Inga Tuigamala: Sad day when crowd's roar is game highlight

Opinion

Last weekend was a poor one for international rugby and I can't see it getting better at Twickenham on Sunday morning.

The highlight of last weekend for me was to witness the unbridled enthusiasm of the crowd watching the All Whites beat Bahrain.

The experience was like watching a football scene from Europe and as a proud Kiwi these scenes were wonderful to witness. I was jumping around my bedroom while watching the game.

Apart from the match between Australia and Ireland, rugby did it tough.

I can't think of anything really good to say about the match in Milan, where the All Blacks beat Italy.

The referee blew for everything and a number of young All Blacks who have got far more talent than they were allowed to show were left marooned.

England are at a low ebb and there are calls for coach Martin Johnson's head, but with Jonny Wilkinson there I still think they pose a bit of a threat.

England are desperate - they have their backs to the wall. To me, Wilkinson's presence actually gives them every chance of winning.

Ultimately though, I think the result will come down to how well or poorly the All Blacks play.

But with England sure to rely on what is always a physically strong pack, and Wilkinson's tactical nous, they aren't about to start trying to play a beautiful game themselves and the All Blacks will struggle to play an expansive game successfully in those circumstances.

International rugby took a big hit last weekend and the situation wasn't helped by the refereeing at the San Siro Stadium.

The rules are also under scrutiny although I do believe that much of what happens is in the hands of the world's top coaches.

One of the problems, though, is that it is now too risky for players to charge off on their own, to take a risk, because the merest hint of isolation means you are almost certainly going to turn over possession under the current rules.

It was the risk takers, men like David Campese, who used to make rugby so enticing to watch.

Look at the stars from Auckland and the Blues over the years - John Kirwan, Joeli Vidiri, Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

But to take the sort of risks they did invites trouble in the modern era, where the cardinal sin is to be cut adrift from your support.

The game thrived on players who were able to think for themselves on the field, and that's what is missing these days. Maybe the coaches need to find ways of giving our players their head again.

As for Sunday's contest, there is nothing better than smashing England at Twickenham, beating the enemy in front of their home crowd. This is a fantastic opportunity to make things a lot worse for Johnson.

The rivalry is never-ending - there is just something about English rugby that Kiwis don't like.

Let's hope that a guy like Zac Guildford, the big new hope on the wing for the All Blacks, gets a decent chance to show what he can do.

Guildford really impressed me against Wales. I think he is a player that will go from strength to strength. He has a terrific work rate along with that priceless sporting commodity, speed.

* Inga Tuigamala played 19 tests for the All Blacks