Tom English ñ 4 characters
The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred : English, Tom: : Boeken The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred
Great read, a real behind the scenes look at the players, the coaches and what motivated and drove them, with some brilliant little stories thrown in for good measure The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred A warts and all account of the Grand Slam decider to end all Grand Slam deciders! You will not be disappointed! The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred Great book, not just a rugby book but a great look into the characters themselves and also what was going on arround them at the time. Very enjoyable. The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred This book is a must for all rugby fans from both sides, a great account on a great game.Good insight from all players involved.Tom English writes it really well. The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred First of all, this is from the USA so as we are attempting to learn to play rugby and especially Rugby Union type rugby, it has been the gentleman's game for over a century in Europe, with professionalism officially coming about in 1996. That actual amateurism ever existed is Avery Brundage's myth, but clearly many of the players who played Union rugby were privileged. I just love a pure game that is relatively unaltered by commercials and the theatrics of soccer.So, Mr. English has a wonderful book that is the best rugby book I've read to date, describing an epic battle between two societies within Great Britain: Scotland and England. The last of the Five Nations game played in Murrayfield, Scotland 1990, for the title and sweep of the other countries and supremacy. Inherent in these types of books is that an author takes sides, usually with the winning team, but Mr. English presents individual interviews with reminiscences related not only to the game, but involving the emergance of Scotish independance (the new anthem 'Flower of Scotland' sung for the first time with all the Scots actually knowing and singing the words) to the psychological affrontation of a slow walk onto the pitch to annoy the English, to complexities of English captain Will Carling's social life with Princess Diana, coaches abilities and inabilities to adapt to scouting information, and emphasizing the political powers that were, at the time, inflicting a Margaret Thatcher Poll Tax upon Scotland that led to her downfall only months later. Wow, and it all works!Entertaining, even for a non rugby fan. The players are fairly depicted with their personality quirks, tragedy, fears, and humor. They were amazingly clear with their memories, even after almost 20 years. There will be always the John Carlin's 'Playing the Enemy' which was the basis for 'Invictus', the motion picture, but this book has actual player and coach input and perspective. I'm impressed and have read it a second time, again having a great deal of pleasure at just the joy of the game, lives, and politics of that time. The Grudge: Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred
