Back from the brink

Leeds Carnegie went into yesterday's game at the Old Deer Park facing a third consecutive defeat within a week. This appeared to be the culmination of a season fraught with inconsistency and a portent for beatings to come in the play-offs.

As has been the case all season the squad confounded all predictions of its imminent demise with a resounding win against a side which has been in the top four all season. What can we put this down to? A dry pitch? Players returning from injury? New forwards giving the pack a bit of steel? The answer is probably a bit of all three. McColl is a quality player who attacks at pace. Williamson & Aulika have been around and know the forwards game...and yes the pitch was dry!

Looking at players who were missing yesterday I am starting to feel a bit more optimistic atbout the play-offs. We have won ugly on many occasions this season so know what is needed. The first game is at home to the Pirates - whom we have already beaten at Headingley. If we win that then anything is possible.

Embarrassing!

Leeds Carnegie today established it's credentials as a mediocre Championship club. Poor selection followed by poor game management led to another inevitable defeat. The coach has to take most of the blame. The team make the same mistakes every game. Nothing changes. The only consistency is in the poor performance on the pitch. Why do we persist with players who are not on form? The leadership on the field is, to put it mildly, inadequate. Today we spurned two kickable penalties, either of which would have won us the game.

I do not advocate wholesale changes at this stage in the season but clearly the coach is not up to the job and there are players in key positions who are in the same category. GH has some tough but necessary decisions to make before we sink any further.

I fear for Lanny.

England have started the Six Nations with two wins out of two, on the road. Both matches were played in poor conditions. Both resulted in narrow wins. Fair enough. A good start for the new regime and the the lads in the squad who have little or no international experience. This team will only get better and there are players like Flood and Tuilagi to fit back into the side.

Unfortunately the learning curve becomes a steep parabola from here on in. Wales, France and Ireland in quick succession means that the good start will count for nothing if these three fixtures are lost. The press will then whip up a clamour for a "name" to coach the national side and Lanny will be back where he was - on the sidelines.

What we need is a good performance against the Welsh and, dare I say it, another win. Time is not on Lanny's side.