devastatingly bad opinion piece. I'm staggered that someone could write such utter toss, yet it still gets used. Obviously not only Mr. Dick knows nothing about rugby, but the sports editor has no clue either.
Hey Dick man, don't hog the weed. Passit on.
Can you tell me, Mr. Dick, how many times Shane Williams has been turned over this year, or how many penalties conceded?
(I know the answer, just wondering whether you researched your article).
Thanks.
shane is rubbish mind. he's never raced a cheetah like that Habana bloke who is 2400000000 times faster. although some yank alledgedly skinned Habana on the outside at RWC. Burn the little dancing Ospreylian..it's obviously some witchcraft that got him the title. put him on the pyre with the Hensonwitch. Eddie...catch this cup of boiling pi
Paul vf Sackey.
nuff said.
shane williams 40 odd tries in 40 odd tests
double grand slam winner
british lion - 4 tries in one game for the lions.
2 tries out in s.a this year...one ran rings round habana.. who last years irb winner!
the other try ran rings round about five s.a players from the half way line.
then scores a try against australia on saturday, sets up a try with his dazzling dummies for lee byrne to score against australia on saturday and then sets up a try for jerry collins against australia on wednesday for the barbarians?!?!!! what was that about autumn internationals Brian?
he is the most talented rugby player on the planet this year and fully deserves the award. no one even comes close.
to even mention paul sackey, chris paterson, ugo monye and horgan in the same sentence clearly shows a lack of understanding for the game. why not write a blog about sackeys try soring exploits for his country and lions caps? or tell us about monye's try cap ratio? patterson is a good kicker I'll grant that, and such a good player he spent most of last season on the bench for his club!!
Joe Po of the waikato chiefs will be the greatest player of all time -only 17 but massive potential
he is distantly related to rhys po who played for wales many many years ago
Quite right Brian. Shane Williams is the Emperor's New Clothes and I applaud your courage in standing up against the Welshist propaganda. One thing though - you left out of your list of more deserving players the truly great standout player from 2008 - Ian Balshaw.
Still waiting Dick mun.........
R.e. The Bong
I ssupect that mr Dick is still picking himself off the floor having been surprised to find anyone reading his blog!
dear dear dear.
I dispair.
I really, really, do.
Apparently scoring tries is a luxury. Would explain recent England performances.
I voted Don't Know.
I'm sure that Mister Dick has many things to occupy himself with at this time of night.................
The internet is a wonderful thing. Now I know that despite being in a rugby backwater I can pick up all the news by being in the know listening to a "rugby supremo".
I think the expression is "trolling" - writing rubbish to try to provoke a response.
Mr Dick - you, sir, are a troll. Which may be fine for someone on a message board for their own amusement - but I suggest that it is not acceptable for someone to be paid to write rubbish.
Still, your nom de plume is well chosen, I'll give you that!
I can't stop thinking about ninjas.
Damn right, Dick! Shane is a luxury. He scores tries, and England in RWC 2007 showed us that success doesn't necessitate tries.
It would probably take a no-mark 'rugby correspondent' (with little evident knowledge of the game) working for a middling, regional news organ to recognise what a 'luxury' is, mind.
Brian
I wish you'd been around when I played for Bournville 2nds-you'd have talked me up into the Lions squad
The only way that Paul Sackey is a "more rounded" player is that he is equally inept in all facets of wing play.
Possible the funniest piece of rugby "journalism" of the year.
"Paul Sackey, Shane Horgan, Chris Paterson and Ugo Monye."
Looks weak.
Ewe is fired mun.
Bravo Sir!
May I commend you on what is surely one of the most insightful and entertaining rugby articles I've had the pleasure of reading in many a year.
I've carefully clipped the pages and they are now hanging in a frame on the wall of my fine oak-panelled study where there are many fine books, some bound in fine leather.
I look forward to whiling away the dark winter nights reviewing your meisterwerk, maybe while swilling a fine cognac, or enjoying a fine cigar.
Finally some sense, Mr. Dick you are quite correct. Williams is a taffy showpony who did his jinking around against lesser nations but failed to register a single try against England. It should be a requirement for the World Player of the Year to have scored a try against England's mighty defence. In which case Muliaina who achieved this feat an incredible 3 times would walk away with the award ahead of Nonu and Carter who managed it only twice. Honourable mentions to that tiny band of men who also crossed England's virtually impenetrable line in 2008 - Rossouw, Pienaar, Jacobs, Fourie, Habana, Ashley-Cooper, Rabeni, Kahui, Carter ,Lauaki, Cowan, Smith, Sivivatu, Mapusua, Thomas, Kearney, Nallet, Picone, Byrne and Phillips
Ickle 'Sizzling Shane' is jut a poor man's Jason Robinson, but without the WC winner's medal. FACT!
