Rugby - Advantage Over!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
But what price the Wallabies winning the return leg I wonder?

100/1 in a two horse race.

And you’ll never convince me that NZ have the right to play Fijians by the way – that’s why I like the fact they are called the All Blacks – it’s a much more honest name than trying to pass then off as ‘New Zealand’ when they are clearly no such thing.

What bugs me most is that Fiji is a British Protectorate – Rokocoko should clearly be playing for us.

Look, I left sufficient dotted lines in my earlier post for you to insert your diatribe!

Oh and were I an Aussie I’d be looking to hang that little traitor donning the black – Devine isn’t it?

Good luck to him. He couldn't get a look in at the Waratahs so he nicked off. But then so did a lot of other players who nicked off to star for the Brumbies. All prior to Bob's time. NSW has a long history of letting talent slip through its fingers.

So Finbar – what do you make of the very public attack on Eddie by his ‘illustrious’ predecessor? Not you favourite ex Wallaby coach if I remember correctly?

The knives are really out for Eddie - and George Gregan - at the moment. It's getting a bit ridiculous. As if wholesale sacking of staff and players is going to do any good - for the WRC - at this stage. I mean, I have doubts about Eddie's coaching abilities at the top level, but it's too late now. They will, undoubtedly, improve, but whether by enough to threaten seriously later in the year is another matter.

Alan Jones' outburst was entirely predictable because he's been after Eddie's blood for ages. I think I mentioned at the time of the search for a replacement for Bob at the Waratahs that Jones was backing someone against Eddie's choice. Eddie's choice - former Wallaby prop Ewan McKenzie - got the gig, which only irritated A. Jones even more. Poisonous lump of lard that he is.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy

We have a free trade agreement with them. We ship over tourists, they give us their fast guys.

Gawn, Frozzy, get into him!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I think Tamerlin gave a pretty good description of Super 12 in that opening sentence don't you?

I'm overlooking everything Tamerlin posts for the next month or so on the basis that he's still suffering le coup de soleil.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy
1st 5s don't need to kick.

Don't need to kick for goal? Um, well, your 1st 5 is, currently, your goal kicker. And a very inconsistent one.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

By the way does he ever have good kicking games - I've seen him play a fair few times now and he hasn't in any of those games.

He kicked a lot more consistently in S12 than he has in the Tests. Probably the pressure. I think that's his problem. I don't know enough about the science of goal kicking technique to know whether that's his problem.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I'm overlooking everything Tamerlin posts for the next month or so on the basis that he's still suffering de son coup de soleil.

I don't need a coup de soleil to post rantings about what you call Rugby in the SH...


I have corrected your sentence, BTW...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


I don't need a coup de soleil to post rantings about what you call Rugby in the SH...

No, but coup de soleil does give the rantings quite an attractive rabid quality, in the sense that one can almost feel the flecks of foam spattering your computer screen.

I have corrected your sentence, BTW...

Merci, mon ami! I thought there would probably be a pronoun in their somewhere. I also found another word for sunstroke - insolation. Are they interchangeable? Or does it mean something else?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
So Finbar – what do you make of the very public attack on Eddie by his ‘illustrious’ predecessor? Not you favourite ex Wallaby coach if I remember correctly?

Here's a bit of background on the Alan and Eddie Jones history. It's not entirely objective because the author has had run-ins with A. Jones, but the facts are pretty much the case.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
No, but coup de soleil does give the rantings quite an attractive rabid quality, in the sense that one can almost feel the flecks of foam spattering your computer screen.

Me, rabid?

Merci, mon ami! I thought there would probably be a pronoun in their somewhere. I also found another word for sunstroke - insolation. Are they interchangeable? Or does it mean something else?

Insolation is different from the mere sunstroke which is only an inflammation of the skin coming from an over exposure to UV rays, the Insolation is an over exposure to the sun on the head which is then over heated. The effects can be serious though they are generally no more than a fever and a severe headache.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Me, rabid?

WOOF!

Insolation is different from the mere sunstroke which is only an inflammation of the skin coming from an over exposure to UV rays, the Insolation is an over exposure to the sun on the head which is then over heated. The effects can be serious though they are generally no more than a fever and a severe headache.

Ah, I see. So coup de soleil is what we call sunburn, and insolation is what we call heatstroke as a result of too much sun. Well, heatstroke is much more likely to send a normally sane and sensible person a bit loopy than sunburn, particularly when it comes to discussing rugby, so no prizes for guessing that I chose the wrong word!

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

But Randall is Nottighamshire born and bred and Botham is from suburban Cheshire I think you'll find.

Well bother. This would have to be the one time you called me on it too. I was on my way out the door and didn't have time to check properly.
I meant to say Robin Jackman instead of Randell and Lamb instead of Botham. Ooops. I'm sure there was a third at about the same time but I just don't remember who it was. I'd completely forgotten about Hick.

