Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time!

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
You missed my question about the "yellow mustard" in your dish. What do you call "yellow mustard"? Perhaps a Dijon?

Sorry, I meant the colour yellow, as opposed to brown. The yellow mustards are a sharp-tasting, more fluid paste usually seasoned with turmeric, vinegar, white wine, and sugar.

Pale, hot, and sharp-tasting Dijon mustard is made from powdered dark brown mustard seeds, so it's darker.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon




Hadn't heard anything about it but it does sound like a good idea, particularly as a rematch if the WC were to come down to an NZ-England final.

As I reported earlier, the NZRFU won't release players for it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog

Sorry, I meant the colour yellow, as opposed to brown. The yellow mustards are a sharp-tasting, more fluid paste usually seasoned with turmeric, vinegar, white wine, and sugar.

Pale, hot, and sharp-tasting Dijon mustard is made from powdered dark brown mustard seeds, so it's darker.

M-hm. Okay. I'll have a look around for some.

I found a beautiful rack of veal - real veal, hard to find in this country - for the carnivores for tonight. I'll seal, roll it in mixed, chopped herbs and give it 12 minutes in the oven. Blue Eye Cod Fillets for the non-carnivores.

[Havak]

I missed a post from Finbar that needed some response yesterday…

And Matt Cockbain's brother is with one of the other teams, but I forget which.

I have a feeling it is Wales. *Checks* Yes it must be as Brett is playing for Pontyprid by the looks of it.

Otherwise my luck will run out soon enough, and getting caught is more trouble than it's worth.

Yes – and they know we know it too. I know someone who has made it a crusade to claim back against the train franchises for poor service - I’ll check with them and see if you can do anything else.

Leave it in. If your pulling power fails one night you can use them to attract sheep.

I’m English, not Welsh.

Perhaps he got the idea one day after picking off a scab and eating it...

There may be some truth in that!

He's just getting in first and drawing attention to it, possibly for the benefit of the ref.

I’m sure he is – and if the mind games are starting then kick off must be close indeed. A week Friday?

I suspect Havak to be a "get up early and go to bed early" man until the week end is coming and he is transmogriphying into a beer drinker partying at the very first occasion.

Maybe. Except the early to bed part. And he seldom gets to post from home weeknights. Partly for the reason Tamerlin gave.

J**** lifting the RWC trophy more exactly though I would suspect him to dream he is wearing a white jersey with a rose and lifting it himself.

Close – although in my dream I’m drinking bitter from it. And at 2am I’m certainly in the land of nod normally!

And I shall loftily ignore Finbars ‘subtle’ hint about me being a secret shirtlifter.

Damn – someone wants me to work now!

[Andydog]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Summer is about the same as in the South Island, but winter is definitely warmer. The thing that kills me in Canterbury is the wind. I have rellies down there, so I've been a few times. Hey, maybe you saw my uncle's trucks from his trucking and demolition company down there. It's called "Frews".

It's not that windy in Christchurch city though, only on the plains. Wellington is where the wind is at! I can't remember seeing any Frews trucks either.

Originally posted by finbar
Any nice, crisp white goes with it. We drink mainly Italian wines, so a Pino Griggio, or a Vernaccia, or even a Verdicchio.

I drink Pino Griggio here in London when there isn't any nice Kiwi wines to choose from. I tend to go for the fruity whites, and the italian whites seem to want a bit in that department. The French whites seem to lack fruitiness altogether. I do prefer the French reds over NZ reds though - NZ reds are awful.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by flipside
Oh and annoy the old bugger by asking him to play " The Wild Rover" for me, will you, it's very funny when a Frenchman asks.

Is it because of the accent or because of the content of the song?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Andydog
The French whites seem to lack fruitiness altogether.

I am a bit surprised, may be haven't you tasted the good ones.

[Andydog]

I've tasted a few good ones, but if you compare them to the NZ whites, they seem rather tasteless. NZ whites tend to burst with fruit flavours. Delicious!