He is too small for international rugby and is turned over at virtually every ruck, additionally he only scores tries against the minnows of world rugby, is a liability in defence and is terrible under the high ball.
He shows no humility when he does score, often favouring obnoxious celebration moves in the process of touching down.
Shane williams is a luxury Wales can ill afford in the professional era, they need to get a big lump on the pitch, some one of Ben Cohen or Cueto's caliber. Though it must be said that if Cueto learnt to do his scoring on the pitch then we would have successfully defended our World title.
Quite right. People should win this award based on the number of points they score against England.
Danny Cipriani should have won it hands down....
gibber gibber gibber
Horgan and Monye and Sackey are great
dribble dribble dribble
incoherent ramblings
I thank you. Where is my cheque Brimingham Post? I am now your new rugby correspondent, and claim my £240,000,000
(sits back down in pool of own faeces)
Soz bois, wots this game "rugby"? Is there anywhere you can watch it in Birmingham??
Dick
Get down to the new Office now
WTF have you been doing for the last month anyway.
Brian, - don't be so bloody sily.
By the way, that's how we spell 'silly' over here.
I'm sure Sackey et al are shaking with anger that Shane was voted IRB player of the year above them!!
Surely this 'article' must have generated the most replies from people outside of the West Midlands the Birmingham Post has ever seen. Having lived, watched and played rugby in the west midlands and seen better quality matches in next doors back garden (including my performances in the midlands), I can uunderstand where Mr Dick gets his deep understanding of the great game.
Shane scoring tries is a luxury that Wales, Ospreys and Wales fans have had the pleasure of for many years.
If any right minded spectator or pundit had major problem with Williams making IRB player of the year above the average list BD lists, then I must need medication.
Brian - thanks for the laugh - you've be better off trying to cheer up your readers, not making us boyos roar!!
In years to come Sackey et al will be sitting at the bar with their claim to fame being "i was once touted as being better than Shane Williams". "oh" will come the reply, "who said that then?" "Brian Dick of the Birmingham Post" will come the answer and their endeth any validity to the claim whatosever.
Also you write "four tries in two games against the combined might of Scotland and Italy yet failed to score against England" Are you seriously putting England that far ahead of Scotland and Italy? Seriously? Only one winger in NH history compares to Shane, and Gerald is Welsh too.
If Paterson gets a mid-week game for the Lions next year, he will have reached his peak in rugby, but he wont.
Sackey? Are you high?
Have you ever watched a game of rugby in the flesh mr Dick?
Obviously not judging by your idiotic opinion on the relative merits of the players you have mentioned.
When those other players achieve the same strike rate as the player you denigrate perhaps one may take your opinion with something other that a ton of salt.
Calling yourself a rugby correspondent must come close to falling foul of the trades description act.
Well i think this goes a little deeper than Shane Williams ---We, as a Celtic nation take a lot from the English media EVERY DAY--If you look at sky news it is England England England every day. The soccer tape of 1966 must be worn out --when England won the ashes --it was ENGLAND who won --no mention that Wales were represented in that win and it is the England AND Wales cricket board ---seems to me that this is sour grapes and you can't handle the fact that Shane Williams can rip your England defence to shreds --he is a touch of genius ---world class winger who plays with flair and passion ---you obviously can't handle the fact that a Welshman has won it ---I find that very sad but there again you will never understand the Celtic nations.
Personally I thought big Les Volcano should have won it, as he's well rounded and those jinxing runs are something to watch.
Brian I was going to say something nasty, but having just looked at you mugshot, I realise that nature has been cruel to you and you are suffering enough already.
Very good chappy. Your stupidity outweighs your charm, which is null.
I agree with your obsevations entirely. Sackey is indeed a more rounded rugby player than the grossly overated Williams. Sackeys speed would leave Williams floundering in his slipstream,his eye for the gap,his rugby brain, deft hands and mesmorising footwork all surpass Williams skills.
The thing is, the rugby world has so few players of Sackeys ilk, the kind of player that people fork out money to see specifically, the sort of player that sends the pulse racing when he gets the ball.
Quite right sir. If Williams If he ever wants to become a good player, my advice to him is to join an English club and learn from the best. He should take the lead of his fellow countryman Rob Howley. When he played for Wales, I considered him useless and was furious that he was taken on the Lions tour when he wasn't fit to lace Matt Dawson's boots. However, almost immediately after joining London Wasps, he miraculously became the best scrum-half in the northern hemisphere and left Dawson on the bench.
Quote:All I hope is that this award doesn't make him a shoo in to the Lions side ahead of more rounded players like Paul Sackey, Shane Horgan, Chris Paterson and Ugo Monye.
Possibly the funniest thing I've read since I joined the dots on a leper Mr Dick.
I suppose the peoples Cipriani is a shhoo in too?
Points at Dick at sniggers
I was wondering who the English version of Andy Howell was and by god I think we've found him.
