'Grow up you English whingers!'

Your shout on the Simon Shaw brouhaha

Nothing gets our readers' literary juices flowing like a slice of good old-fashioned shoe pie! We've had thousands of emails about England's 'moronic locks', New Zealand's 'hollow victory', and a certain touch judge who garnered a host of adjectives too colourful to repeat. Here are a few of our favourites...

"England deserved everything they got. They thought they could come over here and belt us over the ear and say take that we're the world champs...our AB's showed them where the door was, bucko!

"Only thing they showed us and the world was that they were the world chumps. You may have the World Cup, but it takes a great team to deserve it and they sure showed they didn't - losing 4 out of 5 this year alone,  what a joke.

"Just goes to show that they won by default. At least when we won it in '87, we showed the world why we were champions. 

"Obviously the best thing England can do is whinge. Congratulations, England has the World Cup....and are the world's leaders in winging after loosing a game. See you in four years and we'll show you how to be a world champion team, just like 1987."
- Phoebe Fabricius, New Zealand

"Once again [Saturday's touch judge] Mr Stuart Dickinson has ruined what should have been a wonderful game of rugby.

"Does this man not realise he is in the entertainment business? People spend time and money to see a clash of Titans - not so when Dickinson has an input.

"He seems to have a desire to apply the laws of the game like a brainless automaton - regardless of what the public want.

"In future I think we should all turn our backs on officials like Dickinson - they'll only spoil the game anyway but we'll all save money, not get frustrated and perhaps, just perhaps, the powers that be will take some positive action to rid the game of spoilers both on the pitch and off it."
- Maurice J Colhoun

"So not only did Stuart Dickinson make a ludicrous decision - but he broke the rules to get the player identified.
 
"Well played Mr Dickinson - excellent piece of officiating all round.
 
"And good effort to Planet Rugby for your excellent wording in insinuating that Shaw was guilty as hell, but let off on a technicality. It's about time you opened the other eye and saw what actually happened."
- Stuart Flack, Bristol

"Thank you Simon Shaw for stuffing up what was shaping up to be a fantastic test match. And shame on Clive Woodward for his childlike, toy-throwing behaviour after the game.

"The fact is, Shaw's knee 'nudge' was an absolutely juvenile and dumb act. Any remotely sane coach would have been furious with such ill-discipline from a player that badly let down the rest of his team mates.

"Begrudgingly NZ rugby fans welcomed [Woodward] to NZ this time with a lot of respect ... he appeared extremely humble about their mighty achievements in the World Cup, and also openly paid tribute to the All Blacks and NZ's proud rugby tradition etc.

"After yesterday's behaviour next time Woodward returns to NZ with the Lions he will be public enemy No 1 - especially if he stubbornly selects his yesterday boy Dallaglio as captain ahead of O'Driscoll. Bring it on."
- Axle, Singapore

"England played with fire, determination and resolve after the sending off. They were hampered by injuries to both centres and as a result, were never in a position to win the match.

"The most disappointing thing is that we were never able to see if 'King' Carlos really can handle the pressure. He seemed wound up tighter than a watch spring yesterday to me. Indeed it was his intervention that made a big deal of the Shaw knee in the first place.

"The most interesting aspect of the series is that NZ have got back their cynical attitude and were quite brilliant off the ball. They were offside a lot, and always pulling jerseys, taking men off the ball and generally spoiling the opposition's day. This was what made them so hard to beat in Buck's [Shelford] days as skipper.

"The sending off deprived us of seeing whether they could keep this up in the face of a powerful opponent.

"Was it a sending off? Absolutely not, it was a reaction to a man deliberately blocking the ball. What has happened to rucking in NZ? What would Meads, Mourie or Mexted have done in Shaws position? We know the answer.
- Jonathan Williams, Hayling Island

"You must be joking Sir Clivid! Talk about a whingeing Pom. England was extremely lucky not to get three red cards. The ref kept them in the game and even stopped it two minutes early to reduce the embarrassment.
 
"The referee in the South Africa v Ireland match was also a joke. He could have given Ireland a penalty try at 20-10, which would have given Paddy a chance.
 
"Why do we have to put up with incompetent northern hemisphere referees, who are even worse than the two Australian referees?"
- Rawson

"I hope the Kiwis feel real proud of beating an England 2nd XV ... the AB's are a great team no argument there, however, let's see how well they would cope with 80 percent of there first choice players out of action and then tour the northern hemisphere.

