Too many low intensity games in SL. However there were precious few occasions last year when we looked capable of playing a high intensity game, as you say we either made errors or missed tackles.

Having a bigger squad should create some intensity in the competition for places. Despite still receiving contract payments players do still want to be in the 17 each week so that should help.

Part of the problem in this country is the nannying culture and the idea that it's the taking part that counts. No it's not, winning should be everything. No one remembers losers.

That's why the Aussies are superior. They just want to wipe their opponents off the park. No room for sentiment, no sense of equal participation. Just sheer bloody mindedness and a will to win.

I blame debaser and his ilk.

What exactly did Debaser DO with his Ilk to cause all this trouble? He didn't do something naughty with it in public, did he?

Although I agree with your initial point, I think it's a choice.

You're right, that if you subscribe to the "it's the taking part that counts" kind of upbringing, then you're never gonna win anything.

Which is most important? Is it the kids enjoying themselves or is it winning? Everyone will have different opinions. But I agree that its one or the other, you're not going to get both. Personally I'd prefer to win, but then I don't have any kids to watch enjoying it, so I would say that.

Winning matters the most however old you are.

From U11's through to open age, I never went out the "for a bit of fun".
I wanted to win.

Although everyone does want to win, there is a different culture over here than in Australia. Over there, it seems to be "if you're good enough, you play. If you're not, take up something else.". Whereas here, everyone gets a chance (and to be honest it's similar in the U.S.).

That doesn't mean the kids don't want to win at all costs, but it does mean you end up with a few crap players in there (like me) and some decent ones missing out because it's not their turn.

Strange how as this country has got more selfish & greedy our performances on the international stage have worsened. Still, if the Mail or Sun tells you we live in a nanny state that must explain it. The fact that no-one allows their children out of the house un-accompanied until they are in their teens, by which time they are on the way to obesity, the fact we sold off our school fields, the fact there is virtually no sport (competitive or disabled/gay/colour friendly) in school, no after school sport, the fact we promote vacuous talentless morons as idols, are all irrelevant.



Some good it did you.

It's all interconnected isn't it? For a lot of kids participating in sport is the desire to be the next Wayne Rooney, 'cos he's loaded and has a fit wife. If you're not into sport, you probably want to be on the Cowell Factor or in High School Musical or Glee. Or you want to be Coleen. Follow your dreams!

Yes, they're just the type of person I encourage my daughter to aspire to. A serial adulterer, an uncaring exploiter of the talentless. As long as you are splashed across the front of cheap magazines you are successful.

It's all a product of social inequality, which increased at its highest rate under the previous Tory government but continued to increase under the New Labour government (and probably is continuing now). Everyone should read 'The Spirit Level' by Wilkinson and Pickett - provides indisputable evidence of how the quality of life for everyone gets worse due to more uneven distribution of wealth in society.

Always thought that was a no brainer anyway.

You couldn't lend us a tenner, could you?

I think you should lend me one!