Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time!

[Havak]

All jersey sponsorship logos went out the window as part of the overall advertising signage clear out. Good thing too.

And yet sponsorship free shirts are seemingly not available in the UK through official channels. Not that this really surprises me in the slightest.

Sorry. Kronfeld and Back might, at their respective peaks, be on a par.

Just proves the point that no one from the SH, including your good self, really knows the English players. As the only one here to have seen them play together (on more than one occasion) I’m backing my opinion on this – Backy by a clear head. Josh’s energy can be amazing, and he throws his body on the line in a way that will always endear him to Tigers fans – but sometimes it flatters to deceive.

And I think Ben Kay might surprise you. He hasn’t hit form this year (to the extent I’m surprised Clive still has him as first choice) but last year he was a certainty for a world XV. I’ve seen Jones (Wasps then Gloucester – great player) so he is the benchmark I’m using and Kay would push him for selection all the way. As for him and Chris Jack - they are actually very similar players...

As I say I admire certain qualities of Richard Hill. But just from curiousity who is the best blindside in the world – I would say it’s the French lad (Betsen)? You play two opensides - and I won’t even consider Thorn being suggested. If he wasn’t moved or injured so often I would say Moody had a shout there as well.

I'd back the above pack against your current pack. It also, obviously, goes without saying that I'd back their lineout against yours.

Well there’s no accounting for perspective I guess. Suffice to say I totally disagree.

But then approaching a decade has passed and it’s always a little futile comparing eras – after all Willy John McBride could have knocked out that entire Kiwi pack on his own – or so rose tinted reminiscences tend to make us believe after a while? It is after all the pack that was knocked out by just one man (a hotel/restaurant chef apparently?)

Incidentally England are eating food prepared by the hotel chefs – I’m sure there’s something your witch doctor could do there Finbar?

Anyway lets forget this ‘England trail former Kiwi packs’ business and concentrate on real controversy – the seeding of Ireland above the hosts?

BOD says they were very lucky to get that – Woods says he is delighted as it gives the clash between you an extra edge on your part that he will relish. One thing is for sure your young hooker (Cannon is it now?) is in for a master class.

Should I attach a few above to compensate for our French friends absence?

The advertising blackout is not new as such – in 99 Welford Road staged the Italy-Tonga clash and the ground was ‘black bagged’ at a cost of £15K to hide all signs and sponsorship other than RWC approved. The shirts thing is good but don’t confuse the motives – it’s purely to maximise RWC revenue by guaranteeing sponsors exclusivity.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
I suspect we would both be shocked if Tamerlin could dig out some Toulouse and French wages for us as France operates under very different salary constraints.

We French are educated people who don't discuss about such trivial and vulgar matters as wages. :disdain:

I would only say that though the raw salaries could be higher (I said could), the taxes are so high in our beloved country that the players could end up with much less money than in the British isles.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I think Tamerlin will confirm that M'sieur Marsh was, in fact, born M'sieur Marais, in Carcasonne, and only anglicised his name while holidaying in New Zealand.

You are only wrong about the birth location: Montferrand...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
And yet sponsorship free shirts are seemingly not available in the UK through official channels. Not that this really surprises me in the slightest.

The mobile phone company obviously wouldn't allow it!

Just proves the point that no one from the SH, including your good self, really knows the English players. As the only one here to have seen them play together (on more than one occasion) I’m backing my opinion on this – Backy by a clear head.

We're talking about them at their respective peaks! Which, as you note later on, is utterly pointless but I don't care! It's good for an argument !

And I think Ben Kay might surprise you. He hasn’t hit form this year (to the extent I’m surprised Clive still has him as first choice) but last year he was a certainty for a world XV.

Promising player! But not yet up to either of those two AB locks of '96!

As I say I admire certain qualities of Richard Hill. But just from curiousity who is the best blindside in the world –

Which side does Krige play?

But then approaching a decade has passed and it’s always a little futile comparing eras –

Incidentally England are eating food prepared by the hotel chefs – I’m sure there’s something your witch doctor could do there Finbar?

How can you make a chip buttie any more poisonous than it already is?

Anyway lets forget this ‘England trail former Kiwi packs’ business and concentrate on real controversy – the seeding of Ireland above the hosts?

So the seedings are just as meaningless as the rankings.

Should I attach a few above to compensate for our French friends absence?

No, I don't Tamerlin would appreciate having the p*ss taken.

The shirts thing is good but don’t confuse the motives – it’s purely to maximise RWC revenue by guaranteeing sponsors exclusivity.

Yes, I know. I don't have a problem with it. If I were spending the money those sponsors are, I'd want the same thing.