As for the Bledisloe clincher game we should pick up the Kiwi commentary for the return leg which should at least spare me the Channel 7 "go you good men go" nonsense. yes even in the defeat the summariser uttered this as they scored their last try.

I heard that and cringed.

Sour grapes? Naaaa - just having fun. I don't mind if one Kiwi player describes another as the best at anything

Far be it from you to condemn our donning of the tinted spectacles when you too may wish to make such a fashion statement again someday?

- the proof of the pudding is in the eating and so far it's Wilko Two - Spencer Zero.

I'm pretty sure the roots of that metaphor lie with another prop a hundred or so years ago. I'm not so sure about the time frame but it must've come from a prop anyway.

By the way does he ever have good kicking games - I've seen him play a fair few times now and he hasn't in any of those games.

I refuse to respond to that. Okay, I don't know how to respond to it but I'll be sure to trot it out one of these days and then you'll be sorry.
Assuming humankind hasn't evolved beyond this plane of existence by that time of course.

I don’t blame the Kiwi Union for this necessarily – if the laws allow it you make sure players like Rokocoko head your way - but the IRB needs to wake up and do something about it because whilst this does the ABs a power of good it does Fiji none at all – and the IRB’s remit is to grow world rugby not protect the superpowers surely?

One thing to remember though here, in all seriousness, is that Rokocoko and others like him have spent a considerable amount of time playing in NZ and developing from such - particularly if playing since age 15 or so. Would he have developed the same way or to the same level had he remained in Fiji?
I'm not trying to make the point that NZ rugby itself, or the development system from a young age, is greatly superior to any other mind, just that rugby here has more of a primary focus than in many other places, and that he may not have had the same advantages in Fiji.
Yes he's become a pretty capable player and yes he probably would have done the same in Fiji but probably not to the same extent, IMHO anyway.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
I'd completely forgotten about Hick.

So, finally, did the England selectors.

BTW, speaking of cricket, did anyone notice the, um, rollercoaster couple of days that Nasser Hussain recently enjoyed?

1. "South Africa are there for the taking"

- N.H., after losing the toss on the first morning of the first Test match against South Africa.

2. South Africa 5/120,000

- The scoreboard two days later.

"I'm still an emotional basketcase from the Ashes thrashing, I quit as captain"

- N.H., three days later.

Sort of redefines "when you're up, you're up; when you're down, etc", doesn't it?

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by Havak
I think Mike Catt, Henry Paul and Dewi Morris were the names escaping you - a Bok, a Kiwi and an almost taff who donned the rose instead. But the current squad is 100% English (sinced they dropped Henry Paul from the XV man game anyway)

Henry Paul is a less spurious a player than you may think. After playing Rugby L***** in Britain for a few years, getting settled in and all, he's hardly going to go back to New Zealand just to play for the All Blacks now, is he?

As for the Bledisloe clincher game we should pick up the Kiwi commentary for the return leg which should at least spare me the Channel 7 "go you good men go" nonsense. yes even in the defeat the summariser uttered this as they scored their last try.

I keep telling finbar that even dear Murray Mexted is more entertaining than commentary from a pub in Sydney. As with Super 12, it's in New Zealand, so you'll most probably get Kiwi coverage.

Sour grapes? Naaaa - just having fun. I don't mind if one Kiwi player describes another as the best at anything - the proof of the pudding is in the eating and so far it's Wilko Two - Spencer Zero.

Yes... and with the amount young Jonny is eating it's no small wonder why he's constipated when he takes a kick.

By the way does he ever have good kicking games - I've seen him play a fair few times now and he hasn't in any of those games.

I was surprised to see him do so poorly at Loftus a fortnight back. He has played there quite a bit, but I'm sure it should come together when the Tri-Nations circus hits Auckland.

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by finbar
Don't need to kick for goal? Um, well, your 1st 5 is, currently, your goal kicker. And a very inconsistent one.

I totally agree... but my point was that the All Blacks have alternative options if Carlos doesn't produce the goods in the World Cup. More to the point, I think Mitchell is trying to get Spencer to "heal" his pressure problem before October rolls around.

[Frozzy]

Originally posted by finbar


So, finally, did the England selectors.

BTW, speaking of cricket, did anyone notice the, um, rollercoaster couple of days that Nasser Hussain recently enjoyed?

1. "South Africa are there for the taking"

- N.H., after losing the toss on the first morning of the first Test match against South Africa.

2. South Africa 5/120,000

- The scoreboard two days later.

"I'm still an emotional basketcase from the Ashes thrashing, I quit as captain"

- N.H., three days later.

Sort of redefines "when you're up, you're up; when you're down, etc", doesn't it?

*singsong voice* British! Oh, so British!