You'd want Joe Lunchbury along with Wade. He's a terrific prospect. Saw him in the baby World Cup event thing whenever it was. Shows the sort of promise that Croft did in his younger days. You don't want Varndell back for any reason whatsoever.
" ... 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 was only joshing of course. That ship sailed some time ago.
Although never say never? We took Grindal back and that is equally inexplicable?
I've not seen Lunchbury but will now keep 'em peeled for him.
I wonder if Sale can beat Quins for us? Not that I am taking Bath lightly. Tigers v Bath remains very special for both clubs.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
The stats say Lunchbury is 22, 6'6" and close to 19 stone. He apparently played against Leicester last season, his debut. Very mobile, excellent ball skills, when I saw him. He was added to the EPS to cover injuries this season.
No, Sale can't beat Quins. Based on the weekend's effort, they will murder Sale up front and score a lot of tries. On which basis, Sale will come out and win.
" ... 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.
The old Finbar tipping magic doing it's best for Tigers there.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Speaking of which, do you think Scott Hamilton has reached his use-by date? I think he has.
In terms of the relegation thingy, there are four teams left in the fight for the Championship title and promotion. Of the four, only Bristol have the requisite facilities. Obviously, should they not take the title, Newcastle are safe, as are Wasps, regardless of their fiscal position. Read that and weep.
" ... 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 am weeping as I type.
Hamilton - yes I think so. There comes a time for all players. We could do with more cover at fullback however (and yes I know Scott has been lurking on the wing a bit recently). I'm not sure about the lad Morris there as the only other option to Murphy (who lets face it is no lad himself) so we would need to replace Scott in the squad. Perhaps the Academy lads are ready. Or perhaps you know someone world class who will sign for peanuts?
I actually caught the highlights of Bath v insects so saw a little of Lunchbury. Big, mobile and committed is about what I could take from what I saw. More remarkable was Varndell, yes that Varndell, holding up Sam Vesty with a super covering tackle. If only he could do it more often?
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Vesty showboated before the line. That's what cost him. Prat.
Cipriani can play full back. I suggest you get in touch with Mr Diamond.
" ... 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 can only say how very grateful I am to Mr Diamond for making that one a complete impossibility.
Loose canons - or should I say extremely self confident and self obsessed individuals - don't often last at Tigers. Your old friend VD is the only one I can think of that lasted the course with us.
Vesty's coach put it quite nicely - you can perhaps showboat if you are Chris Ashton and have the gas to never be caught. Sam doesn't and he won't make that mistake again. It's a very nice way of saying "what a plonker". It had implications however - it gave the hated insects a bonus point.
By the way I think we are getting quite closed to a sealed top flight. On field performance is already not sufficient to gain promotion and it is no secret most club owners who have got their toys into the top flight want no relegation. It would be a sad day but I'm coming around to the idea it might well help the national side as more English talent could be brought through without the fear of the drop hanging over the make weight clubs. So - let's get Wasps relegated and then seal the top flight. Perfection.
Last edited by Havak; April 25, 2012 at 04:03.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
The relegation fear argument is a bit of a furphy in terms of developing English talent. Expediency is the order of the day, pure and simple. It's easier - and, probably, ultimately cheaper - to buy in players than develop them. Abolishing relegation will do nothing to develop English talent. The answer is to provide better funding for the Championship.
VD, twayt that he is, is also, unfortunately, the best rugby analyst I've ever come across. Odd that a brain that can be so very astute can also belch out such bollocks.
" ... 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 happens in circumstances where there are no brakes between the brain and the mouth.
You may well be right - but sealing the top flight is probably more likely I think.
Tigers must rate the lad Morris - they announced this morning that he has signed a new deal.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Ulster and Clermont to win and almost triple your stake...
Why shouldn't I put all my money on this?
I've gone Ulster and Leinster. Leinster only because it's not being played at Clermont's fortress. Could go either way, though. Ulster have some injury problems but should cope with the Scots.
" ... 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'll go Clermont myself.
I see Super 15 has adopted a stupid pool system? I watched a little of Chiefs-Hurricanes and as always the commentary was more interesting than the rugby (which to be fair was quite decent). And since when have Chiefs - long term whipping boys - been so competitive? I really am out of touch.
Tigers have ditched Cotton Traders for Canterbury as their kit supplier next season. The new strip is horrendous. Green chest panel and angular Tigers stripes. It's the worst kit I have ever seen for them (and I've seen some bad ones in the early noughties). Still it might distract the opposition - it is French club or Super 15 type garish! All we need now is the pink away strip!
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Well Ulster v Edinburgh was more entertaining than I expected as it was very fiercely competitive. I still get the feeling that the winner of the other semi is going to be strong odds on favourite?
