Classy post. Dealt with Joubert's - um, eccentric - interpretations of the rucks and breakdowns superbly.
Keep on ruckin'!
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Except if you do you will be penalised. Offside is the lesser offence to 'rucking' as the latter seem to now encompass any use of the boot at all.
For me Joubert consistently gave one side more time at the breakdown. It was jarringly noticeable.
So only Mr Pearson is flying the flag for English refereeing with yourself then Finbar? Wayne Barnes is a QC I believe, so far be it from me to say anything libellous about him.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
There's no doubt that Joubert let off the ABs at the breakdown. He's normally better than that. It's certainly arguable that he cost the French the game. His effort in the semi was very good. I thought he and Steve Walsh, over all, were the two best performed refs of the tournament. Barnes has had his good days but he's just too erratic. And his history with forward passes is getting beyond accidental to the point of chronic. Unfortunately, in the bigger picture, the breakdown has become a ref's nightmare.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
I wasn'tOriginally Posted by Havak
The breakdown eventually turned into a farce. With no player having the right to compete for the ball, we end up with long sequences of pick-n-go like at the end of the match, lots of time where a team just defends hoping the opponent will knock-on, and we can't see as many counter attacks as we used to. I don't care much about Joubert's refereeing. I'm more worried that without the ability to compete for the ball, with scrums minimised, rugby is evolving into something else, not more spectacular than it was 24 years ago.
Clash of Civilization team member
(a civ-like game whose goal is low micromanagement and good AI)
web site http://clash.apolyton.net/frame/index.shtml and forum here on apolyton)
Someone called Keith Quinn, a veteran Kiwi rugby commentator, says he has it on "good authority" from the ABs camp that McCaw was gouged towards the end of the game, adding that Dusautoir "was close to the ruck incident". Hence implying, without saying, and with no evidence whatsoever, that Dusautoir is a gouger. Good grief. Sad days, sad days.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Although this, from M'sieur Rougerie, doesn't appear to reflect well on him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hneJ8Ws8Yuc
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Is McCaw saying he was gouged? Because frankly that is all that matters in that allegation.
I am afraid for me it sounds like sour grapes because the man got MOTM instead of a Kiwi. But I have no proof of that allegation either.
I thought the IRB awards went to two very worthy winners this year, and I hope there is no substance to the veteran kiwi 'observers' allegation. Incidentally is an observer like a manager - can't do anything but criticises in detail what other people do?
*edit* Oh and congratulations LdiC on getting away without being penalised.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Looks like Rougerie won't be investigated. The video isn't conclusive but it looks on the dodgy side.
England 9s are dropping like flies. Presumably Simpson now inherits the job for the 6N?
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
On the bench you mean? I would expect so. Amazing how many scrummies need knee operations isn't it?
But forget England - Tigers are in dire straights. Manu did a cheekbone in his first game back, Allen is out with a crocked thumb, Tait has been a disasterous signing as his weak groin has gone again and Twelvetrees is crocked too. We hardly have any fit centres left at the club!
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
I've still tipped them to win this time. I suppose only Care stands between Simpson and glory but he could get crocked again.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
It's actually unforgiveable how England have managed Youngs knee if the reports coming out of Tigers are true. By all accounts he was not fit to travel to NZ and once he was there they ditched any rehab work.
So yes only Danny Care between the flag of convenience and 'glory' gawd help us - still it means insects lose a player for call ups and that is always a good thing.
Mind you now Wales are the best side in the world they will slam the 6N surely?
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Miss me?
Returned from a canal boat holiday in Wales (near Brecon). Went with my wife, mum and dad and I still feel like I'm on the boat - the room is swaying.
So, I check the news...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9623331.stm
Sale 13-34 Leicester. 31 unanswered points for Leceister indicating that there season starts now.
However, I shouldn't get ahead of myself as there was the small matter of the RWC. It was abit of a hike to find a pub showing the RWC final. We made it to the pub at the start of the second half and noticed that NZ were only 5 points ahead. All I needed for my 19-1 bet to pay off was a French victory and the way France were playing this didn't seem too unlikely. Long story short it was very exciting and though it'd have been nice to have a nice win at the end of the RWC, it was good to see the NZ players win as they are the best and play an exciting brand of rugby. In terms of the final, I thought the French looked the better team.
I also find it amusing that we discussed Donald earlier in this thread. I did say that I thought he should be the backup to Carter and he did the business - delighted for the man. I'm not dissing Cruden (superior to Slade) as I haven't see the 1st half - yet.
So, NZ deserved winners of the RWC, but lucky on the day and a good end to a mixed bag of a RWC.
Last edited by kittenOFchaos; October 28, 2011 at 21:37.
A better quality video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=68BmgqUi6gY
Abit of bad blood after the game what with this incident and Parra taking a knee to the head.
My view is that Rougerie should have been cited for deliberately gouging McCaw.
The knee incident looked completely accidental.
The McCaw knee to Parra looked accidental.
Last edited by kittenOFchaos; October 28, 2011 at 19:31.
I know it's considered poor form to quote yourself, especially just to say "I told you so".
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
I think you are entiteld to it on this occassion. However I think this game told us more about Sale than it did about Tigers.
So ultimately the Kiwi pundit Quinn tried to finger the wrong player and Rougerie got away with some despicable foul play?
