Rugby - Advantage Over!

[finbar]

George Smith is going to start at blindside, with Waugh at openside, on Saturday night. It's going to be fascinating to watch.

Burke retains fullback, Steve Kefu is out of the centres - fair enough, he hasn't been cutting the mustard - replaced by Elton Flatley, who moves to inside centre to make room for Larkham at fly half. So we have a line-up from scrummy to outside centre of Gregan, Larkham, Flatley and Rogers. Well, they're all talented players with very good, quick hands. And with Tuquiri starting on the wing, we've got a long line of talented ball-handlers. If our forwards can give them some protection for once, we could see some t'riffic movement of the ball.

Stirling Mortlock aside, I'd say it's about the best team we can put on the park.

[Havak]

If you were not talking about my english friends I would have laughed to tears.

Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway. I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

What I forgot to mention is that I’ve got a chance to go to the RWC warm up game in Wales in August.



Sadly whilst one of my mates is going to Paris I couldn’t swing that one – although I’m still working on making Tigers fixture there in December.

Strangely enough this is the kind of fouls that is closely watched at in the French championship and the French referees signal them, and they are right to do so.

Strangely it is only targeted very occasionally in the English Premiership – a similar level of incidence to the one Finbar remarked on at International level in fact.

Tony Spreadbury? Hmmm. He’s pretty picky in my opinion. Last time I saw him he over reffed the scrum – the last thing Saturdays game needs. Not a natural choice for a free running old-SH-Firm clash. He’s no spring chicken either so Eddie may talk about fitness a bit. Caligastia will hate him and he is likely to pick up the occasional abuse of the offside laws. He’s also fairly keen on players returning to their feet quickly.

Of course his redeeming feature is he is English of course – so he must be pretty perfect, all the above simply qualifying as minor flaws.

I’m not sure on my thoughts about the margin. I don’t expect the ABs to be rampant – they have a poor record in Sydney and the Wallabies are coming off an awfully disappointing showing last time out – and we all know that means we could see a totally different side?

Interesting to see Frozzy expect the Maori’s to rout Canada. Don’t think it will happen myself. Sure England’s third side beat them on the way to lifting the Churchill cup in June – but England’s second string beat a Maori side expected to trounce them too.

Canada have a fairly solid pack, a decent scrummy as I recall and a winger who can score from anywhere on the park. They lack playmakers behind the scrum. Maori’s by twenty I would guess – but expect Canada to register tries and don’t be totally surprised if the Maori’s mess up.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway. I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

Serge Blanco declared in the Midi Olympique that England or France will win the RWC...

Sometimes, coping with Tamerlin, I know how he feels.

[Havak]

What Finbar didn't tell us is that Steve Lander is running the line for Spreadbury. Expect a highly visible intervention in front of the cameras at some point from a man we call 'superstar' up here. In an ironic depreciating way of course.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Finbar is using rose tinted glasses anyway.

With wide-angled lenses if I wanted to see the porcine chaps lounging on their banana lounges in their cheap Spanish resort.

I have pointed out several times in your absence how strong the English forwards are and how the French are the nearest to them in that regard.

Odd. I must have had a spot of glaucoma that posting day.

What I forgot to mention is that I’ve got a chance to go to the RWC warm up game in Wales in August.

Celebrating a trip to Wales? You need to get out more.

BTW, where is Lincolnshire? It's where Bernie Taupin - Elton John's lyricist - was born.

Sadly whilst one of my mates is going to Paris I couldn’t swing that one – although I’m still working on making Tigers fixture there in December.

Now that would be something to dance about. Well, not Paris, but anywhere else in the country.

Strangely it is only targeted very occasionally in the English Premiership – a similar level of incidence to the one Finbar remarked on at International level in fact.

I shall be watching closely again on Saturday night. I would bet 5 Civ Gold now that someone will beat the ball across the line without penalty.

Tony Spreadbury? Hmmm. He’s pretty picky in my opinion. Last time I saw him he over reffed the scrum – the last thing Saturdays game needs. Not a natural choice for a free running old-SH-Firm clash. He’s no spring chicken either so Eddie may talk about fitness a bit. Caligastia will hate him and he is likely to pick up the occasional abuse of the offside laws. He’s also fairly keen on players returning to their feet quickly.

Beaut. A fat old Pom wheezing his way around the park.

Of course his redeeming feature is he is English of course – so he must be pretty perfect, all the above simply qualifying as minor flaws.

Beaut. A fat old Pom wheezing his way around the park.

I’m not sure on my thoughts about the margin. I don’t expect the ABs to be rampant – they have a poor record in Sydney and the Wallabies are coming off an awfully disappointing showing last time out – and we all know that means we could see a totally different side?

I think it has to be at least 10 points. Bear in mind, too, that we need to make the game a betting proposition. As I said, I doubt anyone would back the Wallabies with 7 points. I wouldn't. Thus there would be absolutely no betting interest for us.

Interesting to see Frozzy expect the Maori’s to rout Canada. Don’t think it will happen myself. Sure England’s third side beat them on the way to lifting the Churchill cup in June – but England’s second string beat a Maori side expected to trounce them too.

The one with the, um, histories?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Serge Blanco declared in the Midi Olympique that England or France will win the RWC...

That drunk?

I notice you've disappeared again. Lying in an ice bath to ease the sunburn blisters? Down the chemist buying a tonne of sunburn cream?

