Rugby - See You In Ten!

[Andydog]

We are pretty used to seeing Wilko underestimated by the SH or written off as a kicker only (funny given Mehrts was never anything else?). I’m surprised a Kiwi makes the mistake now though – try re-watching the November game and watch as he chips your defensive line when Blair drifted – tell me Spencer has better vision or skill than that and I’ll be calling you a big fibber. :P

Don't get me wrong mate, I'm not for a second writing off Wilko as a kicker only. I agree he has better vision than Carlos, he is also better on defence when just last week Carlos let George Smith run inside him to break the line in the first half.

I was more comparing the two and was coming from what Finbar summed up very nicely - Carlos is gifted and is capable of breaking through and creating all sorts of opportunities. The conditions will suit him for this but Wilko will be more inclined to kick me thinks. Don't for a second take you eye off Spencer, my gut says he will develop into one of the greats, so long as his head lets him.

Anyway Havak is away at the moment so bugger him, let's really start winding things up.

The difference between English rugby and NZ rugby is that NZ have always been a winning team and are constantly at or near the top of world rugby like it or not. And imho they play a far more exciting brand of rugby and score plenty of tries, in fact in four games they have scored more tries than England has in their last 10 or so. If England wins when it really counts they will get respect as a consistent rugby power. I am currently living in London and see too much pressure put on the England team to win this WC, and I can also see them playing beneath themselves.

The lesson that needs to be learned is to hope for the best but expect the worst. I won't be surprised if neither England nor the ABs wins the cup. I will be supporting SA if that’s the case.

[Andydog]

Mitchell names the squad for the Cup today - I'm picking Andrew Merhtens will make it - he had a good NPC game on the weekend. I'm also picking Maling will keep Maxwell out and although they will take another hooker I don't think Oliver will be the one. Hard to pick who will be the extra loose forward.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by NeoStar
Ummm did anyone have the foresight to all their tickets last year? This latest round was a farce - I only managed to grab a couple to Argentina vs Romania (I know they were once good but now its flogging after flogging). I really should have got more last year I think.

Anyone really benefit from last week?

As far as I am concerned Australia is too far away and too costly for me at this time.

And another thing, Australia is no doubt in a slump of sorts but am I right in thinking they should be alright until the potential encounter with NZ in the semi finals? Even then...

The Wallabies should have won their last game, a good referee should have sanctionned the All Blacks scrum and should have given at least a penalty try.

The Australian players showed some good things though the most spectacular actions (which does not mean most interesting) came from the AB. Larkham still needs to recover but also displayed some promising things. The main problem of this team seems to be Georges Gregan who was never close to its good level: slow, lack of attacking and defensive pressure, lack of creativity, mediocre choices... very disappointing for a player that was a real pleasure to watch at these last years.

I suppose we'll see how much of a plus the home advantage gives them. Finbar, you're good at analysing their ups and downs, despite the bashing in the media (and to the Kiwis not long ago )they can regroup, can't they?

Very unpredictable, IMO they will struggle at the beginning of the competition (a bit like France four years ago) and will improve steadily until the final phases... provided Georges Gregan is raising his level.

[finbar]

Originally posted by NeoStar
And another thing, Australia is no doubt in a slump of sorts but am I right in thinking they should be alright until the potential encounter with NZ in the semi finals? Even then...well, I suppose we'll see how much of a plus the home advantage gives them. Finbar, you're good at analysing their ups and downs, despite the bashing in the media (and to the Kiwis not long ago )they can regroup, can't they?

With luck, we'll make the semi-finals, but I wouldn't count on it.

1. Our front row isn't good enough to take on the top front rows.

2. We haven't settled on a partner for Giffen in the second row. Vickerman is strong in lineouts, Sharpe is more effective around the ground. Put the two in a blender, freeze the result, you would end up with Giffen's ideal partner.

3. George Smith, while improving as a blindside, is always going to be an openside playing blindside, costing us, amongst other things, someone with the clout to take the ball up, and a bona fide lineout-jumping option.

4. For whatever reason, our talented backline isn't being given an ounce of an opportunity, with the ball constantly being hit up, straight into the opposition defence, instead of worked outside to the backs. As one wit observed in the local media - "Why did Eddie Jones pay the backline's airfares to New Zealand recently if he wasn't going to use them?".

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Don't get me wrong mate, I'm not for a second writing off Wilko as a kicker only. I agree he has better vision than Carlos, he is also better on defence when just last week Carlos let George Smith run inside him to break the line in the first half.

I was more comparing the two and was coming from what Finbar summed up very nicely - Carlos is gifted and is capable of breaking through and creating all sorts of opportunities. The conditions will suit him for this but Wilko will be more inclined to kick me thinks. Don't for a second take you eye off Spencer, my gut says he will develop into one of the greats, so long as his head lets him.

IMHO, they wear the same number on their backs, and that's the end of the similarity. They are entirely different players. The fact is, Wilkinson has produced the goods at the highest level over a longer period than Carlos has. Only time will tell us how they rank against each other.

Anyway Havak is away at the moment so bugger him, let's really start winding things up.

I like this man's style!

I am currently living in London and see too much pressure put on the England team to win this WC, and I can also see them playing beneath themselves.

I think that bothers Havak a bit, too. He's made more than one reference to their capacity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Look at their cricket team.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Mitchell names the squad for the Cup today - I'm picking Andrew Merhtens will make it - he had a good NPC game on the weekend. I'm also picking Maling will keep Maxwell out and although they will take another hooker I don't think Oliver will be the one. Hard to pick who will be the extra loose forward.

