England world champiosn at wasting talent?

London - The All Blacks' Rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has described England as "world champions at wasting talent" and as playing a game based on fear. (I thought the Boks were world champions on wasting talent not becasue of fear though)

Henry guided New Zealand to victory last October in stark contrast to England who endured a miserable World Cup, crashing out in the quarter-finals with their campaign marred by a number of off-field incidents.

Henry believes England have good attacking players but questions whether they can ever fulfil their potential as long as they persist with their present approach.

He told therugbysite.com that England has top-drawer attacking players but they are seldom used.

"It sometimes seem that England are world champions at wasting talent.

"At national level and at club level English teams are far too worried about securing possession.

"No wonder England had trouble scoring tries against the better teams at the World Cup."

He singled out Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Delon Armitage as players who have impressed him but believes they may never reach their potential.

"A country with over a million players should be the best team in the world and England's potential in the backs is as good as it has ever been.

"But how frustrated those players must get in a white shirt.

"England and the English clubs played a game based on fear and a generation of promising backs are dying on their feet.

"That has to change."

Change England and the ripple effects may hit our shores. Big statement by Henry - lets see what the man can do.

Haha well said,

At least we still held our head up high post 2007.

We beat the AB's in Christchurch the next year.

And also had a few awesome results.

This bloke is now suddemly the be-all and end-all. It took him a number of efforts and eventually won the RWC ("With a litle help from my freinds") and now he washes his mouth at England. Next week it may be Aus, the week after SA, the next week France. Looks like Sir Henry thinks he is now royalty.

Cera they owe it all to BL and Paddy O'Brien. When you saw the French outclassing the abs in the final like that you could be sure they were there for the taking. Unfortunately they were handed that final on a platter by Craig Joubert.

Moz posted a great clip showing Craigs errors on SS.

Henry though may bring some new stuff to England. Whether it will suit England remains to be seen.,

How some South Africans still acclaim the abs WC "win" is a mystery to me.

@Beeno, as far as I know, Henry has got nothing to do with England. He has apparently now decided that everybody should bow down to "Sir" Henry and listen to his superior knowledge. What an arrogant twat.