Inside England Rugby - Sweet Chariot 2 [2007]

Good value

for a present

Good

I was really looking foward to this but sadly was very disappointed.I feel that the 1997 Living with Lions DVD really sets the bench mark for this type of sports documentary and i feel that Sweet Chariot 2 short changes us somewhat.On the positive side it was fascinating to see the chagning room footage of the SA tour and the army training. it was also a good insight to the team meetings.However, we should been given a greater insight into the players and coaches and got to know them better, apart from the decent featurette on David Strettle we barely get to see any of the players (unless you count the featurette on wilkinson who is probably the most uninteresting of the lot).Where are the characters? Where are the views of Moody, Faz, Chuter et al? Where are the new boys, Tait, Flood, Geraghty?Ashton features quite heavily but what about Wells and Rowntree?Compared to the original sweet chariot we see nothing of the physios. Although there is plenty of the team doctor, which is very interesting, more day to day training and medical prep could have been shown.I think what im trying to say is that i can't believe that with 8 months worth of footage this is all they have to show for it!Very good Royal Marines footage but again i just feel a bit short changed as it's only Dallaglio interviewed, we've listened to him for 12 years, lets hear what the others have to say!Lets hope the World cup dvds, soon to be launched, have some meatier content.

Sweet Chariot 2 - Inside England Rugby 2007It's astounding that Brian Ashton and the England coaches have allowed such fantastic access to make this documentary. No national team has ever opened its doors to this extent beforeFilming started during the RBS 6 Nations, at the training camp in Bath. Suddenly I was in a room with the superstars of English rugby discussing how they were going to play Brian's new and exciting brand of open-ended rugby.In those first months emotions ran from the despair of the Ireland game to the joy of the win over the French at Twickenham.Then came the tour to South Africa. A mystery virus wiped out almost half the squad (and me). The team spirit was incredible, even if the results weren't. Jason Robinson's [d1] speech the day before the first game will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.After that the squad was off to Portugal - or so the players thought. Instead the camp started with a surprise trip to the south coast for three days of "beasting" with the Marines.Sweet Chariot 2 shows the England players and management as they really are. More than that, it shows you the immense passion and pride the team - and everyone associated with it - has whenever they pull on an England shirt.

With regards to the England team, there's been a lot of doom & gloom surrounding the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This DVD shows what's really been going on behind the scenes with the team. This tracks the teams progress from when Brian Ashton took over right up to recent friendlies. Although the media & some ex-players aren't giving us a hope in France, this DVD will show the lengths the team are going to in order to defend our title this autumn. It's a brilliant in-sight into life with the England Team. It'll take you to the heart of the team; Before & after matches, team talks, training sessions, the treatment room, interviews & even whilst they try & relax. Who knows what the outcome of the World Cup will be this autumn, but certainly watching this DVD gives England fans belief & a sense that what ever happens the team will be putting everything on the line for the country. A superbly made DVD for every rugby / sports fan around the country

Many sports documentaries act almost as previews to up and coming tournaments and have a propaganda style quality to them. What I found quite refreshing about Sweet Chariot 2 was the honesty and detail contained within the dressing room conversations and interviews with Brian Ashton among others.The detail is really impressive without seeming artificial and should England defy all critics and shock the World in France 2007 it may stand as a real testament to them. As an ESRC member I guess I would say that, but compared to England soccer equivalents (Graham Taylor & Phil Neal et.al in the nineties) it is way ahead.

I thought that this DVD was excellent - it's a great watch, and really gets in there with the England Rugby Team. A good documentary like this just adds even more excitement to the World Cup. I can safely say I have know idea what DVD Grayzbeer from Switzerland was watching, but it couldn't have been this one??!! If you area true England rugby fan you will love it.