Last minute penalties

Oh, how nice it would be for a re-run of 2003, when we knew we had the game won going into the final few minutes. But unfortunately I'm not sure it will be like that....most likely it could come down to a crucial passage of play towards the end of the game.

Last week, with 3 minutes remaining and with England looking relatively safe in defence, Joe Worsley decided to scoop the ball back with his hand in a ruck, thus giving Australia the chance of a match winning score. This may be a little (or a lot!) harsh, but I wonder if Worsley is the sharpest tool in the box. His clapping to the crowd as he was substituted having just injured a Uraguayan in the last World Cup being another example.

So at the end of the working week and with nothing to worry about this weekend other than preparation to take in two huge games of rugby, what did I find keeping me from sleeping past 6:30 this morning? I couldn't help but fear Worsley will do it again!

As all players who have played the game will know, as an attacking team goes through phase after phase and is making ground, particularly in the opposition 22, there is a gradual need for the defensive side to take more risks to stop them. As they go through the phases, 3 points against sometimes is the best option, if you can get away without a sin bin as well. So the players need to use common sense to decide when to take risks that could result in a penalty or even a sin bin. And the impact of not having any common sense is magnified in those last 5 minutes with 3 points or less between the teams.

Before the tournament I would have thought Lewis Moody could be the one to cause us concern when it came to giving away vital penalties in the final few minutes of a match. What woke me up with a start this morning was the realisation that Worsley is far more likely to give a vital penalty away, and given Ashton's use of the replacement bench so far, Worsley is more likely to be on the pitch in those last few minutes than Moody.

I can only hope that it was a dream and not a premonition!