Rugby World Cup 2003 - Crunch Time!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia


What? No air conditioning? Are you trying to pretend you're in France?

We're egg-nishin'd upstairs and downstairs. Had it on today, actually. And only wimps turn it on at 22C overnight.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
By the way is there any truth to the rumour that a former Bok player has been physcially escorted away, and subsequently totally barred, from the AB training camp?

Where did you hear this? And who was it? It was finally established that the Boks did, despite their management's denial, videotape the final Wallaby training session prior to the Tri Nations match over there.

[Havak]

Lets see - I found this on Planet Rugby Finbar.

is it true?

Thompson is a converted Flanker - and looks it. We gain around the paddock from playing him but he is perhaps not the best option in the set pieces.

Flavell stamps on heads? So does Williams if you recall.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


We're egg-nishin'd upstairs and downstairs. Had it on today, actually. And only wimps turn it on at 22C overnight.

Yes, it's much more manly to toss and turn all night.

Actually it depends on the humidity more than the temperature for me. NYC is disgusting during the summer.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by Havak
Tell me more about those options - Williams always struck me a workaday partner to the more clearly talented Jack - so what kind of quality are these 'options'?

Maxwell has attended a few training camps, he plays with Jack for Crusaders. I guess Bad Boy Flavell is the obvious choice, who'd have thought he'd play in the Cup 6 months ago when he was in disgrace? Maling is probably above Flavell but unless he recovers from injury quickly I can't see him getting in.

It would be a real blow if Williams can't play. He's another very promising lad worth keeping an eye on. They may yet pump him full of pain killers and play him.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
I suspect Reuben has borrowed some of Tamerlin's magic weed.

Tamerlin has too much to be smoking the whacky dacky.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Andydog
Tamerlin has too much to be smoking the whacky dacky.

It's called withdrawal crisis...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I suspect Reuben has borrowed some of Tamerlin's magic weed.

Sure it is decontracting but some stupid officials (people that have never smoked anything IMO) have decided this is a doping product. I have already tried to do some sport (volley-ball actually) after having smoked some magic wheed and I can assure you that you are nothing close to an athlete at this moment, though I must admit this is rather funny.

[Andydog]

In my smoking days (which are long over), I once played a game of table tennis after sucking back a huge marley, and funnily enough I beat everyone. Including the coach. I just seemed to be able to see and read the ball so much better. I didn't try it again though, and so was beaten by the best yet again.

[Caligastia]

Ahhh...the magic weed. I can't imagine participating in any sport while under the influence of that stuff. Unless you count drinking cups of tea as a sport.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
...Unless you count drinking cups of tea as a sport.

It depends on the number of magic wheed cigarettes smoked so far.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Lets see - I found this on Planet Rugby Finbar.

is it true?

Mmmm. He says he's a professional, meaning, by his definition, that he wouldn't pass on secrets. But he's returning to South Africa. Another definition of professional is that your loyalty is to whomever pays you.

I rather enjoyed the report that Nathan Gray had videotaped another team's training session. Given Nathan's lack of grey matter - not a bad pun given that I'm on hols and not in work mode - he probably forgot to remove the lens cap.

Thompson is a converted Flanker - and looks it. We gain around the paddock from playing him but he is perhaps not the best option in the set pieces.

Well, yes. So where have all the quality hookers gone?

Flavell stamps on heads? So does Williams if you recall.

Flavell's was much much uglier. I saw it. His boot was flailing for the opponent's head while the opponent was on the way down. Once he hit the ground, and had nowhere else to go, the stomping got seriously underway. Flavell's a known lunatic, Williams was just stupid. Just as stupid as J**** for deliberately stepping on that player.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
It would be a real blow if Williams can't play. He's another very promising lad worth keeping an eye on. They may yet pump him full of pain killers and play him.

I think Williams is promising. My concern has been that he's more of a lineout specialist. His workrate around the ground has left something to be desired. Again, as with hookers, we seem to have a bit of a dearth of quality locks as good around the ground as they are in lineouts.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


It depends on the number of magic wheed cigarettes smoked so far.

Listen, you lot! If you don't cut this out, I'm going to have you all tested!

I can just imagine the responses, too:

Tamerlin - "Someone spiked my Absinthe!".

Caligastia - "Someone spiked my prosciutto!".

Andydog - "Someone spiked my leg of lamb!".

Havak - "Someone spiked my pork pie!".

[Havak]

Whats allm this talk of illicit substances? If a man has a pint of bitter and a pork pie (spiked or natural) before kick off what more could he need to turn in a top performance?

He's another very promising lad worth keeping an eye on

I’m getting increasingly convinced we ARE watching different teams!

Another definition of professional is that your loyalty is to whomever pays you.

And a more accurate one to my mind.

not a bad pun given that I'm on hols and not in work mode

Not too shabby.

Well, yes. So where have all the quality hookers gone?

Beats me. The number two option is West (who is 36 I think) and his presence in the loose is not at the same level. The number three is mark Regan (30) who I have never ever rated as a Hooker in any case – but he is fairly mobile.

I had high hopes of a lad called Chuter that Tigers poached two seasons back but he is taking time to develop – he is just showing signs of challenging now. In fact he was the lad Taine said a big hello to on Sunday. Having said that he is a year older than Thompson so he has his work cut out to break through.

For all that though none of them impress me the way old stagers like Moore and Fitzy used to.

Just as stupid as J**** for deliberately stepping on that player.

What player? I’ve genuinely forgotten this if I should know it. The last two suspensions I recall – the only ones in my recent memory – we in turn for driving his knee into Psycho McCraes back (the infamous non broken rib incident) and then against the same club the next season when the Sarries Scottish hooker was climbing on his back and he rather daftly nearly laid them out with an uppercut.

Again, as with hookers, we seem to have a bit of a dearth of quality locks as good around the ground as they are in lineouts.

You are only speaking for the tri nations here. We have plenty of mobile atheletic locks thank you very much. It’s an area that gave Clive huge problems in selection – in terms of who had to stay behind. Simon Shaw lost out – and on his form in the warm ups should be feeling mighty aggrieved!