Rugby - See You In Ten!

[Caligastia]

Frozzy

This is precisely the Springbok's problem. They haven't had one consistent squad for two games in 10 years. It is very unsettling if your side keeps changing every game.

I expect Mitchell will probably bring the same front row combination he intends to use for the world cup on for the game against the aussies this weekend. It's his last chance to settle on a combination and give them some more experience together before the RWC.

I do. I thought the touch judge was Tapa Henning the amount of times he was making calls for Peter Marshall. Annoying accent, too, had Peter.

I got a bit sick of hearing him bark around the ruck "RARK! RARK! RARK! RARK!" like a bloody chihuahua in heat.

Havak

The moment of the game for me – Chris Jack comes on and the Kiwi co-commentator is almost wetting himself with excitement and says “if you were making a list of the best locks in the world he is right there at the top”. There is then a brief pregnant pause and he follows his own comment with “Of course Martin Johnson might just have a claim there too”. Well, quite.

When he said that I thought to myself "ooh, Havak would love that one!".

finbar

Speaking of RWCs, red-hot favourites, and bombing out. This is for Caligastia. I was reading this morning that the manager of the hotel in which the ABs stayed when the food poisoning hoo-ha erupted has "come clean". A number of the ABs, he claims, defied team orders and ate outside the hotel at a local seafood restaurant, hence the rampant eruptions at both ends. And the truth, he claims, has been kept under wraps by the AB authorities.

It doesn't surprise me that AB authorities did that. Can you imagine the NZ public's rage towards those players if the truth had come out immediately? I'm pretty pissed off at them myself after hearing that. And you can hardly blame those of us who believed the claim that SA intentionally gave the ABs food poisoning when you take South African rugby's dubious past into account.

However...for me this still doesn't remove the taint from the 95 RWC final. Half the NZ team had food poisoning, so the Springboks beat a sick team by a penality kick 20 minutes into overtime. If the ABs had been healthy there is no doubt in my mind that the RWC would have been theirs. That they were able to match the Boks for the full 80 minutes despite being sick is a testament to that.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
However...for me this still doesn't remove the taint from the 95 RWC final. Half the NZ team had food poisoning, so the Springboks beat a sick team by a penality kick 20 minutes into overtime. If the ABs had been healthy there is no doubt in my mind that the RWC would have been theirs. That they were able to match the Boks for the full 80 minutes despite being sick is a testament to that.

Yes, well, Havak still blames Campo for England blowing its only chance at RWC glory because the England players listened to Campo instead of their coach and changed tactics on the day. The further irony, of course, being that they qualify as the only people ever to listen to Campo.

Oh, and I have officially registered Tamerlin with Interpol as a Missing Person.

[Frozzy]

Can we nationalise his gold first?

[finbar]

He took it with him. Sleeps with it under his pillow.

[Frozzy]

I'm not sure I want to be touching gold which has been under a greasy Frenchman's pillow.

[Havak]

I wouldn't drink it otherwise.

Apologies – I forgot you were their rare breed – a lager drinker with a discerning palette.

The weather was fine, just bitterly cold, and the surface was firm, if a bit dew-affected. Their backline's problem was that they couldn't get the ball

I still think it’s all connected myself.

Well you might wink. With our front row, we will be thumped by the class teams.

That’s what logic dictates I guess – but when has logic ruled rugby? I’m fairly optimistic – I don’t think our forwards would misfire so badly again against the ABs and looking at how the Boks put the Kiwi pack under pressure I know we can do better. I’d also like to vote that he keeps playing the anonymous lock Mr Thorn please.

Yes, the Bok #8 is good. I think Collins is improving all the time.

What happened to the young lad from the last campaign – was it Robertson?

If they want to play the very strong, very disciplined rugby they played on Saturday night, they can push England.

I can’t see them keeping discipline – all the silly talk of ‘revenge’ and ‘retribution’ (words that have no place in rugby) after last November doesn’t show a healthy approach to the pool fixture at all.

Williams is young and promising but, as has been said before, it's a big step from S12 to Test level.

Plus only eight weeks after trying to stand repeatedly on someones head the young man shouldn’t even be playing again yet.

Caligastia

When he said that I thought to myself "ooh, Havak would love that one!".

It was tailor made for me wasn’t it?

Finbar

The further irony, of course, being that they qualify as the only people ever to listen to Campo.

