Rugby - See You In Ten!

[Andydog]

Pity about Mehrtens...I don't really know why he has been dropped, he's good with the ball in hand as well as being a fantastic kicker.

He was, but he's been off injured for too long for Mitchell to consider him seriously. I also hear he still has a few personal issues he needs to sort out. He's been starting on the bench a lot for Canterbury, McLean electing for Charlie Hore instead. I think Spencer is the best choice for the ABs - he's also got good vision, can vary it, and is key to our backline attack. Hopefully he can sort his kicking out, he used to be able to do it once upon a time.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The county town, Oakham, you would like - a real rural town with some superb architecture and yet modern enough to be fairly bustling at times. It also hae some superb public houses including one right by the station that has it's own micro brewery.

The county also holds a large artificial reservoir (by English standards) that is worth a visit. They 'sank' a village to make it and in high summer the church can be seen...there still exists a road that terminates abruptly as it disappears into the water...very English.

It looked a charming place. Oakham, in particular. There's a famous old school there, too. It gave the world Stephen Fry so it can't be all bad. Oh, and Boris Karloff spent time there, too. Apparently the reservoir is the largest man-made in England. I'm not sure what its competition might be. There are a couple of dams (or reservoirs) in this country that were created the same way. In one of them, what stand out when the water level drops, oddly enough, are the original trees.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia

Doesn't finbar have a local paper that provides betting margins? Perhaps if he looked at that it would give us some idea.

It will be in tomorrow (Friday) morning's paper. Probably a bit late for us. I'll check out some of the online betting operations.

Not quite as vulnerable I don't think, simply because Wilko is a much better goal kicker than Carlos - which makes him a better all-round player IMO.

Mmmm. Yes, Wiko is a much better goal kicker, but methinks Carlos' contribution to the ABs current agenda is massive. Their game is built around him, after all. Wilko's very important to the Poms, obviously, but their game isn't built around him to the same extent.

Pity about Mehrtens...I don't really know why he has been dropped, he's good with the ball in hand as well as being a fantastic kicker.

I read somewhere recently that he had a massive falling out with Robbie Deans at Canterbury (or the Crusaders, wherever Mehrtens and Deans are involved together). Deans is also involved with the ABs. I'm sure that's not the only reason for his demise, though. I think Mitchell probably wanted more than Mehrtens' relatively one-dimensional game. Carlos is not only the playmaker, he's also one of the team's better attacking practitioners. When was the last time you saw Mehrtens break a line? His go was to pass the ball before retreating in the direction of fullback.

[finbar]

Checked out the online betting organisations. The only one I could find offering a fixed margin was Centrebet which, ironically, gives the Boks 21.5 points start. They are, of course, out to make money. Our Bank A/c isn't.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Certainly it pisses all over that gut rotting fart producing turd blackening melange that the English call Bitter. With no offence to Havak or course.

Ah, how we've missed you, Fido.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

The cost of the length of garden hose that he's run from the nearest brewery to his place, in through the window, to the Jason Recliner in front of the telly.

Now we know what to get the man who has everything for his birthday.
One of those auxiliary pipeline pumping thingummies for those low-beer-pressure days.


21 points?! Yikes. I'll be backing the Bokkeroos this time around then I think.

[Nubclear]

Rugby - See You In Nine!

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon


Now we know what to get the man who has everything for his birthday.
One of those auxiliary pipeline pumping thingummies for those low-beer-pressure days.

Redundant. Havak's suction is legendary.

21 points?! Yikes. I'll be backing the Bokkeroos this time around then I think.

Okay, chaps, we've found a sucker.

[Havak]

Well we are into ‘small world’ syndrome here – I’m pretty sure I have sat outside the Churchill enjoying a nice quiet pint (or two).

As for confusion over prices well there are expensive places there if you try enough venues – and of course when we are on tour I’m not kitty master, I’m fine master. That’s my excuse anyway.

Regardless of it all the East Midlands is a vastly superior place to live – because Tigers are based here.

Really? I didn't hear that...surely the Canterbury NPC team will be wanting him what with most of their AB players being rested for the RWC.

They are playing him – but Blair is kicking at the sticks. His only real hope of a recall to the AB squad was for kicking I suspect?

Interestingly enough I have also had a few (gallons) in the Cabbage patch in my time too.

Certainly it pisses all over that gut rotting fart producing turd blackening melange that the English call Bitter. With no offence to Havak or course.

