Rugby - Advantage!

[Caligastia]

Half time - Crusaders 18 Brumbies 7

Well done Crusaders, so far they've managed to keep the Brumbies most back in their half, but will the Brumbies get enough of a lift when they bring Owen Finnegan on?

[finbar]

Halftime in the crucial Brumbies -v- Crusaders match:

Crusaders 18
Brumbies 7

The Brumbies don't look like winning and don't deserve to unless they lift their game 75% in the second half. The Crusaders started the game with replacement #s 8, 9, 10 and 12. They lost their #10 to the sin bin after 2 minutes for a coathanger tackle, replied to a Brumbies' try in that 10 minutes, and haven't looked back since. Yet again, the Brumbies are following a good performance last week with a shocker. The story of the Australian Super 12 season.

[Caligastia]

Crusaders win 28-21!!!

[finbar]

Fulltime:

Crusaders 28 -d- Brumbies 21

Well, the Brumbies came out and played 250% better for the first 8 minutes of the second half, scoring two tries with Brumbies' play of old. Owen Finnegan, coming on at half time, gave them enormous drive. Then, they stopped again. The Crusaders defence never gave them another chance.

So the Brumbies are out of the comp for the season. The truly worrying thing, though, is that Steve Larkham left the field in the second half with what looked like another very serious left arm or elbow or shoulder injury.

[Havak]

He should sit out RWC.

Can I send him Peter Wheelers card?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
He should sit out RWC.

It looked ugly. He's had operations on both the left shoulder and left elbow before. He may have no choice. Still, at least Owen Finnegan has come back with a vengeance. His two appearances back since his shoulder reconstruction have been terrific. I'd forgotten what a force - in the legitimate sense of the word - he could be.

Can I send him Peter Wheelers card?

There was some vague talk of Japan at one point. Kefu is off up there after the WRC.

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Originally posted by Havak
Dermott does sound like the perfect stress relieving pet. Must be quite therapeutic when the old writers block hits?

Put it this way, it does wonders for the concentration when, sitting at the computer, one gets thumped in the nuts by a giant hairy paw demanding a pat.

I shall not name him then. There are a few up here who can handle drops ? O?Gara, Humphries, Murphy, Jones, Hodgson, Grayson, even *gulp* Healey. Even Neil Back come to that. I suspect it?s a more integral componenet of the UK game than it is the Aussie one?

Actually, even Kiwis seem to be better at it than Australians. You see quite a few from the Kiwi S12 teams.

There was a brillant quote from ABs Assistant Coach Robbie Deans on the matter today: "I've been trying all year to stop my forwards from drop kicking it. Guess I'm buggered now!"

I recall his side getting into a commanding position over England and then losing it

Yes, that happens sometimes when you're way under strength and out of form playing the supposed best team in the world.

I actually think there are too many looking this way post RWC ? remember the English and French players will be heading home too ? only the cream of the senior Wallabies will find slots up here ? and mainly backs

One of the NH club bods said something similar - that the big cash river was drying up.

(have you heard any rumours of forwards thinking of retiring up here ? I haven?t)

You wouldn't want any of them. Not front rowers anyway. Tom Bowman - lock - might be looking elsewhere at the end of the season. He nearly did last season. Good player. Most of the other forwards of any value are relatively young and wouldn't be going anywhere yet.

Sadly English rugby continues to shame itself in some ways ? check this out.

Is it the first step to a total kybosh? Or just a delay in the promotion? And how can it be a tied vote? Isn't there a deciding vote?

[Havak]

It would be such a waste for a talent like that to go to Japan. We'd take Finnegan too - if he keeps that aggression channeled he could easily fit into the Tigers mould.

Good to see Finny back after a career threatening injury. I still have some grudges with him about certain 'tackles' (red mist remains his problem?) but it can;t be denied he adds something to the Wallabies.

I wish Larkham a speedy recovery too - RWC needs him really. The alternates (McCrae, Flatley?) are not in the same league IMO.

[Havak]

one gets thumped in the nuts by a giant hairy paw demanding a pat.

That creates quite an image.

"I've been trying all year to stop my forwards from drop kicking it. Guess I'm buggered now!"

I’m guessing he was a forward himself.

Yes, that happens sometimes when you're way under strength and out of form playing the supposed best team in the world.

No ‘supposed’ about it. Number one in the world and with the scalps of the other five in the top six sides in just over four months. They are there by merit. It’s up to the Wallabies next month to remind them what losing to Australia is like – most of the current team have not experienced it after all.

Besides, and I suspect you know it, no top class team should ever lose from the commanding position the Wallabies reached – form and strength aside.

One of the NH club bods said something similar - that the big cash river was drying up.

