Rugby - The Lull After The Storm

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

At least the chore is finished for you...

I couldn't wait to get back home to the dogs who'd had to spend the weekend in the boarding kennel!

Suffice it to say that my parents are divorced and that I have to suffer from it twice...

Mine are old and decrepit and forgetful! On Sunday, they'd forgotten I'd seen them on Saturday so it amounted to me suffering it twice!

[finbar]

Speaking or irony, as I like to, there were a couple of classic ironic moments this morning. Both relating to the English cricket team.

1. The day after the English cricket team is thumped by Sri Lanka by an innings, former English skipper Mike Gatting predicted that Australia's time at the top of the cricket tree was coming to an end.



2. The day after the English cricket team is thumped by Sri Lanka by an innings, it's reported that $11,500 in cash was found in the hotel room of the Sri Lankan vice captain who denied it was his. Thus raising the spectre of bribery. I can only hypothesise as follows:

(a) The English team paid the Sri Lankans to thrash them rather than just beat them; or

(b) The Sri Lankan vice captain offered the English team the money to throw the match but the English team declined on the basis that they didn't need to be paid to lose.



Just to keep this post relatively on-topic, I also notice that Kiwi Barbarian Troy Flavell broke Richard Hill's nose with a swinging arm. Is anyone surprised? The term Barbarian sits comfortably with Troy Flavell, a player with a string of convictions for foul play, the most recent being a lengthy S12 ban last season for mercilessly stomping an opponent. Why on earth is he ever picked in rep sides?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Mine are old and decrepit and forgetful! On Sunday, they'd forgotten I'd seen them on Saturday so it amounted to me suffering it twice!

I had to suffer from it thrice when my grandmother was alive... Christmas is a real nightmare.

Easter is more important than christmas...

I must admit I have some trouble to consider anything linked to religion as being important... to the exception of Rugby of course.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

Two days later surely – Monday rather than Saturday? There actually is no defence for missing such a test that I can see. Forgetting simply does not cut the mustard.

The whole issue was more about the Football association throwing its weight around more than anything else.
He was supposed to take the test on Saturday but left without doing so and was then sent away later the same day when he returned.
He took and passed the test the next day and his results were officially out the day after but apparently that wasn't good enough.
Several hours late apparently wasn't good enough for the high and mighty FA so they imposed an 8 month ban.
Next to such draconian policies the light from the collective IRB halo could probably save Leicester on their electric bill during their next home day-nighter.

I must admit I have some trouble to consider anything linked to religion as being important... to the exception of Rugby of course.

Are we talking real rugby here or that pagan NH imitation rugby?

[LDiCesare]

Just to keep this post relatively on-topic

Face it. This is an off-topic off-topic thread.

The "USAP vs. Biarritz" game was broadcasted on TV and was a very poor game beyond the forwards, Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz) has proved once again he is not an international quality half-scrum as (almost) every decision he has made was a poor one, the Perpignanais have not been better. Add a poor referee over this...

Glad I didn't see it, then. It will teach you to watch a match on TV when you could have followed your team to Grenoble to see a good match, Tamerlin. I suppose it's awfully ling to get there though (to me, it always looked like Grenoble was very far from everywhere else except Lyon, from which it's only far).

[Havak]

Reacting to him and/or taking him seriously is the mistake the Poms make.

But that’s what I am saying – reacting to criticism is a cultural norm for us, however stupid doing so may be on any given occasion.

I wouldn't have thought there were many substances that would disappear from the system in two days.

But I understand that there are apparently masking agents that can handle that timescale.

I think he'll finish up over there pretty quickly.

He was in fact quoted over the weekend as saying he was looking to the north…anywhere but NZ in fact. So if Henry screws up quickly as expected exactly what senior NZ coaches are left to take over?

Oh and to illustrate how forward thinking Henry is he has already tapped former AB coach Wayne Smith to be his assistant for the next tri nations. Northampton are furious this has been made public as Wayne is under contract until May.

Haven't you ever wanted to club the bloody Easter Bunny to death?

