Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:38 am  

tvoc wrote:

Me neither. The timing of the actual announcement smacks of a realisation that while the mind is still willing the body is telling him it's no longer possible at the standard he demands of himself. The whole beating the Exiles line lays somewhere between selfish and nonsense. I don't think Peacock would be the former so imagine it's closer to the latter.

Hopefully no real damage done and better to step aside now than on the 5th of July.

I suggest you watch boots&all tonight. There is a full interview with him. And you are correct to say he didn't make up his mind in January, it was actually December. He actually says he talked it over with his wife in December and McNamara, and decided he just wanted one last go at the Exiles before finishing.

You better put those knives away, as it appears Peacock is indeed selfish, if that is what you want to label him as.

Unless you are of course saying that he is just lying for tv and interview purposes.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:43 am  

Funny how many people are rushing to acclaim Peacock's decision as the right one, even suggesting he should have made it earlier. Perhaps they could have had the courage of their convictions to express such an opinion earlier, rather than hiding their belief for fear of ridicule?

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:02 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Funny how many people are rushing to acclaim Peacock's decision as the right one, even suggesting he should have made it earlier. Perhaps they could have had the courage of their convictions to express such an opinion earlier, rather than hiding their belief for fear of ridicule?

Yep. Fair credit to you on that one. You have said it for last 18 months.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:11 am  

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:47 am  

Gotcha wrote:

I suggest you watch boots&all tonight. There is a full interview with him. And you are correct to say he didn't make up his mind in January, it was actually December. He actually says he talked it over with his wife in December and McNamara, and decided he just wanted one last go at the Exiles before finishing.

I'll do that sometime but I tend to leave Boots 'N All well alone in season as I increasingly find it the least interesting part of Sky's RL output.

Gotcha wrote:

You better put those knives away, as it appears Peacock is indeed selfish, if that is what you want to label him as.

I'm surprised by that admission on the captain's part not only for himself but also for his coach. What would have happened had this 'one last go at the Exiles' ended in defeat?

Gotcha wrote:

Unless you are of course saying that he is just lying for tv and interview purposes.

I've no idea what is motivating Peacock to make these somewhat surprising statements now. Following so soon on the heels of his public spat with Garry Schofield perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised.

Peacock aside have we heard McNamara's justification for selecting him knowing he was going to quit in the middle of the series? If he indeed knew of this course of action in advance it only raises further doubts about his suitability for the role. Opportunities are too few and far between to not use every selection wisely in these 'pretend' Internationals as building blocks for the near and mid term future. If McNamara knew Peacock wasn't going to be part of that why select him for this series?

I guess it's one way for the coach and captain to undermine the worth of the Exiles concept but it shouldn't be them that let's that cat out of the bag.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:48 am  

I'd like to see Sinfield make a similar announcement.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:35 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Hopefully no real damage done and better to step aside now than on the 5th of July.

What damage could he have possibly caused by playing in that game?

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:40 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Funny how many people are rushing to acclaim Peacock's decision as the right one, even suggesting he should have made it earlier. Perhaps they could have had the courage of their convictions to express such an opinion earlier, rather than hiding their belief for fear of ridicule?

I'd still disagree with you on that one Andy, Peacock was given the option to captain his country and took it.

I don't think the England team would be in any different position to the one it is now if he had retired 2 years ago, I do think now is the time for him to retire but lets not pretend he's been holding back any world beaters from tearing the Aussies up.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:52 pm  

craigizzard wrote:

Ah. I overlooked the simple explanation.

Congratulations on your excellent detective work earlier.

I bet you're fantastic at solving cryptic clues.

Re: Peacock announces retirement : Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:57 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

I'd like to see Sinfield make a similar announcement.

He should have made that announcement several seasons ago after Noble and then Smith had both dropped him from international duties. They can't both be wrong.