It stands as the most bizarre tactical decision I’ve ever seen an England side make – and that includes seeing Healey at Fly Half last November. If it was Campo’s nonsense that provoked it, and I still suspect it was, then it truly would stand alone as the only time his mind games bore fruit.

Nothing that Campo says is going to change our coach or our skippers mind this time around I suspect. Doesn’t mean the result will be any different of course.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Frozzy
I'm not sure I want to be touching gold which has been under a greasy Frenchman's pillow.

Actually, I'll have you know that Tamerlin is frequently mistaken for a young Jean Paul Belmondo!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Apologies – I forgot you were their rare breed – a lager drinker with a discerning palette.

My preference, of course, is for a crisp Pino Griggio or a mellow Valpollicella.

I still think it’s all connected myself.

What? Climatic conditions? Or that their backs are as dependent on their forwards as any other team?

I’d also like to vote that he keeps playing the anonymous lock Mr Thorn please.

I don't like your chances much.

What happened to the young lad from the last campaign – was it Robertson?

Didn't he disappear overseas? Or was that Robinson?

I can’t see them keeping discipline – all the silly talk of ‘revenge’ and ‘retribution’ (words that have no place in rugby) after last November doesn’t show a healthy approach to the pool fixture at all.

My point exactly. That's why they're so infurating. When they put their minds to it and play rugby, they can be very effective, if impotent in the try-scoring department. Although, I have to say, that winger looks like he could do some damage with some space.

It stands as the most bizarre tactical decision I’ve ever seen an England side make – and that includes seeing Healey at Fly Half last November. If it was Campo’s nonsense that provoked it, and I still suspect it was, then it truly would stand alone as the only time his mind games bore fruit.

Oh well, if one is going to score once in one's life, it might as well be a biggie!

Nothing that Campo says is going to change our coach or our skippers mind this time around I suspect. Doesn’t mean the result will be any different of course.

Thank goodness we have England's inherent capacity for self-destruction up our sleeves.

[Andydog]

I thought this weekends game wasn't as bad as the kiwi press made out.

Mitchell was looking for the opportunity to work different combinations of forwards and this was the ideal time to take it. The Boks played their hearts out on Saturday, probably the best they are capable of playing at the moment, and that forward pack of theirs is bloody good - stifling the kiwis of possession and space. Mitchell now knows for certain that he needs Jack, Mealamu and McCaw if he wants to free up the backs for more of the high speed play that gave us 50 points twice.

It's our back row that needs attention - we need someone to provide a creative spark, to do something different and make some stuff happen. Anyone know where Scott Robinson is at the moment?

But it was a cracking game. It will have served a wake-up call for the All Blacks and given hope to the Spring Boks.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Mitchell now knows for certain that he needs Jack, Mealamu and McCaw if he wants to free up the backs for more of the high speed play that gave us 50 points twice.

I'm not sure what he was doing farting around with the others on Saturday night. I'd've thought the whole world knew they were his main men and should have been getting as much time together as a unit as possible.

It's our back row that needs attention - we need someone to provide a creative spark, to do something different and make some stuff happen. Anyone know where Scott Robinson is at the moment?

I think your backline's fine. The recent points bonanzas prove that. Your problems were elsewhere on Saturday night. The magicians were there ready and waiting but their forwards and defence shut things down. The ball simply wasn't getting out and it's not the backline's job to fix that.

Scott Robertson or Mark Robinson? Robertson has signed with Perignan in the French league for their next season, but both he and Robinson are in the Canterbury squad for the NPC.

[Havak]

He said 'back row' not 'back line' Finbar.

[finbar]

Ooops. Silly me for speed reading.

In that case, I totally agree with him.

Who said I wasn't flexible?

[Havak]

Tamerlin - with regards to certain 'recipes with menaces' situations?

I speed read myself and the filters block out 'England' and 'Self Destruction' quite nicely.

[Andydog]

I'm not sure what he was doing farting around with the others on Saturday night. I'd've thought the whole world knew they were his main men and should have been getting as much time together as a unit as possible.

This is what they're all saying back home. Mitchell believes that the world cup is going to be won by more than just the core team. There will be injuries during the long WC month and so experience on the bench is invaluable. Good on him for making the changes and seizing the opportunity I say.

I suspect Mitchell will concentrate on fine-tuning his team once they have dispensed with the Wallabies this weekend.

[Tamerlin]

I am back from the Aveyron...

I have not yet read all your rants so don't expect me to be very active for a moment...

But I know that I have not missed too many news as there is no real Rugby played at this time of the year.