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Jeremy Guscott Q&A

Jeremy Guscott
Former England and Lions star Guscott is a BBC rugby union pundit

Christmas Day may have been and gone, but rugby union has barely paused for breath with a packed festive programme providing plenty of entertainment.

Wasps and Harlequins attracted a record 76,716 fans to Twickenham for their Premiership clash, while Glasgow moved to the top of the Magners League with victory over Edinburgh.

Jerry also takes a look at the fortunes of the Welsh regions, Dewi Morris' standing in the pantheon of England scrum-halves and the merits of Saracens flanker Andy Saull.

If you have a question for BBC Sport rugby union expert Jerry, you can submit it by using the form in the top right-hand corner of the page. He will answer as many as possible early next week. His answers to this week's questions are below.


Hi Jeremy, Looking into the new decade, what is your opinion on the current state of the four home nations?

Are Wales starting to slip, are Scotland on the rise, can Ireland start to dominate the international scene - and how do you solve a problem like the England team?
John Hazley, Shaftesbury

Ireland celebrate last season's Six Nations Grand Slam
Ireland have established themselves as Europe's top Test team

Ireland are best placed, the whole squad have tasted success and want it to continue because they waited so long to achieve it. Their autumn games were not particularly pretty but they won. They have a very talented squad of players, many of whom the other home nation coaches would love to have in their team.

Wales have lost their way and that's down to the coaches: the players haven't changed so why have they lost their creativity? With players like Gethin Jenkins, Alan Wyn Jones, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts and Shane Williams to call on, they're not short on talent.

If Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips are back for the Six Nations they should do well. Wales don't have a lot of strength in depth which could be a problem should they get a few injuries.

Scotland look good, given where they have been for the last two seasons. Andy Robinson has taken them back to basics, got the set-piece right and built from there. They need to work on ways of turning possession and territory into tries and points.

England have such a lot to do but players returning from injuries should improve things from the autumn mess. With very little expectation this could be the ideal time for Martin Johnson to get the best out of his players.

I would like to see him drop players for poor performances, we saw some very poor performances from individuals during the autumn matches and they kept their place, which creates the wrong squad environment.

Hi Jeremy, Now that Ireland are so far ahead of anything in the northern hemisphere do you think that we should join the Tri-Nations so as to improve our game?
Brendan Moran, Ireland

Brendan, I think you might be getting a bit ahead of yourself! Let's wait until Ireland start beating New Zealand, Australia and South Africa away from home and maybe after a World Cup is out of the way... when that's happened, maybe we can revisit your proposal?

Hi Jeremy, What's the problem with the Blues this season do you think? They were brilliant last season, but this season there's something missing? Do you think it's about time Sam Warburton started playing more often?

Also how do you rate Sam Norton-Knight? I think losing Nicky Robinson is the biggest problem we've face. He just can't get our backs going at all!
Bam, Wales

Sam Norton-Knight
Norton-Knight has won two caps for Australia

Bam, It's always tough to back up a successful season but I really thought the Blues would have been capable of doing just that. I think not having all their Lions at the beginning of the season didn't help continuity.

I'm not sure about Sam Norton-Knight: to me he seems more like a full-back rather than a fly-half. Cardiff Blues' success will be judged on how they do in Europe and although they are not totally out, it doesn't look promising. They need to get a top class 10.

Hi Jeremy, What do you think of Scott Johnson's impact on the Ospreys? What do you think is achievable, both short and long-term?
Grant, South Wales

Grant, anything and everything is achievable for the Ospreys and that is what Johnson has to make his players understand. The Ospreys squad is sensational but they haven't won anything. Johnson's remit must be to win the Heineken in the next two seasons or walk.

In light of England's lack of creativity, how can Martin Johnson not have James Simpson-Daniel in the side for the Six Nations? Assuming he stays fit, that is!
Richard Jones, England

Richard, I don't think Simpson-Daniel has stood out so much this season as he has done in the last few. Gloucester aren't playing particularly well and that hasn't helped his cause. If he were to play at all, I would play him on the wing.

Jeremy, do you think Steve Meehan has had long enough at Bath to produce a team that doesn't bottle it with 5 minutes to go? Is it time to be more ruthless with rugby coaches that do not produce results?
Chris Turner, England

Chris, for me Bath haven't been right since the ban of Matt Stevens and Meehan has struggled to get it going since then. His position should be reviewed if he doesn't achieve targets which, based on last season, should at least be to qualify for Europe.