"Yes he scores tries and so he should do given the number of games he plays"
That, Dick, is a work of genius. So we should presumably also ignore, for example, Jonny's world points record on the grounds that "Yes he scores penalties and so he should given the number of games he's played".
Shane has one of the highest strike rates in the history of international rugby. Ever. Did he pull your girlfriend in a bar one night or something?
I'm Sparticus
I'm innocent
we are still waiting mr dick for you to tell us how many times in 2008 that shane williams has lost the ball in contact?
Its not fair mun.
Sackeys good but he's no Darren Morris.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RO3_rYa3azI
Ow dick butt... we is gonna SLAM EWE come feb 14th
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WzjyO7DJ1n0
Ow dick butt... we is gonna SLAM EWE come feb 14th
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WzjyO7DJ1n0
Ow dick butt... we is gonna SLAM EWE come feb 14th
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WzjyO7DJ1n0
Rounded. Adj
Lacking energy. Dull. Functioning at a lower physical and mental level.
HTH
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: Deviating from a straight line.
classic example of deviating from a straight line : our shane.
Oi.
stop larkin around, yer gettin on me pip.
yers all want coal crackin on yers ead.
brian,... listen. this shawn williams roit, he's loike yer bestest rogby ployer - hes got a bob on hisself. he's aaaaaaright, but he's no arthyr emaaar.
Oh dear oh dear Mr Dick, you've made yourself look rather foolish there (as well as uninformed).
Do your research and then try again. Your alleged facts are a very sad reflection on the Birmingham Post and it's standards (hell, if they let you write for them, perhaps my 10 year old son could get a job as a writer for them).
You have either:
1. Got such bias that you should be rolled up and down a bowling green.
2. You genuinely have no idea what you are talking about and should try another sport.
3. You write this trash to get a reaction as you need the figures.
4. All of the above.
By the way....... Sackey????? Yeah, okay (LMAO).
No, Brian is right. Sackey is more rounded than Shane. I can think of at least four players who rounded him with no trouble at all in the last month.
Wahey!
Sensible policies for a happier Britain.
I agree about Sackey. he can't catch, can't pass, can't tackle and can't seem to score a try. Can't get much more rounded than that.
Ugo Monye. 3 caps. 1 win against nobody. Better than Shane, so you say.
My dear boy...are you serious?
Ah yeah, Little Shane is great, better than Slackey, the way he skins his opponents reminds me of a young Jona, yeah, except he was half my size. He needs to eat more chups, lots of chups. That's what helped me Chups, so fish might help to, fora growing boy.
Shane is the greatest. FACT
I can't believe no one's mentioned me yet.
Brian, don't bother coming in tomorrow, you're sacked, for impersonating and masquerading as a rugby correspondent.
You are idiot and have no idea about rugby.
I believe you must have written this to provoke people.Go comment on to Soccer.
Birmingham's status as having little or no presence amongst the higher echelons of rugby union is reflected in this piece of utter drivel. In particular there is the reference to the 'more rounded' Paul Sackey - a player of sublime mediocrity who runs only in straight lines, is a defensive nightmare and whose entertainment value revolves around whether he's going to catch it or drop it each time the ball comes his way. An opinion piece? I should refrain from expressing any more opinions if I were you... unless you're that thick skinned you're beyond feeling embarrassed.
Brian,
Please don't take all this criticism to heart. You just made one mistake that's all. Remember you are a heavyweight in the world of Rugby Journalism. Repeat your mantra if you feel insecure
"It is my belief that most professional writers can write something in a more interesting way than sportsmen or sportswomen can say it.
In most cases their expertise ends when they return from the rugby field, cricket square or tennis court - at that point they become normal people.
That’s where a good journalist comes in to play, to either extract something interesting from their subject or provide their own insightful analysis."
You are interesting and insightful, you are not just a normal person like everyone else.
By the way how did the family weekend you booked at Lapland West Midlands go?
"Have the International Rugby board gone totally mad? Are they so dazzled by a bit of fancy footwork that they can't recognise a show-pony when they see one?"
Bang on the money, Brian. Where do they get these award-judging people from? How can they give World Player of the Year to someone who only scores so many tries because he gets selected so often? It's just ridiculous. It's a FACT that the law of averages states that if you pick a monkey in his position he will score the same number of tries in exactly the same way as this little pit pony, eventually, if you pick him often enough against the same opposition.
If I was Matthew Tait or Paul Sackey I'd be feeling pretty cheesed off about this award, I can tell you. As you have written before, Brian, in the absence of anyone who's any good it should go to an Englishman by default.
Us Dicks should stick together, Brian.
Brian,
Have you got a spare pair of jeans I can borrow? Only I've just wet myself laughing.
I think the problem is that Mr Dick spends most of his time watching, and writing about, Coventry Rugby Club. Consequently he has no clue about what constitutes a good rugby player, let alone the best in the world.