Oh, and I think I've just about talked Mrs finbar into buying a place over there. I'll email you about it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
What Finbar didn't tell us is that Steve Lander is running the line for Spreadbury. Expect a highly visible intervention in front of the cameras at some point from a man we call 'superstar' up here. In an ironic depreciating way of course.

I would've told you if I'd known. Face it - have you seen a game recently where the chap on the line hasn't blundered onto the field in search of a moment of television glory? Usually for a totally spurious reason? One of the prices we're paying for the expanded television coverage.

[Havak]

Odd. I must have had a spot of glaucoma that posting day.

Without a doubt.

Celebrating a trip to Wales? You need to get out more. BTW, where is Lincolnshire? It's where Bernie Taupin - Elton John's lyricist - was born.

I haven’t been to a test for a while. And beating Wales in Wales is a special feeling for we English still.

Lincolnshire is North East of Leicestershire. I have friends that live in the North of the county at S****horpe so regularly drive North through it. This is not very exciting as it’s a very flat county.

Get an idea of where it isat this site

It's fairly rough as maps go but gives the general idea.

Now that would be something to dance about. Well, not Paris, but anywhere else in the country.

Got no choice really – we have drawn Stade Francais after they beat Tamerlin’s lot in the Championship.

No bet regarding the line – you are backing a certainty.

What is a fair margin? 14 would tempt me to back the Aussies. AB confidence is high and they are playing some good stuff. They have destroyed two sides the Aussies struggled with (Wales and Boks). Yes 14 seems fair – will the AB lads wash it?

The one with the, um, histories?

Us – or the Maoris? Is this a reference to Canada’s policy of no one with past criminal convictions being allowed in?

One of the prices we're paying for the expanded television coverage.

True. But Lander remains a huge primadona. I think we may see him more than once.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Frozzy


I concur... I was just hoping we could all scrounge off Cali's gold again

Yes, I bet that 10 gold you all had to share had dollar-signs in your eyes for a while.

So are we settling on a 7 point margin then?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
That drunk?

Remember he also quoted England in the said sentence thus reducing the risks... certainly a temporary lapse of lucidity.

I notice you've disappeared again. Lying in an ice bath to ease the sunburn blisters? Down the chemist buying a tonne of sunburn cream?

My skin is a bit tanned though, believe me, my exposures to the sun have been limited to the strict minimum...

Oh, and I think I've just about talked Mrs finbar into buying a place over there. I'll email you about it.

Tell me as soon as you can, if there is a game played at the Stade Ernest Wallon it could be the occasion to see a french championship, or Heineken Cup, game along with our brand new Stadium.

Got no choice really – we have drawn Stade Francais after they beat Tamerlin’s lot in the Championship.

Finbar is the one to blame.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy


I concur... I was just hoping we could all scrounge off Cali's gold again

Perhaps 14 is more worthy

I think it's closer to the mark in terms of making it a betting proposition. Bearing in mind that creating a betting proposition can be a marginally different thing from a deadly accurate forecast.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Lincolnshire is North East of Leicestershire. I have friends that live in the North of the county at S****horpe so regularly drive North through it. This is not very exciting as it’s a very flat county.

Ironic, really, because Bernie Taupin's lyrics are some of the most, um, picturesque - well, loaded with imagery - in modern music.

Get an idea of where it isat this site

It's fairly rough as maps go but gives the general idea.

Gee, it's interesting looking at that map. It's so long since I've seen one. For some reason, I had a mental image of you being closer to the coast. And most of the other counties, relative to each other, aren't where I remembered them. One of the benefits of living in a cartographically interesting country. Unlike this cartographically tedious place.

What is a fair margin? 14 would tempt me to back the Aussies. AB confidence is high and they are playing some good stuff. They have destroyed two sides the Aussies struggled with (Wales and Boks). Yes 14 seems fair – will the AB lads wash it?

Minimum 12, I'd've thoughgt.

Us – or the Maoris? Is this a reference to Canada’s policy of no one with past criminal convictions being allowed in?

I meant the Maori. The Canadian reference would have been too sophisticated for me.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia


Yes, I bet that 10 gold you all had to share had dollar-signs in your eyes for a while.

I can assure you we are all still dining out. On breadcrumbs.

So are we settling on a 7 point margin then?

It's going to be more than that. Somewhere around 12. Has to be, otherwise no one will back the Wallabies - I certainly wouldn't, and I'm sure you wouldn't - meaning we don't have a pool. It would be money back if the ABs won by more than 7. If the Wallabies finished within 7, meaning everyone who backed the ABs lost, I suppose the pool would jackpot till next time.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Remember he also quoted England in the said sentence thus reducing the risks... certainly a temporary lapse of lucidity.

Here's a bumper sticker for you: "Old French rugby players don't die, they just embalm themselves in Absinthe".

Tell me as soon as you can, if there is a game played at the Stade Ernest Wallon it could be the occasion to see a french championship, or Heineken Cup, game along with our brand new Stadium.

Re-read my post!

Finbar is the one to blame.

Not anymore! Not after I got the recipe!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


I can assure you we are all still dining out. On breadcrumbs.

Scraps from my table.

It's going to be more than that. Somewhere around 12. Has to be, otherwise no one will back the Wallabies - I certainly wouldn't, and I'm sure you wouldn't - meaning we don't have a pool. It would be money back if the ABs won by more than 7. If the Wallabies finished within 7, meaning everyone who backed the ABs lost, I suppose the pool would jackpot till next time.

12 sounds fair to me, I'll put down 20 on the All Blacks.