I felt it was a pretty poor RWC myself - witnessed by how far the Welsh got and how Australia finished thrid with half a squad and that dire loss to a poor Irish side. NZ are the best side in the world right now however so no arguments with the final result. And maybe the IRB can finally concentrate on growing the game now that NZs long wait is over.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Well, yes. The best team in world rugby won so justice was finally done. Beyond that, it was a wobbly old tournament.
Maybe it did say more about Sale, but Leicester's returning "WC crew" stood up, as I thought they would. They're quality in the Premiership context.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
This is aimed at me isn't it?
I've had a chance to watch the whole NZ - France game. Very entertaining with some very memorable moments.
Have to say that Trinh-Duc can't be the best option France had for 10 - far too erratic. As much good play as bad/useless.
Kaino was definitely lucky not to be penalised...apart from that the referee did pretty well I thought.
Trinh-Duc may not be the best 10 in France, but he's the only one to have been tried by Lièvremont.
There are many foreign fly halves in the France championship, however, so we don't have that many options.
Still, other options included Skrela (hurt), Michalak, Wisniewski, Beauxis. Boyet might have been tried in the past, Talès would be worth seeing. But apart from Wisniewski and maybe Talès, there aren't many other options. Maybe Doussain and Bézy from Toulouse, but Doussain plays 9 and Bézy has to compete with McAllister and Beauxis.
Overall, we don't have many fly halves, and none of them is outsanding.
Clash of Civilization team member
(a civ-like game whose goal is low micromanagement and good AI)
web site http://clash.apolyton.net/frame/index.shtml and forum here on apolyton)
T-D can be very good on his day but he mixes it up a bit. He was poor early in the WC but who knows how much that had to do with what was going on behind the scenes. I read somewhere that he wasn't popular within the squad. I have no idea if it's true. Anyway, I thought he got better. His tactical kicking became a handy weapon, especially against England.
But beyond Dan Carter, there's a shortage of top quality 10s in world rugby at the moment, and certainly a lack of depth.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Of course we are all hoping the recipient of the IRB Young player of the year award is about to alleviate that shortage a little.
Or is that just me?
And I would be most grateful Finbar if you could get your address book out and give Mr Henry a quick call. He has expressed interest in working for the RFU. Someone needs to warn the poor soul what that means in reality.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
He said this morning that he's staying in NZ in some sort of coaching mentor capacity. Anyway, the latest story has it that J**** will stay with a "freshened up" coaching team. J****, being the loyal - to the point of blindness - soul that he is, might choose to go with the coaches. Who knows?
Don't get your hopes up. Gavin Henson was IRB YPOTY exactly 10 years ago.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Way to crush a man Finbar.
I have no idea what J will do. My instinct however says he is no quitter. I also tend to think many of those sub-coaches should go - much as I admire the ex-Tigers amongst them (as the players they were not for the coaching) some of them have been in place through the whole period since 2004. And it has been pretty catastrophic on the whole.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
An England rugby supporter getting his hopes up is akin to anyone accepting a cheque drawn on a Greek bank: bound to end in tears.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
In my defence I was getting my hopes up more for Tigers than England. However if history is an indication to future probability we may well lose both Flood and Ford to the England match day squads.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Just watched an utterly bizarre Leicester-Irish game. How can Leicester have a non-try to thank for drawing a game they should have won by two streets? Because, 1-8, they're in fine shape. 9-15, with one or two exceptions, they're very very very average. That's obviously down to a cruel glut of injuries, but, still, that was a poor last quarter response to an - at best - gutsy Irish effort.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
I've since noticed that Cockers agrees.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Finally an awesome signing for Sale Sharks!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...n/15634513.stm
Very promising young lock with great potential. Dynamic around the park but not yet strong in the scrum. In fact, that pack Diamond is putting together is seriously dodgy in terms of scrummaging. Buckley is a giant but soft, Dickinson just soft. I'd be interested to know why Gray chose Sale in front of other, stronger opportunities. He won't be playing HC and the likelihood is that he won't be anytime soon.
" ... and the following morning I should see the Boks wallop the Wallabies again?" - Havak
"The only thing worse than being quoted in someone's sig is not being quoted in someone's sig." - finbar, with apologies to Oscar Wilde.
Sadly I've been swamped at work. Too swamped to react to the way we threw away the full four points last weekend.
But honestly I suppose I must ask what can we expect when we had two wingers playing in the centre?
Gray is a fine signing for Sale but I echo the surprise at where he has chosen to go. He must simply have wanted out from Glasgow come what may perhaps?
And I see Sarries have signed a supposedly big name League player (I've never heard of him but then that code puts me to sleep within a minute). I'll go on record here as saying that I do not believe Sarries can be complying with the salary cap. I'd quite like to see them investigated (actually along with the for sale Wasps I'd really like to see then go under). If only there was a reputable Professional body in England that could investigate them.
Last edited by Havak; November 11, 2011 at 04:44. Reason: I cannot spell
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
What happens if Tindall refuses to pay the obnoxious £25,000 fine he has been given for a bit of drinking and taking a kiss to the fore-head.
Currently the IRB and RFU appear intent on becoming more and more like FIFA (an organisation England should boycott - set up our own Federation).
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