BTW, Mr just popped up in that other thread started by Horse about my gardening trip to Canberra. He even posted a couple of s. Presumably for practice. He'd hate to turn up here out of practice.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
There's also, of course, the possibility that Tamerlin's self-indulgent over-use of his s has somehow buggered the system.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


You are only wrong about the birth location: Montferrand...

Welcome back, Mr ! How are all the little s?

PS. Notice how Havak didn't flick through his French dictionary? So he didn't have to acknowledge my rather - if I do say so myself - inspired gag?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

Look out! Mr 's back! Or, at least, his half-brother Mr is!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
I see what you mean - it looks a lot better sans the O2.

In my not humble at all opinion, ads on national Rugby shirts are a shame, a tribute paid to the money grabbers that are striving to rule the world.

Really

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
It is after all the pack that was knocked out by just one man (a hotel/restaurant chef apparently?)

No need of a chef to knock you out when you consider that the Australians are eating non-organic chickens...

[Havak]

Great to see Tamerlin back and on form – there should be a :disdain: smilie there really should.

the taxes are so high in our beloved country that the players could end up with much less money than in the British isles.

Income tax is reasonable here – but god help you if you want to actually spend some of your money – indirect taxes are ridiculous (are we the only country in the world that taxes petrol as a ‘luxury’?).

The mobile phone company obviously wouldn't allow it!

Spot on Finbar – cash is king in English rugby.

Which, as you note later on, is utterly pointless but I don't care!

I know you like a good argument – which is why I extended the point.

An additonal irony is both are damn good players so we are talking about tiny margins. I guess it’s possible McCaw would have ousted Josh by now – but I don’t think its certain by any means.

Promising player! But not yet up to either of those two AB locks of '96!

I can’t be convinced of this easily – maybe in six weeks time he may have firmly convinced me himself - one way or the other.

Which side does Krige play?

I’ve seen him play both – but he falls behind Hill for me. I see he is out of the opening game with cramps btw. And Straeuli has been quoted yet again as saying every bok side should be very Physical.

Perth is Foster’s territory isn’t it – that’s the ultimate way to make a Chip buttie lethal – add that muck to it.

So the seedings are just as meaningless as the rankings.

The rankings are deeply meaningful – only the seedings are bizarre.

He'd hate to turn up here out of practice.

God forbid it should ever be so…

Is there anything more frustrating for a writer than having the audience miss a carefully crafted gag totally by the way…?

Call the supplier - a truckful of is needed urgently!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
No, I don't Tamerlin would appreciate having the p*ss taken.

The smilies have accumulated in the room as I was unable to post in this thread for a few days until I discovered I could access the thread if I used a different method as the usual one. The day to day check of the site remains painful without the mail notices and the impossibility to directly access the last pages of the threads.

[Andydog]

Blimey, this forum has a lot of red spots on it. It looks like it’s been splattered with the blood of a pommy forward after getting his head stomped by Ali!

Anyway, Mitchell has laid his cards out on the table from day one hasn't he! And good on him I say. He's playing the strongest team that he can, with Williams and Mauger both missing out due to their injuries. The Italians must be crapping themselves - this the same team that put 50 points on the Aussies and the Saffees during the tri nations.

Mauger's groin injury looks like it will heal in time for the next match against Canada – thank goodness - the backline functions a lot much better with him in.

Big Brad Thorn starts the game at lock, in place of the injured Williams. Thorn getting more experience at test level can only be a good thing I guess.

Dan Carter gets the hot seat for this first game.

It’ll be interesting to see how Mitchell will use his subs. I’m kinda hoping he’ll flood them all on at once with 25 odd minutes to go - two fresh front rowers and two fresh loosies - that ought to lift the performance of the pack and hammer home the nails in hopefully a very big win!

[Havak]

I think we all realise poor Italy are in for a stuffing.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Great to see Tamerlin back and on form – there should be a :disdain: smilie there really should.

Thanks Havak, I won't let you alone against those SH barbarians (though Finbar, because of its education and northern origins - he could play for the well known Dutch Rugby Football Union nowadays - would rather qualify as a kind of Barbaro-Nordic...) and I agree there should be a "disdain" smilie.

Income tax is reasonable here – but god help you if you want to actually spend some of your money – indirect taxes are ridiculous (are we the only country in the world that taxes petrol as a ‘luxury’?).

No you are not the only ones, oil is so heavily taxed in France that the "black gold" colloquialism certainly originated from here.

Call the supplier - a truckful of is needed urgently!

I have already ordered a load of them, they are meant to be posted after each game played by the French team.

[Havak]

Your healthy sense of humour lightens the threads.

Would you agree with me that Betsen, on form, is the man in his position?