No Mehrtens, no Cullen, no Jonah, no Randell, et al. Entirely unsurprising. The only absence of that lot I really question is Randell, but I've banged on about that before.

Mitchell's choice of locks bothers me, but I've also banged on about that before, too. The bottom line is Mitchell has made his decision, and now has to live with it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


As far as I am concerned Australia is too far away and too costly for me at this time.

Hitchhike here! I've got a spare room for you!

The Wallabies should have won their last game, a good referee should have sanctionned the All Blacks scrum and should have given at least a penalty try.

The Australian players showed some good things though the most spectacular actions (which does not mean most interesting) came from the AB. Larkham still needs to recover but also displayed some promising things. The main problem of this team seems to be Georges Gregan who was never close to its good level: slow, lack of attacking and defensive pressure, lack of creativity, mediocre choices... very disappointing for a player that was a real pleasure to watch at these last years.

The point is, mon ami, they could have won it, regardless of the ref, but didn't. They had enough of the ball in enough good positions in the second half but weren't good enough. They completely ignored any option that included their backline. They didn't win, and didn't deserve to. The only question is whether they will learn anything from it. The fact that they've done the same thing pretty constantly this season leads me to think they won't.

[Andydog]

I think that bothers Havak a bit, too. He's made more than one reference to their capacity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Look at their cricket team.

Aye, I saw a bit of this weekend's cricket game. SA were always going to win with the sort of attitude they took to the field this weekend. You could see their heads were determined and they played as a unit. It's always nice to see 3 slips racing each other for a ball running down to third man.

No Mehrtens, no Cullen, no Jonah, no Randell, et al. Entirely unsurprising. The only absence of that lot I really question is Randell, but I've banged on about that before.

I thought Merhts had a shot, but oh well. He is after all a proven goal kicker, scoring close to 1000 points, and we all know how Spencer is lacking in that department. I suppose if you put Merhts back in there you are going to change the entire patterns of the backline and render such players as Howlett and Rocko useless.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Aye, I saw a bit of this weekend's cricket game. SA were always going to win with the sort of attitude they took to the field this weekend. You could see their heads were determined and they played as a unit. It's always nice to see 3 slips racing each other for a ball running down to third man.

I think you nail it rather well. The Boks were more hard-headed. The Poms still look like what they are - the soft product of a largely second-rate domestic competition. Splitting the comp in two has done nothing. There are still too many teams, meaning too many players making up the numbers, meaning the standard isn't competitive enough. That's the beauty of our domestic Sheffield Shield comp - six teams, competition for spots in the teams is ferocious, the ability to perform under pressure is paramount.

I thought Merhts had a shot, but oh well. He is after all a proven goal kicker, scoring close to 1000 points, and we all know how Spencer is lacking in that department. I suppose if you put Merhts back in there you are going to change the entire patterns of the backline and render such players as Howlett and Rocko useless.

I don't think they'd quite be rendered useless, but I know what you mean. As I observed once before, Mitchell has gambled, chosing Carlos' capacity for inspirational play but dodgy goal kicking in front of Mehrtens' solid, more predictable style and immaculate goal kicking. If Carlos' goal kicking costs them in a vital match, Mitchell will suffer the consequences.

What's interesting, though, is how Mitchell has recast the team. Last season the ABs were basically the Crusaders in personnel and style; this season they're the Blues in style if not personnel. A result of following the form, I suppose

[finbar]

One of the Bok players - Kronje, now there's a name to conjure with - booted out of the WRC squad because he wouldn't room with a black player. Old habits die hard over there.

[Tamerlin]

Here are the players of this week's France - Angleterre test match:


THE GOODS,

France:

15 Nicolas Brusque (Biarritz Olympique)
14 Aurelien Rougerie (Association Sportive Montferrandaise)
13 Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain)
12 Damien Traille (Section Paloise)
11 Christophe Dominici (Stade Français)
10 Frederick Michalak (Stade Toulousain)
9 Fabien Galthie (Stade Français, capt)
8 Imanol Harinordoquy (Section Paloise)
7 Olivier Magne (Association Sportive Montferrandaise)
6 Serge Betsen (Biarritz Olympique)
5 Jerome Thion (Biarritz Olympique)
4 Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain)
3 Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais)
2 Yannick Bru (Stade Toulousain)
1 Jean-Jacques Crenca (Sporting Union Agenais)

Replacements: 16 Raphael Ibanez (Saracens/Eng), 17 Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), 18 David Auradou (Stade Francais), 19 Sebastian Chabal (Bourgoin), 20 Patrick Tabacco (Stade Francais), 21 Xavier Garbajosa (Stade Toulousain), 22 Brian Liebenberg (Stade Français)


THE BADS

England:

Balshaw
Lewsey
Smith
Tindall
Cohen
Grayson (fly half)
Healey (scrum half)
Moody
Sanderson
Corry
Grewcock
Borthwick
White
West (cap)
Rowntree

Replacements: Thompson, Leonard, Shaw, Hazell, Gomarsall, Walder, Noon




AND THE UGLIES

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Dave McHugh, Simon McDowell (both Ireland)
Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Hitchhike here! I've got a spare room for you!

Thanks for the invitation but... boats don't take hitchikers.

WHAT THE MEAN RATS THEY ARE!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
AND THE UGLIES

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Dave McHugh, Simon McDowell (both Ireland)
Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)

Mark Lawrence is the ref who set the record for cards in a recent Currie Cup match - six, I think. So there will be no funny business!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Thanks for the invitation but... boats don't take hitchikers.

They do so! They're called stowaways!

[st_swithin]

Or steerage rats. Same thing, right?