The Changing Room 2018

As you sit upon the changing bench, gathering your thoughts,
Staring at the concrete floor, focusing on nought.
This is just another game, but on a bigger stage,
Take your chance to write  your name on this historic page.
Prepared for peak performance,
Mentally you bet
Ready for the challenge, crouch mind set!

Your feet are gently tapping, no nerves would be untrue,
But the sound of studs on concrete floor what does it mean to you?

There's no more nervous chatter, no banter to be found
Nerves transformed and channeled to that haunting tapping sound
Of studded boots on hallowed ground that echoes all around.
Calm yourself, control your thoughts, you mustn't peak too early.
There's experience in this changing room, deep breaths will now help surely.

You are only as good as this next game,
To the grind stone once again
But remember your magnificence of all past games and then,
Your skill and dedication will certainly bring more.
Bottle all those positives your greatest still in store,
This is your time get ready, you'll play your best game yet;
Come on England's finest crouch bind set!

Tight bonding in the changing room, just one last final squeeze
As you step out of the changing room to Twickenham's sweetest breeze.
That sound of studs now echoes as you walk out one by one
But you know you are together as you stride in union
To the chants and cheers of England; Jerusalem begun.

Remember, we are with you, you live our dreams and hopes
The whole squad and you lucky ones, you 15 Glorious blokes
You know you're not alone as you wear our English Rose
Come on England's finest, let's carry them home!

Eng v RSA 2018

Voracious pride in the Red Red Rose

Courageous side to take on those 

Who come from Africa's most Southern 

shores

Determined to build on and settle scores. 

Cornishmen, Lancastrians and Yorkshire men

Forget their rivalries to combine and then

Blend with Midlanders, Londoners, Cumbria's best

Along with strongest from South West

Back bone built, strong stoney spine

Like hills and mountains of Pennines 

(Aided by some residency rules

To ensure we have the sharpest tools)

Tradesmen craft their works of art

By executing winning start

Precise delivery of strike moves slick

Rebuild the fortress brick by brick

Powerful Boks they lay in wait

Derail the Chariot at home gates

Portugal prepared in perfect camp

Lay marker down and authority stamp! 

To the Winners

To be a winner, you need a loser!
Someone who plays their part,
Gives their heart,
Not the plodder, nor the fodder.
Who give whole soul,
To achieve their goal,
But fall short of desired result;
There's no insult,
Their's is no shame,
They made the game!
In coming second,
It's not what they reckoned,
Not what intended,
But how it ended.
The valiant, the vanquished, the anguished
Their light extinguished.
The inches, the yard, the feet.
The difference between the win - defeat!
There is no shame, be not abuser,
To be a winner you need a loser!

Not everyone can win,
The margin can be thin.
For some the best team won.
For others,
Wrong side of coin's toss, a loss;
Hangs round the neck this albatross!
Nothing is left out on the field,
Is it fate, where victory's sealed?
They toil, they try with all their might,
Put up such ferocious fight,
Compete in head to head;
Come second when all is said!
On the day, it's not their day,
They'll have their day one day.
The wait maybe much longer
Their come back will be stronger.
Experience - hope you learned;
Respect it must be earned.
Not everyone can win you see,
Winners enjoy  sweet victory;
Losers back to the drawing board,
But please God don't be overawed;
The Phoenix rises, spring surprises
Your time will come it's not a crisis.
Congratulate the victors with their feat,
Be magnanimous in defeat.
Onto sorrow drowning down the boozer,
Every winner needs a loser!

England v Ireland 2018

Your cabbage patch will be our Green,
To haunt your Championship broken dream.
Irish pride and Celtic gall,
To crush your crumbling fortress wall.

Connaught clans and men of Munster,
Leinster greats and players of Ulster!
Grand Slam! And give a bloody nose,
To those who wear the white and rose! 

What goes around, comes to the ground
In Twickenham wondrous fortress found,
The pastures of our metal here;
Foundry of the English dear!

Been there, done that, how mighty fall,
But backs now gainst the fortress wall;
Breakdown the bushel. Oh see it's light!
Tis time for English spirit, fight! 

Calcutta Cut

England play their Championship course
Sandwiched strength and mighty force
We're with em all take ball in hand
Play like you're in Royal Lytham St Annes
Birds eye view from up in Belfry
Birkdale bet against this gentry
Sunningdale shines our Wentworth way
English clubs drive Scots fairway

Will you make Calcutta Cut
Troon Tensions rise as start build up
St Andrews golfing patron saint
Blue faced the Saltire sacred paint
On faces. Hit that albatross
Avenge revenge for years of loss
Gleneagles dare in Muirfield
Turnberry tide in Murrayfield

Scotland v England 2018

To one and all homed in the Glens,

Highlands, Lowlands, citizens.

All hands of each and every Clan,

Each woman, child and kilted man;

Go send a message to Eddie's men,

That maybe they should think again! 

From Islay crofters, bothays, lochs,

Time for Scotland awe and shock.

