RUDE AWAKENING FOR JONNO

Fear not England,fear not the rugby fraternity and fear not the subjects of her majesty,i will bring back the glory days of 2003.We all waited with baited breath when Jonno was unveiled as the new English rugby supremo,at a glittering ceremony,five matches ago.The words from a man who talked the talk and walked the walk were convincing and assuring.And we had every reason to believe.After all he led England to world cup glory in 2003.How could he fail,so we thought.

Yes when England played against South Africa in the last World cup and lost,there was foul cry across the entire nation.How could the video referee deny England a try that looked genuine and authentic?The hope carried from such a near miss to world cup glory kept the England faithful on their toes and the appointment of Jonno, was widely believed to be the final panacea to the selection problems that haunted his predecessor .

Who is to blame Rob Andrews or Jonno?The truth of the matter is teams from the southern hemisphere,South Africa,New Zealand,Australia - Samoa included,are by far the best in the world.Those countries' local rugby teams compete in what is argubly rugby's toughest competition,called The Super 14.The pace and power is so exhilarating.And it is a marvel to watch.

The reality might be kept as hazy,by the media but what we need to come to terms with is the fact that it takes time to build a competent team and Jonno is not immune either from such a scenario.

Judge him not on his three test matches against Australia,South Africa and New Zealand.The British Press banked on Danny Cipriani and what a mistake it was.The boy is still work in progress .He has the potential but not world class as yet.

So Jonno must walk softly,talk softly,but carry a big stick the next time he plays Southern hemisphere teams.

In 1995 New Zealand had unleashed a powerful baby-faced prodigy in Jonah Lomu.When the team arrived in Cape Town for the World Cup,every publication endorsed New Zealand as the runaway favourites.When Joel Stransky drove that drop goal in the last minute of the final,he sealed New Zealand's fate.So charisma does not win games.David Campese used it quite effectively because he had self believe and conviction.

It is important to note that teams are not built on assumption.Cipriani might live to rue the day he broke into the limelight.The press that made him a personality is now busy destroying him and so is Jonno.