Julian Guyer

AFP cricket and rugby reporter -- looks like Dylan Thomas (apparently), doesn't write like him (definitely). Views my own. Retweets not an endorsement.

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Kane Williamson retires from New Zealand duty as you'd expect - no guard of honour and no fuss. Remember years ago @HomeOfCricket when @GeoffreyBoycott said: "He's so good, he could bat on uncovered pitches." No higher praise. @AFP piece via @SuperSportTV https://t.co/Qwe8EnpNor

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Cricket's relationship to alcohol as inextricably linked to that of sugar and cornflakes in a box of Frosties. England also have several official drinks partners. Still, easy to understand why Key now pondering a booze ban. My @AFP piece via @Yahoo https://t.co/2z3jUjboFp

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

So, this was the backdrop that greeted those of us at the Oval this morning for England cricket MD Rob Key's first press conference since Stokes and Atkinson broke curfew

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

One unintended consequence of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson breaking curfew is to have overshadowed Friday's start of a Women's T20 World Cup already a bit under the radar. My @AFP preview of what looks an open event via @Yahoo https://t.co/sohX8FgX30 pix @JustinTallis @T20WorldCup

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Thought being a sports reporter meant I'd avoid writing about nights out drinking gone wrong, But after Flintoff and the pedalo, England rugby and the dwarf-tossing etc had a few goes prior to Ben Stokes latest. My @AFP report via @newscomauHQ https://t.co/3AuBQVWoUi #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Ben Stokes says the pitch for the 150th Test @HomeOfCricket "not ideal", with even @MCCOfficial acknowledging the issue after England's 115-run win over New Zealand. My @AFP piece via @SuperSportTV https://t.co/OqjqU01LNg #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Gus Atkinson on the honours board @HomeOfCricket once again as England thrash New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test. My @AFP report, including thoughts from Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes and Tom Latham, via @SuperSportTV https://t.co/cnuZdYuFs9 #ENGNZ

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

The recalled Ollie Robinson in the wickets again as England edge closer to a win over New Zealand in the first Test @HomeOfCricket on a gloomy third day where rain means fewer than 10 overs are bowled. My @AFP report via @yahoo https://t.co/Qn8lMVIczF pix, @TopshotKirk #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

@hashmi_shahid Thank you Shahid, very kind.

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

@BLACKCAPS not the only New Zealanders involved in the 1st Test against @englandcricket @HomeOfCricket, with Meg Lay now a member of the Lord's groundstaff and one of the few women involved in the trade. My @AFP interview via @Yahoo https://t.co/e1PQcy047r, pix @TopshotKirk

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Gus Atkinson takes two wickets after debutant opener Emilio Gay's valuable fifty leaves England pressing for victory in the 1st Test against New Zealand at Lord's. My @AFP report via @France24_en https://t.co/Y5Mhqpoy0N Thanks to @brando202 and @Ad51Sol for their input #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Reported on over a third of the 150 Tests @HomeOfCricket but rarely an opening day like this. New Zealand close on 61-6 in reply to England's 140, with the recalled Ollie Robinson taking 4-10. My @AFP report via @rtl_today , https://t.co/Pj9p3oQWa1, pix @TopshotKirk #ENGvNZ

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Ben Stokes defends Jofra Archer's absence from England's squad for 1st Test v NZL and warns players could be driven away from international cricket by attempts to limit their IPL commitments. My @AFP piece from @HomeOfCricket via @SuperSportTV https://t.co/vim2FpoVQK #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Something almost as calming about a Kane Williamson press conference as there is watching him bat. Here he is on what makes @HomeOfCricket unique, possibly ahead of his last appearance at Lord's, in my @AFP piece via @France24_en https://t.co/GMvz6dDkYp #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Thanks to all concerned at Rothesay for organising Friday's get-together with Brendon McCullum, who says there are lessons for England to learn from his native New Zealand's approach to Test cricket. My @AFP piece via @RFI_En, https://t.co/Q1ZqpHvLln, pic @TopshotKirk #ENGvNZL

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

After Arthur Lewis' death, watched again the highlights of him captaining Wales to a 25-9 win at home to England in the 1973 Five Nations. French referee Georges Domercq controls the game with clear hand-signals and barely a word. Something to be said (or not) for that approach.

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

Bordeaux's superb first half meant this was less of an issue than in many games, but it is tough for those who are not native English speakers to absorb the amount of detailed instructions issued by Karl Dickson at the speed needed to avoid conceding a penalty for non-compliance.

[Stephen Jones @stephenjones9]

The referee in Bilbao to me was a mystery appointment. There are three other English refs with way more authority and sympathy and who can bring out a much better game. so much of the second half seemed to be a search for a consolation prize for the palpably inferior team

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

@ViewfromtheBpod Think this is a pretty fair summary, particularly as it highlights the failings of the England management in their treatment of Crawley. Would have been better for them, and quite likely Crawley too, had they not been so obsessed with the Ashes to the exclusion of all else.

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

For what it's worth, here's my @AFP report of the England v Argentina match via @rugby_ie https://t.co/UWQ1k4ZCEv

[Julian Guyer @stGuyer]

It's very easy as a rugby reporter to get carried away by a back playing well, but I covered the Argentina game and thought Ojomoh displayed the playmaking creativity in midfield England have long craved. Certainly worth another look. See a rather better-informed observer agrees.

[Jeremy Guscott @JeremyGuscott]

Max Ojomoh being left out of Borthwick’s latest England training squad feels a strange one. How do you go from man of the match v Argentina six months ago to not making a large England squad?
England’s biggest issue in the Six Nations, apart from defence, wasn’t getting into the opposition 22, it was finishing once they got there. Four defeats, plenty of pressure, not enough points. So leaving out a player who creates tries, scores tries and passes the eye test feels odd.
Clearly Steve Borthwick is measuring players against very specific metrics and standards behind the scenes, and whatever they are, Ojomoh hasn’t ticked enough boxes. But from the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand.
Sometimes rugby people overcomplicate what’s in front of them. Ojomoh looks good enough. More than good enough, actually.