Rugby - Advantage Over!

[Frozzy]

Evens. Altitude, SA turf, SA high on confidence.

Sorry, I don't think there should be a margin.

[finbar]

Fair enough. You could be right. I'm not sure how to factor in the altitude. Bear in mind that they barely beat us and we played like crap. I honestly can't see the ABs doing that.

[Havak]

SA high on confidence - after one narrow win at home?

The ABs are clear favourites and a whole class apart in the rugger they have played this year - there HAS to be a decent margin.

[Paradox]

Originally posted by Havak
SA high on confidence - after one narrow win at home?

The ABs are clear favourites and a whole class apart in the rugger they have played this year - there HAS to be a decent margin.

Uhum dunno about HIGH on confidence but just to correct you its 4 wins BTW...Argies,2xScots + Aussies.

[Havak]

Sorry about that - I meant one narrow win against 'decent' opposition from the top five rankings - albeit with the best showing from the Boks in a long time.

I was aware of the last minute win against the Pumas and I watched both Scottish tests and am fully aware that you won both (though could very easily have lost both).

The win over the Wallabies was promising - but the rest of the tri nations will tell us if the Boks really are upwardly mobile in a big way.

[finbar]

Which doesn't settle the question of the margin. Frozzy thinks no margin, Havak thinks a margin. I think a margin is called for. The ABs went down narrowly to England, murdered Wales, and beat Les Grenouilles - albeit not their strongest team - who played a lot classier rugby than the Boks did against us.

[Caligastia]

I reckon there definitely has to be some kind of margin. Otherwise there's no reason to bet on the boks.

[finbar]

Another way of saying the ABs are favourites. Fair enough. On paper, which is the only way these things can be figured, I agree.

[Caligastia]

With a 5 point margin I'll put down 10 on the boks...I think it'll be close.

[finbar]

Unless the ABs really let me down, I don't think it will be that close.

[Havak]

You know thinking about it a margin is self defeating for me given I fancy the ABs to win. Straight victory hedges my bet even more doesn't it?

Anyway I'm not around tomorrow so please record 10 on the ABs for me?

If the ABs turn in one of their lacklustre showings or even, god forbid, lose by a reasonable margin will you finally relegate them from RWC favourites Finbar?

To be fair they have already shown they are capable of playing some superb rugby (mainly against Wales) but the last outing against France raised huge questions about their forwards ability to mix it with strong opposition (in a situation where they could neither cite the weather nor indeed being 'rusty') - and whatever other factors may be true of the Boks they certainly have a formidable set of forwards - even if they aren't as mobile in the front five as the ABs will be.

It's going to be a fascinating game.

Player news - Patty Howard has finally confirmed what we all knew, namely that he has signed for Montferand. A total waste of his talents. As Tamerlin would confirm were he here Montferand are an awful side and didn't even make the French championships play off system.

Craig McMullen has bailed from Tigers for Narbonne. To be expected after we signed the Italian and the England U-18 fly halfs and with young Vesty also fit again - but I'm still sorry to see him go as even in our worst games last year (and there were too many) he kept trying.

Oh yeah - and Gary Ella has taken the helm at Leinster.

[Frozzy]

20 on the ABs

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Anyway I'm not around tomorrow so please record 10 on the ABs for me?

Done. I think I'll back them too. There go the ABs' chances!

If the ABs turn in one of their lacklustre showings or even, god forbid, lose by a reasonable margin will you finally relegate them from RWC favourites Finbar?

Not yet. There's a long time to go.

It's going to be a fascinating game.

One of a few over the next few weeks.

Player news - Patty Howard has finally confirmed what we all knew, namely that he has signed for Montferand. A total waste of his talents. As Tamerlin would confirm were he here Montferand are an awful side and didn't even make the French championships play off system.

Oh well, Manny Edmonds seems to have lifted Perpignan, maybe Patrick can do the same at Montferand.

Oh yeah - and Gary Ella has taken the helm at Leinster.

Yes, I meant to report that the other day. He was passed over for the Waratahs job. I'm not saying he was p*ssed off enough to nick off, just that he wants to get into coaching and this is obviously his opportunity. He was a fine player, he's a good thinker, I shall watch his progress with interest. He - and Ewen McKenzie, who has taken over from Bob at the Waratahs - are possibly the only long-term candidates I can see to replace Eddie. Andrew Slack has quit the Reds after one season, and Nucifora seems to be really on the skids in the ACT.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy
20 on the ABs

Noted.

[Havak]

Done. I think I'll back them too. There go the ABs' chances!

Truly have we sealed their doom between us.

Not yet. There's a long time to go.

Unless they totally ace the Tri-nations there is no way they can be considered favourites over the side that scored 11/11 in the 2002/2003 season now is there?

One of a few over the next few weeks.

The Bok-Wallaby return game and the ABs visit to Aus are the ones I am looking forward to the most.

Oh well, Manny Edmonds seems to have lifted Perpignan, maybe Patrick can do the same at Montferand.

Where Richard Cockerill failed Pat has no chance whatsoever. Trust me.

I'm not saying he was p*ssed off enough to nick off, just that he wants to get into coaching and this is obviously his opportunity

To be fair the Leinster job may give him a lot more in the end. For starters there will be more games than NSW in the season – and top level inter-European games thrown in for good measure. It’s a good place to cut coaching teeth.

The downside – Leinster have become number 1 in Ireland and the weight of expectation will be a huge burden. Plus the hospitality and social side can be very distracting. If he beats Munster in the Irish provincial championship next season he will find he has 10000 pints ‘in’ behind the bar – and the Irish think it most rude not to drink a gifted pint.

I see Sailor has spoken publicly about his disquiet at Reds now having had three coaches since he arrived. He likes stability apparently.