"Celebrate your victory NZ and luck to you but just remember what goes around comes around. you are at the start of your season and so should be fitter and stronger against any 2nd XV.
 
"And no I not a moaning Pom or a whingeing Aussie but an expat Kiwi." 
- Tim Palmer

"I suppose [Shaw's action] was no less 'brutal' than the sending off [Springbok Jannus] Labuschagne after his cumbersome shoulder charge on 'Wilko' a couple of years back [during England's 53-3 win at Twickenham].

"Shaw's dismissal 'effectively ended the game as a contest, which was disappointing for both sets of players and the fans', said Dallaglio.

"At least he now knows how we felt like getting 50 from the roses."
- Zeke Oosthuis, South Africa

"There you have it. The English rugby team once again proving why they are the most hated in the world. 

"On Saturday night and the following press conferences England lived up to every negative stereotype we Antipodeans have of them. 

"Did Shaw's sending off ruin the game as a spectacle? For sure. Did he deserve to get send off? Absolutely!  England were lucky that was their only major punishment.  Their consistent professional fouls, almost permanent off-sides, and American Football style obstructions went unpunished again and again. 

"I would happily say they got the better of Nigel Williams decisions, and for Woodward to opine (after losing a series by eight tries and 57 points) that England were the better team is simply ridiculous. If England had put as much effort to winning the match as to taking the ball, and the All Black players out of the game, they may've stood a chance.

"As for the All Blacks they did themselves no favours stooping to England's level.

"Grow up England! The world may like you better for it."
- Luke Williams, Australia

"A typical Woodward reaction! If it had been an All Black, the English would have demanded the death penalty.

"I remember about 5 years ago at Twickenham when England were awarded a try in extra time against a 13 man Australian team, Woodwards only action was to criticise the Aussie on-field discipline,  despite the fact that the try should not have been given. English behaviour yesterday at Eden Park was appalling!"
- Neil Smyth, Canberra, Australia 

"It was well known that the English were going to do anything they could to provoke NZ and contain Robinson. They stated that before the game. However I could not believe how blatant and unsporting like the English were - including their captain who should know better.

"Coming in and shoving Spencer when he was protecting a player was not the behaviour of a good captain, more a steroid-infected idiot!

"They are more like the hooligan fans you have in soccer. Good on NZ and the match officials for getting rid of such thuggish behaviour! Just because you haven't got the skill level, you don't resort to violence. Go the Wallabies next week!"
- Craig Patty, Australia

"To feel such intense embarrassment and humiliation over two weekends is more than this proud English fan can tolerate.
 
"No, I don't just love winners. The manner of losing, especially in the first test, was so witless, artless and profoundly disappointing that one can't help but feel that normal service has indeed been resumed.

Farewell the 'blip' - it was delightful and awesome while it lasted, but blips are as ephemeral and transitory as British sporting prowess; illusory even, and the blip that was 2003 already seems dead and gone."
- Graham Mitchell, UK

"The IRB must reassess the extent to which touch judges are allowed to interfere in the game. Rugby officials are naturally bossy and interfering and to have three such individuals all waiting for the chance to add their half-penny's worth to the proceedings is to ask for trouble.

"Dickinson, who saw the incident, was so far away that he could not possibly have seen or been able to gauge the extent of the contact. To have a touch judge standing so far away have the ability to prompt - nay dictate - such an important decision is, in my view, ludicrous."
- William J McKinney 

"What a disgraceful decision from a touch judge the other side of the pitch.

"Yes, I agree that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable, but so is the intentional killing of the ball in the ruck.

"This is a physical game that is being softened by officials who make rash and incorrect decisions. Unless officials start clamping down on the illegal slowing down of play then players will react more and more.
- Mike Gunby, Eastleigh RFC, England

"Wah, wah, wah - Oh how the English love to cry. Can Clive Woodward ever suffer a defeat without making excuses?

"Everyone's predictions outside of England have come to pass. Two games two convincing losses, and the English quite happy to rest on their laurels.

"The true measure of a great world champion team is to continue on with their success and show what depth they have. Well, England showed what depth they have....none.