Looks like you have offended some leekist sensibilities, worry not they'll soon to their lowly position as our whipping boys.
They've always been touchy about little Shane, the whole world can see his frailties, except the Welsh. In all seriousness are there any XVs, from the top eight nations, that he would get a place in other than for the deluded Welsh?
Seems the Welsh are so keen on watching their much vaunted 'Running Rugby' that they are willing to pay the price of Shane's ineptitude elsewhere on the pitch, he gave NZ that last try, through his self indulgent attempts to run the ball from everywhere.
You're a brave man Brian, and correct to boot, and that is for sure.
Bri, you've managed to lambast the undisputed talents of the IRB PLAYER OF THE YEAR. That's right - Williams has been recognised as the best rugby player on planet earth in the last year. Not only have you ignored this, but you've gone on to claim Paul Sackey and Monye as more 'rounded' players! You should be sacked for writing such tripe. What next? Cipriani better than Carter, Noon better than Mortlock, Stevens over Hayman?
Williams is not theperfect player, but your vitriolic rant that was based upon seemingly bitter opinion and devoid of any substance or fact has gone against the grain of the entire IRB. That's quite the achievement for a 'rugby writer' from the Midlands. In fact, shouldn't that tell you something? It tells me that there are educated, passionate followers of the game out there who'd kill to have your job and instead, we have to make-do with your embarrassing musings. You do the job no justice. It's a travesty you hold this position. You make a Western Mail journalist look like a literary and factual God.
Now, feel free to respond to the numerous critical posts of you on here with some facts. C'mon, show us some true, hard, concrete facts. We're waiting.........
Brian Dick's "opinion" expressed here simply reveals the terrible toll that hard drug abuse is having on our journalists of today.
Years ago, old-style hacks were notorious for churning out unmitigated garbage after a "Lunchtime O' Booze" session, before the paper went to bed ~ but this deranged Shane Williams vs Paul Sackey fantasy can only be the product of some uber-serious Class 'A' narcotic abuse.
Lay off the Crack & LSD Brian before you approach a keyboard,,,and go and watch some rugby when you're not getting totally off-it.
Another dolt arrives (SAE Smith). Wales revert to whipping boy status? Despite all the rounded talents, oodles of nouveaux-Englishmen and filthy lucre, England just get worse and worse - much to the enjoyment of the civilised world. "Little" Shane? 'Bout the same size as Midget Robinson, no?
Billy the Whizz may have been small but one of his self indulgent runs knocked you leek munchers out of the most Vintage World Cup in history, what have Shane's runs ever achieved, other than victories against minnows like Fiji... oh hang on.
You leekists always get precious when anyone accurately critiques one of your over-rated showponies, next we'll be seeing claims that Lee Burn is the greatest FB in history, when anyone can see Armitage is superior in every facet of the game. Or that your overweight TH prop, Gethin Jones, could take on the might of SHERIDAN, who is indisputably the best prop the world has ever seen. He is such a strong prop if he was Welsh he's have been used to shore up some collapsing mine, so that row after row of your dark satanic houses could be saved from endless subsidence.
Stamped, I take it that that is ewer first name? Eye put it to ewe, that ewe are a ringer, and not a saes at all.
And Mr Brian, ewe, sir are up for an award ewerself, butt, for services to minority sports ewe doan't understand butt, innit?
Sackey, Moyne, Patterson, Horgan...Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub.
A patheon of leg ends.
The cheeky coal kicking dwarf has no right be there, no right at all!
Congratulations I look fwd to you receiving your award from Angus Deaton next year as 'Best Newcomer'.
Outstanding debut Me Apendage, sir.
How unfortunate that your freedom of expression should be so manifestly impugned by this brigade of disrespectful subterranean troglodytes.
Is it any wonder this great country was built under a flag which ignores their existence? Quite evidently this red menace continues to undermine our union in a style befitting their burrowing heritage. I would remind them that the sun never set on our once great Empire; only the wretched devils never saw a setting sun for coal-dust and rainclouds.
For proud Englishmen it is heartening to see Scots such as yourself and that other great doyen of loyal journalism I M F Robinson stand rigid at our rear. More power to your elbow Dick!
I will manipluate you to issue.
Dear Mr Dick
Nuff said.........
Love and undying respect,
Mark P
ps As a professional journalist you should be pelted with tomatoes by your collegues, as never has a rugby comparison been so poorly argued - tragic day for journalism
Paul Sackey better than Williams i thank you.....
Great article Dick, ignore the little Welshies, they'll leave us in peace as soon as a pretty young ewe distracts them all.
I've lost my sheep.
I'm surprised...
Anal-beads made from hamster's teeth - that's what you wnat mun - go lovely with a JWM.
The 'who's who' of sports journalism - stick to soccer you cretin