Only the British and Irish palette is refined enough to appreciate Real Ale and Stout. The reason your venue isn’t packed is because it specialises in a nationality of lame lager drinks. The only lager with merit comes from Belgium – and that’s only because they drew some nice strong ones that come close to being Ale. German lager sucks ass – even the almost drinkable wheat beer doesn’t come close to the worst pint of Real Ale.

I think Spencer is the best choice for the ABs - he's also got good vision, can vary it, and is key to our backline attack.

Yes – the keystone in fact as we have been saying. Remove that and will the structure stay up? I think Carlos is going to be a marked man this weekend.
Did everyone note Paddy O’Brien stepped into the debate yesterday saying he didn’t think the Boks were excessively violent last weekend? Boy has that man gone downhill since he ruined the last Lions test with his laissez faire nonsense.

There's a famous old school there, too. It gave the world Stephen Fry so it can't be all bad.

There are two in Rutland actually – and they are mainly bad churning out the usual middle class elitist snobs who think the country owes them a living. Fry is an exception not the rule. On the plus side young Lewis Moody is an Oakham alumni so I’ll forgive them this once.

Wilko's very important to the Poms, obviously, but their game isn't built around him to the same extent.

It’s an interesting contrast isn’t it? I suspect if England were so reliant on a single player the SH sides would all be heavily criticising it – in a way we are (Jonno) and to a certain extent they do – so perhaps they should look more closely at the reliance on Carlos as come RWC he is clearly going to be a marked man.

I’m still amazed at all the nonsense floating around the opinion pieces on the BBC and Planet rugby sites where most Kiwis seem to have handed the Webb Ellis trophy to the ‘unbeatable’ All Blacks – that’s just ridiculous at this stage especially given that they aren’t unbeatable. In form yes, fun to watch certainly – but not unbeatable by a long shot. No team is. Pride cometh before a fall – how often has that been the story of the ABs going into a World Cup?

One of those auxiliary pipeline pumping thingummies for those low-beer-pressure days.

I’d settle for my own brewery as well.

[Andydog]

Only the British and Irish palette is refined enough to appreciate Real Ale and Stout.

These are the same palettes that enjoy Salmonella Kebabs and Gardia Tika Masalas. God help you all.

German lager sucks ass – even the almost drinkable wheat beer doesn’t come close to the worst pint of Real Ale.

I've yet to find the worst pint of Ale - no matter how bad it gets I know there'll always be some point in the future when I’ll drink a worse one. I find it slightly fishy that no matter what pub you happen to be in, after you order your first pint the barman always stops what he's doing and carefully watches you take your first sip.

[Havak]

We are a hardy bunch thats for sure - but even we don't generally eat Kebabs when sober.

As for the barman he is not watching you because he is worried about the beer but rather because your antipodean accent has alerted him to your origins and he is concerned you may not be able to handle a real drink. He is being the good host and looking out for your health.

[Andydog]

... perhaps...

On the margin for this weekends game, I think the score will be a lot closer than before. The forecast is for rain, so that should help to slow the NZ backline down a bit. Brad Thorn is a bit suspect as a lineout player, which will leave Rueben Thorne expected to actually call and catch. The new front row is okay but I wouldn't put my life savings on them..

The Boks will start off like wild thunder and will smack Blacks around for the first 20-30. Then the ABs will settle and run away with it in the second half.

However, if the Boks target Spencer like you suggest Havak, then we may just see a much tighter game.

Funny how it doesn't matter how wide the gap between the teams are, it is always interesting and unpredictable.. can’t help but luv it huh?

[finbar]

All this beer talk is making me thirsty. Personally, I'll stick to my Peroni and Stella.

So can we agree on a margin? We left it much too late last week. Sounds like 21.5 will attract money for the Boks?

Edit. Damn! Andydog racked up our 5000th post!

[Havak]

Stella is drinkable at extreme need - though the UK stuff brewed under licence is vastly inferior to the Belgian original.

I think I'll hold off betting so I can put a wildly optimistic wad on the Wallabies next time.

Not around again until Monday so hope it's a good game Saturday...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Stella is drinkable at extreme need - though the UK stuff brewed under licence is vastly inferior to the Belgian original.

We get the original imported.

I think I'll hold off betting so I can put a wildly optimistic wad on the Wallabies next time.

Masochist.