Whiney, whingey England

Over the last few days we've had a multitude of reports from senior England players (or soon-to-be-ex England players) complaining about everything from "The media were out to get us" to "They don't understand what we were doing, the reporting isn't fair."

Let's be clear here - as a rugby fan I know and accept that rugby players drink. I've seen rugby players royally pissed, rolled onto the team bus to get home at the end of a tournament and the like. It's not necessarily right, smart or anything else, but it happens. It's not really a story.

However, out on the lash and seemingly really drunk in the middle of a tournament - that's news. It was news, even over here, that Cory Jane and Israel Dagg were 'so drunk they were slurring' in the middle of the tournament. Particularly for Jane who was meant to be playing in a couple of days. OK, the players out in Queenstown add to that the spice of Tindall, recently married, with an old flame which may have made it more of a splash. But although both management teams were fairly low-key, one group said "Rugby players drink beer, shock!" and dismissed it entirely. The other group said "We've told them we're not happy. Jane better play a blinder on Saturday." The behaviour of one group was possibly more newsworthy, but the indication that the management team had taken some action - however minor - defused the second incident much more efficiently.

Then there's the harassment of the chambermaid, the apology and the like. If they were 18 year olds on tour it might be understandable. Harassing and scaring someone is not acceptable ever but a crowd of young adults on tour together - you can understand that although it's clearly not right, they might go too far with something that's meant to be joking around. By the time they're in their 20's, professional sportsmen and representing their country - it's much harder to understand. I understand men will tease women. Most women understand it will happen too - whether or not they enjoy it, think it's right or otherwise, they understand it happens. And most of them quite reasonably expect that when they show signs of distress it stops. Most men seem to honour that. But not these three.

And then the "Manu overboard" situation. If that had been the only incident, it would probably have been laughed off by everyone except the NZ Police. But at the end of the tour they've had, what were his mates thinking putting him up to it? What was he thinking accepting? Did they check in their brains on arrival?

And maybe they did. Cueto thinks the criticism of England's play was unfair. Which part I wonder? The range of incisive, attacking runners? You know, the ones that didn't show up against Argentina, Scotland or France. Matches where even England fans consider England were lucky to get 2 from 3 wins. The oddness of a selection in the last match where Flood was played in an unfamiliar position (at both club and international level), with an inexperienced player outside him, and the player inside who didn't have a great tournament having to get used to another new partner. Two players not renowned for their defence - one through inexperience and one through unfamiliarity with the role and being small - playing in the centres who amongst their other roles include the defensive leader of the team. Face it, France didn't play well for most of that match - although that one try was pretty damn good - they played an OK match. Just England were bad. Even their moments of luck, that brought them through against the other quality sides they played, weren't enough to let them sneak another win. And this is unreasonable?

Someone asked me the other day if Shaun Edwards would be part of the England set-up. I think he'll stay in Wales. I hope he does in fact. Why would anyone move to England? The players, senior, intermediate and junior seem to be out of phase with each other, the management and any understanding of reasonable behaviour. The RFU itself is a mess. Anyone could take the job on Monday with one structure in place and by the end of the Six Nations have a totally different structure above and around him, probably without any say in the matter. Leave a country where the team is on the up, your stock is high, and there is a strong chance that you could be one of the top four countries in the world come the next RWC to go to a country where you'll spend the best part of a year without support, structure and a clear plan. Where you have the joy of a team clearly not pulling together in any way that matters. Maybe he's really up for a new challenge, but man is that ever a challenge.