Kind of. Only those clubs who took the business side of Rugger forward after 1995 are truly viable. At the moment that’s only Tigers and Saints (and even Saints have a ‘backer’). But it’s not all doom – several other clubs are almost viable.

As noted recently France are the bigger issue for your probable desertions now – no wage cap and slack corporate sponsorship laws (meaning players can be employed by third parties effectively) mean they have cash to burn sometimes.

Is it the first step to a total kybosh? Or just a delay in the promotion? And how can it be a tied vote? Isn't there a deciding vote?

The official line is it’s a delay. Most fans thing it’s an attempted Kybosh because Bath are down there. It’s disgraceful.

No there is no deciding vote, it’s the structure of English rugby. English Rugby Ltd runs the Premiership but it’s a joint venture between the RFU and the English Rugby Partnership (I think that is correct) which is an organisation that consists of the incumbent 12 top flight clubs. RFU and ERP get six voting seats each (senseless but heh thats Englihs rugby administration for you).

Clash of interests? You bet! Be grateful you live where the ARU can be fairly autocratic. If we ever got our administration in proper gear we'd play far less games over a shorter period leaving our top players fresh and keen every time we played you.

[LDiCesare]

As noted recently France are the bigger issue for your probable desertions now – no wage cap and slack corporate sponsorship laws (meaning players can be employed by third parties effectively) mean they have cash to burn sometimes.

For a few players, maybe, but overall, France has a much shorter rugby audience than England, so the budget is not going to be huge. There are a few clubs who might try to find an international, but right now I can't see who or for what position.

[Tamerlin]

Thanks LDiCesare you have answered before I had the opportunity to do so...

I would add that the cash flow of the French clubs is lower than the cash flow of the British clubs who have known a dramatic inflation in the past few years. Players are now crossing the channel from both sides because the salaries are more or less even (though I believe that french salaries are still lower, at least a bit lower)...

What!!! 50% chances only to win the H-Cup?

If I didn't knew the people here I would believe you would try to make a fool of me...

About the french championship this is admittedly another matter.

Come on Dermott keep trying and train yourself to aim as best as you can!





AND COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHY I AM NOT RECEIVING E-MAILS TO WARN ME OF A REPLY IN THIS B***** F****** THREAD!


Spit!


Ding!

[finbar]

Stupid double post!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It would be such a waste for a talent like that to go to Japan. We'd take Finnegan too - if he keeps that aggression channeled he could easily fit into the Tigers mould.

I don't think the Larkham Japan thing was serious. But the Japanese are offering serious money apparently. Finnegan plans to finish his career in Ireland. He's got a zillion relatives there. I'm not sure which club.

Good to see Finny back after a career threatening injury. I still have some grudges with him about certain 'tackles' (red mist remains his problem?) but it can;t be denied he adds something to the Wallabies.

Yes, the red mist has been his problem. It's such a fine line between the sort of aggression that can work for the good and can undo all the good work. By which I mean, the difference is obvious, but from the inside looking out, it's obviously a line too easy to cross.

He's only played two halves since he's been back but he actually seems to have come back a little wiser. There were several opportunities last night - when he was being rucked - for the red mist to emerge. He didn't react. He's an intelligent man, perhaps he's realised he's nearing the end and he wants to maximise his opportunities. Again, watching last night, I'd forgotten what wonderful hands he has for a very big man.

Anyway, if he stays fit, and doesn't succumb to the red mist, he has solved our blindside flanker problem. Which leaves openside as the usual battle between George Smith and Phil Waugh. They're both in good form. George has been pulling off some of his usual miraculous - and legal - pilfers at the breakdown. I suspect that's what will keep him ahead of Waugh.

I wish Larkham a speedy recovery too - RWC needs him really. The alternates (McCrae, Flatley?) are not in the same league IMO.

No they're not. Tradesmanlike as against freakishly gifted. Matt Giteau - whom we've mentioned before, and whom I promise is now realising his potential - has been having a terrific season at inside centre. The reports this morning are that Larkham will miss at least the first three Tests, so I wouldn't be surprised if Giteau is given a crack at the job. He has the potential to be much more than tradesmanlike.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The official line is it’s a delay. Most fans thing it’s an attempted Kybosh because Bath are down there. It’s disgraceful.

If it happpened here, the offended party would be straight off to court waving the Trade Practices Act.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

For a few players, maybe, but overall, France has a much shorter rugby audience than England, so the budget is not going to be huge. There are a few clubs who might try to find an international, but right now I can't see who or for what position.

How then can Perpignan afford Dan Luger and Dan Herbert and Scott Robertson in one single purchase? When they would already be paying Manny Edmonds a lot more than peanuts? Or is Perpignan a one-off?