"England now keep racking up the losses, with more to come in Australia. I can hear it already, 'But we're still the world champions' - yes, in name only. They are no longer a world champion side and it is a true shame that a team lacking any player depth, and unable to show any more continuity, won such a hallowed event. What an embarrassment and a shame for England."
- Terry de Ridder, Los Angeles, USA

"When is that idiot Dickinson going to realise that fans go to the matches to watch the players play rugby, not to see him strut around and interfere?
 
"I paid good money to be at Eden Park last night, and after ten minutes Dickinson ended what was shaping up to be a great contest by yet again trying to grab a bit of limelight for himself. Please someone tell him that a good official is one you can't remember after the game."
- Stephen Dibnah, Auckland

"The mind boggles that the IRB still has Dickinson as an international referee. Year after year he makes monumental errors that reflect the outcome of matches. If one examines his track record closely it is obvious that he referees to please the crowds whether it is in SA or NZ.

"None of the rugby playing nations in the southern hemisphere rate him and he has been subject to more than one written compliant. Is the IRB toothless or are they back-scratching to appease Australia?"
- Jack Coomer, New Zealand

"Sir Clive was absolutely right to praise his team today for their performance against a truly awesome All Black side.

"The England performance was defiant and truly heroic, from the whistle they showed their intent and took the game to the All Blacks, who were clearly rattled by the pressure and aggressive nature of the England attack, on numerous occasions the Blacks engaged in off the ball antics and dirty tricks and at times, downright thuggery.

"Sadly though, the game was effectively concluded in under 10 minutes when the grossly inept Stuart Dickinson made an absolute howler of a decision to send off Simon Shaw for a totally innocuous incident.

"Clive has a lot to smile about however, every man stepped up and some were inspirational.

"Dallaglio was back to his best, Woodman was brilliant both in the tight and in broken play, and the way Gomarsall and Hodgson gelled was fantastic - Hodgson was Wilkinsonesque in his performance.

"Doubts remain however over the potency of the England backline, but there is neither need nor profit for a quick fix.

"The fact is - however much southern hemisphere pundits protest - that England, were it not for the red card debacle, could have in my opinion would won the game.

There can be no shame in a performance like the one we witnessed today, no other team in the world could have held on and even counter attacked under those circumstances. Take a bow, England."
- Newcybrown

"Yes, we [ENgland] were hammered but remarkably didn't lose one scrum when we were down to 14 men - big up to Mr White and co. Imagine what would have happened if Mr Dickinson hadn't been intimidated by the NZ fans.

"Still at least the linesmen were even handed - one sent an England guy off, and one disallowed a perfectly good try. Only three more years NZ..."
- Tony Doolin, Gloucestershire. England

"The real culprit is Lawrence Dallaglio. His naked aggression, constant arguing and hot-headedness rub off on his players. Under Martin Johnson, England would have 'retaliated' but with far more cleverness and subtlety. As for Sir Clive's justification, you appeared to be a gracious winner at the RWC - don't become a sour puss loser."
- Ian Murray, Twickenham, London

"Once again, Dickinson officiates for the greater glory of Stuart Dickinson. If everyone got sent off for what Shaw did, we would be playing rugby league - or even sevens.

"Don't officials think about the context of the game and 50,000 paying spectators, plus the TV audience?"
- Robin Hoyles, Beckenham, England

"It has all become clear to me now. This series in New Zealand is all part of a great conspiracy by the colonials against the Grand Old Imperial Mother Country.

"In the first test in Dunedin, the referee wasn't stern enough with the All Blacks; in the second, he was harshly unjust to England: evidently a plot between the colonial Welsh and the colonial Kiwis.

"Sir Clive Woodward was utterly correct; if the gentle giant, Simon Shaw, the victim of a miscarriage of justice, had not been sent off, England would have won by at least 25 points. More, probably.

"That All Black Robinson is equally obviously a thug, daring to use his brute force against decent English lads; a character totally different from England's hero, Martin 'Johnno' Johnston, 'The Enforcer', who used his bulk and fists over the years to control unruly opponents in appropriate and acceptable ways.

"No, this was clearly a rigged game. The fact that the All Blacks managed to score a try when the teams were level at 14 players each doesn't change that incontrovertible fact.

"They deliberately left out Doug Howlett and Richie McCaw, two of their best players, to create confusion among the decent chaps from the Mother Country. And then they bring in this Fijian to score most of their tries.

"I ask you - when will these fellows learn the lessons of fair play, decency and rectitude and learn to take their victories in the same spirit that the England manager takes his defeats?"
- Warwick Armstrong