Argyll and Bute here are your orders:

All hail to those who come from Borders! 

Gather all your curling stones,

Pick up crowning stone in Scone.

Go send a message to Eddie's men,

That maybe they should think again!

Once more unto the Borders call,

Up and over Hadrian's Wall;

Time to tame marauding throng,

The Thistle with their Flowers' song. 

Brute force to calm Robert the Bruce,

Quell and drain of their life's juice;

Soft powerful passing with twinkle toes,

Go flower yourself, oh English Rose! 

Message received and understood.

We've thought and Chariots are here for good!

Front Row love

Scrum down, for the Rose and Crown,
Scrum drill, till you've had your fill,
Stress test, of the live contest,
Don't drive, into the tight head's chest!

Scrum down, for one up man ship:
Squeeze tight, don't let your binding slip,
No twist, a chance of yellow card;
Don't dip, or you'll hit ground hard.

Don't bore, into the hookers head,
Pinged, penalty, three points instead!

Drive straight, into this set piece 

Don't concede, or give penalties cheap.

Be proud, when we crouch bind set
Engage are we ready yet
Squeeze tight for a secondary shove

Scrum down for hard graft with love!

England V Wales 2018

The Welsh destroyer of our world cup dreams,
Can they rip grand slam thoughts at the seams?
Scotland to the sword they've come for more
To steal the championship from our door!

Revenge is a dish best served cold
The memories return, they'd remained untold.
September day, a burning ember
The dragons fire oh we remember!

Men of Harlech's battle calling,
Ready to give an English mauling.
Injury depleted hearts of desire
Heat of Sosban Fach it did inspire!

The heartache, the pain we were undone.
With Welsh passion we were overcome.
The twisting knife, no last ditch kick
Lineout lost, cut to the quick!

But now new fortress foundations laid
A Phoenix rises, debts be repaid.
New General Jones the wily fox,
Can fix with new tricks in his box!

Hartley hares from scrum to scrum,
The towering pack knows what be done.
Finer balance in the new back row
As we now watch Simmons racing so.

Creative backs, stern in defence
Can send the Welsh from whence
They came, over Brecon Beacon Hill
Oh take your wilting daffodil!

St George send David Cardiff bound
Chase and Harry go and hound
Don't let them settle, no quick ball
Cheered on by the Twickenham roar!

The backs with power and twinkle toes,
They wear with pride our English Rose.
The talking's done, no more time to speak
English scythe cut short the leek!

Almighty clash it will unfold,
Take your bow of burning gold
To pierce the heart of dragons fire
Inspired by chariot of desire!

Momentum building Eddie's decree
At home again let demons free
Erase from minds World Cup headstone
Come on England let's #CarryThemHome!

Six Nations 2018

So as ye all take to the pubs, 
And gather round TVs in clubs;
Jostle for spots and shoulders rub:
Six Nations is upon us! 
Feast on this,  oh tasty grub, 
Who'll take this seasons honours? 

With all the pressure, who will cope? 
We'll stand and cheer we all hope, 
That victory is within our scope;
For each and everyone. 
But who will push the envelope, 
To become the champions? 

Ireland fancied within fair shout, 
But never rule the Dragon out! 
Scotland too are thereabouts. 
If France turn up, be vital, 
Italy do they have the clout, 
Or England to retain the title? 

Whatever country, assured one thing. 
Together with pride we'll all sing, 
Around each fortress Anthems ring, 
Come on whoever, we all cried
Impartial with our broadcasting
Six Nations time, enjoy the roller-coaster ride! 

The Changing Room - Richmond

As you sit upon the changing, bench gathering your thoughts,
Staring at the concrete floor, focusing on nought.
This is just another game, but on a bigger stage,
Take your chance to write  your name on this historic page.
Prepared for peak performance,
Mentally you bet
Ready for the challenge, crouch mind set!

Your feet are gently tapping, no nerves would be untrue,
But the sound of studs on concrete floor what does it mean to you?
Nerves transformed and channeled to that haunting tapping sound
Of studded boots on hallowed ground that echoes all around.
Calm yourself, control your thoughts, you mustn't peak too early.
There's experience in this changing room, deep breaths will now help surely.

You are only as good as this next game,
To the grind stone once again
But remember your magnificence of all past games and then,
Your skill and dedication will certainly bring more.
Bottle all those positives your greatest still in store,
This is your time get ready, you'll play your best game yet;
Come on Richmond's finest crouch bind set!

Tight bonding in the changing room, just one last final squeeze
As you step out of the changing room to Richmond's sweetest breeze.
That sound of studs now echoes as you walk out one by one
But you know you are together as you stride in union
To the chants and cheers of Richmond; the roaring has begun.
Remember, we are with you, you live our dreams and hopes
The whole squad and you lucky ones, you 15 Glorious blokes
You know you're not alone as you wear Red, Black, Old Gold
Come on Richmond's finest such a sight behold!