[Havak]

Flipside may be able to confirm but I think Mollie Malone is primarily a Leinster song (the Dublin connection). Munster tend to start with Fields of Athenry as I recall. Nobody knows what Connacht sing as they never get into Europe - and Ulster sing different songs altogether.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I’m English, not Welsh.

All much of a muchness, really. No offence, flipside.

I’m sure he is – and if the mind games are starting

With a vengeance. Doug Howlett and the Irish coach both talking up the Wallabies.

And he seldom gets to post from home weeknights. Partly for the reason Tamerlin gave.

But mainly because Mrs Havak won't let him.

And I shall loftily ignore Finbars ‘subtle’ hint about me being a secret shirtlifter.

In days of yore, going as public as you have about him, you'd've had to have made an honest man of him before this.

Damn – someone wants me to work now!

And I'm still on hols!

[Havak]

Let me elevate your mood further – a bit of news from our ‘Professional’ league.

The Board of England Rugby today considered the playing of unregistered players by Leicester Tigers (Darren Morris) and Saracens (James Parkes) in their matches on 13th and 14th September respectively.

The Board took into account the circumstances surrounding both incidents and the statements of mitigation from both clubs.

The Board decided that Leicester Tigers should be sanctioned with the loss of one point and Saracens with the loss of two points.

The Board also stated that the playing of unregistered players will always result in a points deduction and in this year’s regulations there is no maximum figure.

We signed the guy in May. His last contract was Swansea under the WRU though he had been released by the time we signed him. Presumably no one at Tigers told England Rugby’ (the league administering organisation) and crossed their palms with the requisite amount. What a stupid situation – he has played for no one else and we announced his presence at the club to the world four months previously. Someone at Tigers AND England Rugby should have caught this earlier. So much for our unbeaten start
Still in good news it is rumoured Austin is about to sign a two year extension.

Doug Howlett and the Irish coach both talking up the Wallabies.

And Campo – paraphrasing him he said ‘they have been awful, they’ll come good’. He also fingered Rogers as a possible star of the tournament.

Gordon Bulloch (Scot hooker) has written off England as we ‘always blow the big ones when expectation rises’.
Well – he has a point in a way I guess. But I reckon we’ll be down there longer than Scotland even so.

But mainly because Mrs Havak won't let him.

That’s some skill – reading right between the lines and hitting it spot on.

you'd've had to have made an honest man of him before this.

Mrs Havak clearly has a huge surprise coming!? And I would imagine so does Martin. And not least of all – me!

Enjoy the hols – recharging the creative juices nicely are they?

[Caligastia]

Which rugby minnow would you guys most like to see do well in the RWC? I'll have to go with the USA. Seeing as I live here.

I'd also really like to see Argentina do really well. I don't see them beating Australia, but if they could get into the quarter finals that would be great.

[Havak]

I'd like to see Canada do well - and maybe sneak second place in their pool behind Wales?

Or Italy. Or Tonga. I'm very fair to the minnows.

[Andydog]

I'd also like to see Italy do well. They are, after all, coached by the former AB great John Kirwan!

I see that it is Maxwell that could replace Ali Williams should Ali's foot not heal in time. Orthopaedic specialists are being consulted for advice on how it will take to heal. A decision will be made in the next couple of days apparently.

Maxwell is great in the lineouts. He won 9 of Wellington's throws last Saturday during Canturbury's defence of the Ranfurly Sheild. Ironic in a way if he does make the tournament because of injury to another lock - his own career was stalled last season because of a hamstring strain, the latest in a line of leg injuries he has suffered.

I guess that Mitchell didn't like the thought of bad boy Flavell in the side, loosing his cool and giving away stupid penalties.

[Caligastia]

Great to hear Maxwell might be in the RWC squad. He's right up there with the best of them in my book. I probably would have chosen him over Ali even if Ali wasn't injured. The AB lineout could use him.