So Tigers are about to land Vereniki Goneva, and whilst I knew about Bowden I didn't realise we were taking Thompstone from Exiles. They all look good signings on paper.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Like last weekend, I am just one result away from a big payout.
Last weekend was worth £1000s, this weekend merely £400 (not bad off a £5 stake). Last weekend relied on Edinburgh winning in the Rabo14...this time I just need Clermont to do the business.
We shall see!
Yes, S15 has a pool system. I have no idea why. It's all too confusing for simple old me. The Chiefs recruited well - they picked up SBW (who has been in fine form) amongst others, and have a very solid coaching set up now. They always had talent but were fickle. Less so, a lot less so, this season.
And Will Genia is leaving the Queensland Reds for the Western Farce for a lot of money. It just about killed Matt Giteau's career when he went to the Farce for a lot of money, but Genia is a much more mature, level-headed character, so hopefully he won't suffer. I wonder if that means David Pocock will now stay with the Farce. He's out of contract there at the end of the season.
I've been away for the weekend. Set the machine to record yesterday's Ulster-Edinburgh match and it didn't record. Bustard!The reports say it was pretty entertaining. At least I'll get to watch Leinster win this arvo. Sorry, kOc.
" ... 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.
You're looking all right at half time, kOc. Nacewa aside, Leinster aren't looking threatening enough and their scrum is creaking.
" ... 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.
Cripes, Clermont's defence just redefined gaping hole. Switched off when the penalty was called. Silly boys.
" ... 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.
Eugh...
Remarkable Leinster play at the start of the second half - particularly Rob Kearney.
Couldn't really get any closer.
Eugh...
Remarkable Leinster play at the start of the second half - particularly Rob Kearney.
Couldn't really get any closer.
You were stiff, kOc. Fofana came so close. Still, Leinster proved why they're the best in Europe. They were in trouble in the first half. And their scrum improved after Healy was subbed. Funny that. The key in the second half, particularly early on, was Sexton getting them going. Brock James just isn't that sort of 10. Clermont have to rely on the likes of Rougerie smashing over the gain line and off-loading. It didn't happen today.
" ... 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.
Another double post. This site is farked today.
Last edited by finbar; April 29, 2012 at 12:34.
" ... 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.
Further to the Will Genia story, he has now changed his mind and will stay with the Reds. Reportedly for what they were last offering, a lot less than the Farce were offering. All, if you believe what's being said, because Will was so moved by the team spirit and the singing of the team song after the weekend's victory over the Blues that he couldn't bear to leave his teammates behind.
M-hm.
" ... 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.
And D. Cipriani and the Rebels have finally parted company after he was dropped last week for ordinary form. Inevitable, really. Now he can head off to Sale early to check out the local bars.
" ... 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.
http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_...s.asp?id=34956Originally Posted by finbar
It sounds to me like the Rebels (an the Aussie setup) want O'Connor in at 10 and were happy to give Cipriani a nice send off. I did say they were making O'Connor into a 10, but would anyone on this thread agree with me...
I don't remember offering an opinion on it?
So Chiefs are in good nick. I think I will make them my S15 side of choice.
And thereby with my legendary tipping powers I ensure they will now sink without trace?
An all Irish final then - got to back Ulster. Like an underdog me.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
Typically, just about everything in Cipriani's quotes is delusional. Apparently he finally spat the dummy once and for all after being dropped despite the fact that O'Connor is injured. He was a good contributor last season, despite missed tackles and suspensions, but pretty lacklustre this season. Perhaps the arrival this season at the Rebels of bigger names than him finally did for that fragile ego.
With Quade Cooper unlikely to be ready for the Test matches, O'Connor probably would have started at 10 for the Wallabies. He filled in there last season. Now that he's unavailable till at least the second Test, Kurtley Beale may start at 10 if Berrick Barnes doesn't. Beale started life as a 10 when he went straight from school to the Waratahs. He couldn't handle the step up in intensity - he was barely 18 at the time - and moved to 15. These days, more mature, he would be a more than fine replacement 10, though obviously it would rob the Wallabies of his counter-attacking skills. Barnes is the best tactician of all the possible 10s even if he's sometimes too quick to resort to kicking.
I notice that English cricket has changed the qualification criteria. Arrive in England at 18 or older and you have to wait 7 years to qualify. Should English rugby adopt the same criteria they will struggle to field a team.
" ... 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.
Sounds awfully like restraint of trade to me - should be very easy to overturn.
Eight out of thirty three not born in England. A couple of them still qualify as English under international law (via parentage). There are probably less native born Australians in the Wallaby squad. Maybe. There you got your bite.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
But it took 4 hours and 21 minutes. I'm slipping.
" ... 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.
Not at all dear chap. I had to actually do some work this morning. I bit as soon as I read and your league position therefore remains intact in my books.
It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
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