It was important to get the facts and we have done that by contacting a member of the management staff and some players.
Facts are as follows,
1. Two players pulled out at the beginning of the week due to exams and an injury which led to replacements from the home reserves being called up.
2. The air space around Skavasta was closed minutes before the the players were due to board the plane.
3. Following a dramatic dash to Stockholm the players managed to board a boat to Riga.
4. The air space around the UK was not closed until Thursday, again just before the flights were due to be boarded. The English players rebooked for Friday morning and looked at alternative ways of getting to Riga. Unfortunately they had to admit defeat on Friday.
5. The management and certain Board members attempted to get extra players from Sweden on Friday's boat to Riga. Unfortunately only one player could make it.
So Sweden took the pitch with a squad of 19 players rather than the 22 permitted and although fired up and playing well, a turnover on the half way line saw the Latvian's winger race away to score a try that was successfully converted. This did not deter Sweden and they came back to score a fine try, with the extra points that brought the score to 7-7. There then followed a penalty to the Swedes allowing them to take the lead only for the home side to force the way over the line from a series of pick and go's. Once again the visitors came back and scored a dazzling try to once again force their way in front. Despite some missed penalties, Sweden led 12-15 at half time.
The start of the second half saw another turnover benefiting the Latvian's in front, a position that they were going to maintain for the rest of the match. With two more missed penalties, Sweden were unable to reduce the score before Latvia scored again giving them a lead of 26-15. Some good fortune eventually came their way and Sweden eventually scored out wide . However some more close quarter play allowed the Latvians back in for yet another score.There then followed a period of intense pressure which resulted in a superb try by the captain, this being converted reduced the deficit to 4 points. Despite the amount of pressure and even with two men off the park, (1 injured in the last minute and 1 very harsh sin bin) Sweden kept pushing and had one pass stuck, when the player was in the clear...who knows.
A pretty good performance from most of the players on the pitch, let us hope that Sweden get some good fortune for the next game.
Hi, I tried to put a comment on the other blog, but as again it was not shown. Of course it was a critic of that blog and its main writer so no real surprise. In case you are interested he has admitted writing comments as anon to get people upset. They write in and he makes money. If nobody writes in he gets nothing and maybe all his s..t will be ignored. He and his blog are bad for swedish rugby!!
ReplyDeleteThe other blog raised two questions that haven't been answered:
ReplyDeletewhy the original selected scrum half reserve didn't start but the FK did?
Why the appointed Vice captain was overlooked for the captaincy?
Leaving aside the Volcano issue which was just one of those things it would be interesting to know the answers
As far as we are aware, the original selected scrum half was stuck in England, so he could not start. As to why the FK started, perhaps you should ask him.
ReplyDeleteThe elected Captain was also stuck in England. We have been informed that the vice captain is elected on the day and that it is not a permanent position. Presumably the FK went with someone who he felt would lead the team well, and by all accounts, he did exactly that.
However, would it not be better if you asked the FK? Because he is the one who makes the decisions, after all.
You are quite correct the FK would be the person to ask regarding both the above decisions. In the absence of the opportunity to do so the questions have to be asked in a forum where the FK or one of the management team may be inclined to respond.
ReplyDeleteIt seems strange that given that the whole trip had descended into catastrophe that some semblance of normality should be preserved where possible. Like, for example, keeping a club half*back combination together. Or keeping faith with a previous Vice captain by passing the captaincy on or alternatively come to that the FK taking the captaincy, after all it seems strange that the coach can play the game but then defer taking the key decisions.
But then what do I know about rugby?
Cannot agree with you. The FK is contactable and his details are on the Union website.
ReplyDeleteThe club half back combination has not been in place since before the finals last year as the 9 in question lives in Finland. So again, cannot agree with you. On the captaincy question, ask the FK. We have no idea what you know about rugby, but you seem to be very good at being negative in your comments regarding the current set up, which does not help Swedish Rugby.
1.I said opportunity not possibility.
ReplyDelete2. If the reserve scrum half was not good enough to start why is he even in the squad? If the FK is the best 9 then he should be picked as a playing squad member. Even if the reserve 9 and 10 have not played together since the Autumn they will still have pretty broad familiarity with each others games.
3. As far as the captaincy issue is concerned...whatever.
It might seem negative to you but I am trying to be constructive in the criticism. In difficult circumstances it is important that the team pulls together and the two issues that I highlighted seem to be ones that are: a)curious in their logic and b) potentially damaging to squad morale.
If, as one of your other correspondents state, the Mikes have lost the changing room then issues like those above may have contributed to it.
If, as one hopes, they haven't lost the changing room a bit more thought regarding issues such as those above may help to prevent them losing it.
In the meantime time to turn our attention to the fixture in Enköping.