Jeremy, do you think that Micky Young deserves a chance for England at scrum-half due to his recent form with Newcastle?
Olly, England

Come the Six Nations, do you think Ben Youngs could be finding himself in an England shirt?
Connor, England

Olly and Connor, both these players are going to struggle to dislodge the likes of Danny Care and Paul Hodgson. Maybe their day will come, but not for a while yet.

When (if ever) will we see Andy Saull included in the England squad, or will he be forced to move to a "better connected" club to further his England career? Saracens have a few up-and-coming players who should be given a run.

Saracens flanker Andy Saull
Saull is a key player for the Premiership leaders

If these players were from a more popular club they would be receiving the acclaim they deserve.
Steve, England

Steve, I don't think Saull will have to change clubs to get a shout of getting into the England squad. If Saracens continue to win then it will be difficult to ignore those playing a big part in the success. His size will count against him at international level though: to be considered he will have to be as good as Neil Back was.

Scotland fans complain about Dan Parks not being consistent enough and I agree. Obviously Andy Robinson agrees as well, picking Phil Godman ahead of him. Do you think another option could be Gordon Ross?
Mikey Lambert, Scotland/England

Mikey, Ross could be an option although I don't think it would be much of a swap as I think Ross is similar to Godman.

Jerry, I don't know about you but I am am getting pretty annoyed at Gloucester's steady decline this season. Considering they have a decent squad, they still under-perform. What do you see as the main problems and do you think they are becoming the new Worcester (ie some very good players that rarely produce the goods)?
Harry Miller, England

Harry, all they need is to believe they are good players. I watched the game against Bath and they looked a little clueless. The messages from the coaches aren't getting through, the players are making basic errors and are low on confidence. They need to rediscover why they enjoy playing rugby.

With the fit-again and in-form Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson adding to the growing struggle for the England number 10 shirt, where do you see Danny Cipriani's England career in the future and the next Six Nations?
Phil Collier, England

Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani
Cipriani is hoping to move back up the pecking order for England

Phil, if Cipriani plays exceptionally well he might get a sniff but he needs to learn to be a good defender and be more consistent in his kicking. I'm afraid he is nowhere near getting in the team at the moment but I'm still convinced he has the ability.

He just doesn't know what to do with it or how to control it yet.

Jerry, I recently read Ian McGeechan's book where he stressed the importance of having 'Test match animals' in his Lions team (one of which was you). Who in (or indeed outside) the current England set-up would you consider in this bracket how?
Matt Yates, England

Matt, in my opinion Jonny Wilkinson would be the only current player in that bracket.

Jerry, Do you think Dewi Morris should be included in the forum on great English scrum-halves? In my view, very few, if any of the world great scrum-halves got the better of Dewi in international competition.
Dave, England

Dave, I don't think there has been an English scrum-half with more heart than Dewi. He gave everything he had in every game he played in.

Hi Jerry, who is the most inspirational player and captain you have played with on the pitch? And who's the most inspirational captain you've played against that you would have enjoyed being led by, but didn't get the opportunity?
Alan, Ireland

The best captains I played under were Roger Spurrell at Bath and Martin Johnson with England and the Lions. Very simply these guys led by example. Other captains I admired were Australia's John Eales and Sean Fitzpatrick of New Zealand.

Hello Jeremy, What is the most atmospheric rugby game and also most atmospheric stadium you have ever played in?
Daniel McCrossan, Ireland

Daniel, in my day I really enjoyed playing against the Welsh and the national stadium in Cardiff was so atmospheric, the crowd were that close you could hear every word they shouted.

One of the most atmospheric games I played in was against Scotland in 1990, the Grand Slam decider. I loved everything about that game - except the result.



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see also
O'Driscoll to continue as captain
27 Jan 09 |  Irish
Norton-Knight class boosts Blues
28 Sep 09 |  Welsh
Norton-Knight 'will come good'
05 Sep 09 |  Cardiff Blues
Duo sign new Saracens contracts
04 Dec 09 |  Saracens
Harlequins 20-21 Wasps
27 Dec 09 |  English
Jeremy Guscott Q&A
21 Dec 09 |  Rugby Union
Rugby union on the BBC
05 Feb 09 |  Rugby Union


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