I’ve been laid up now for over a week with nothing to do but read (finally put some long running reads to bed) and do puzzles but I have been unable to write anything meaningful during this time. This has got to be the longest I’ve ever had a block for.
I mean, normally something comes out – even if it’s not related to the thing I’m working on, there usually something that is worth recording somewhere for later use but not a darn thing has made an appearance – -oh well! I suppose when you’re off it, you’re off it.
On a completely unrelated note I notice that Martin Johnson has not named Lesley in his squad for the New Zealand tour this summer (see here for full squad listing ). Now normally the England squad interests me as much as the paint drying on my hallway walls but I thought I’d make a passing comment. I like Martin Johnson and do genuinely wish him well with the England job (apart from when they’re playing Wales, of course) and I wonder if Lesley’s omission is down to one of two things: a) Johnson recognises that England currently do not have system of play that uses Lesley to his full potential and therefore has left him out until more fundamental problems with Englands game have been sorted (the selection of a more ‘regular’ union style winger makes the performance of the back line more of a given – not knocking Lesley’s ability), b) Lesley’s age and known knee problems mean that Johnson,who may actually be planning to start building his team for the next world cup from day one (shocking I know!?!), has decided that he is not one of this first choice wingers for that group and is showing some real foresight.
If the latter is true then it is a shame for Lesley, the guy was a tremendous servant to the Bulls and he deserves all the chances he gets now he has swapped codes. It’s hardly his fault that at the time he made his debut England’s play was not very expansive and he got a shortage of quality ball he thrives on.
I would also like to say that I am gutted that Gavin Henson is going to be missing the Welsh tour of South Africa (see here). Now I know he has his critics but I think he would have been really useful to have on that tour and I think we’ll miss him.
\m/