The odd homicidal thought may have crossed my mind with regards to the little fella.

How long since Leicester were white-washed I wonder?

I have never seen it before. Ever. It seems whenever the opposing back row puts pressure on our half backs we go to pieces. How is Steve Larkham fixed?
The forwards must be furious – they won plenty of ball and dominated large parts of the game only to see it come to nought. It’s the type of game where I won have beat the daylights out of the girlies afterwards to be honest.

The sad thing is he keeps playing the argy-Eyetie Pez (who admittedly has improved) when sat on his arse outside the match day 22 is the lad Broadfoot – the promising 18 year old we stole from London Irish in the close season who is lauded as the next Wilko. Given things can hardly get worse why does Deano not blood the lad – we have nothing to lose!

Pez committed a cardinal sin Saturday – ball spilled right in front of him and he stood over it trying to control it with his foot. Backy had to steam in from behind and drop on it – and got the shoe-ing that should have been Pez’s. You do not last long at Tigers if you won’t put your body on the line…

Oh yes. Saints. At one point they had four Englishmen on the field. That was the peak quota. They should be thrown out the league. And I’m not bitter (not half!).
By the way Finbar no one here takes Mike Gatting seriously. He is the Campo of cricket.

Troy Flavell. Cited for breaking Hill’s nose and it was most certainly deliberate yes. But it doesn’t tell the full story – he swung that arm all game and also put in one of the worst high tackles I’ve seen in a long while. It is such a shame – he is clearly talented. I would say he is a far better partner for Jack than Williams of that lug who came from league (Thorn?). But he brings the game into disrepute every time he walks on a field.
Apart from that the game was pretty boring – a weak England XV against a weaker Baa-baas outfit. Yawn city.

Are we talking real rugby here or that pagan NH imitation rugby?

What the type that just took Bill back home?

[Havak]

It's not all bad news of course.

Tigers second string beat the Indian national side 153-0 on Sunday. Zhang scored a try with his first touch and Ross Broadfoot finally got some game time and I am reliably informed was quite impressive.

We host Leeds on Saturday - directly above us in the League we need to turn them over and get a bonus point. Am I confident, what do you think?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
But that’s what I am saying – reacting to criticism is a cultural norm for us, however stupid doing so may be on any given occasion.

M-hm. It's that insecurity thing, y'see.

He was in fact quoted over the weekend as saying he was looking to the north…anywhere but NZ in fact. So if Henry screws up quickly as expected exactly what senior NZ coaches are left to take over?

Yes, he wants an early release from his contract in order to put himself on the overseas market. Given that he's been replaced, I'd've thought the contract had already been terminated. He also wants the NZRFU to clear the air over the affair he was rumoured to be having with his P.A. She was sent home early from the WRC and rumours spread.

Oh and to illustrate how forward thinking Henry is he has already tapped former AB coach Wayne Smith to be his assistant for the next tri nations.

Everything old is new again.

The odd homicidal thought may have crossed my mind with regards to the little fella.

Just don't get me started on whichever bastard invented Valentine's Day! I expect it was the Hallmark greeting card mob.

The forwards must be furious – they won plenty of ball and dominated large parts of the game only to see it come to nought.

Literally!

Given things can hardly get worse why does Deano not blood the lad – we have nothing to lose!

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, Deano.

Oh yes. Saints. At one point they had four Englishmen on the field. That was the peak quota. They should be thrown out the league. And I’m not bitter (not half!).

Yes, but one Chinese player equals nine other nationalities, so Leicester is way in front in the Foreign Legion stakes.

By the way Finbar no one here takes Mike Gatting seriously. He is the Campo of cricket.

Fair enough. Except I doubt that Campo doofed a barmaid in a pub.

Troy Flavell. Cited for breaking Hill’s nose and it was most certainly deliberate yes. But it doesn’t tell the full story – he swung that arm all game and also put in one of the worst high tackles I’ve seen in a long while. It is such a shame – he is clearly talented. I would say he is a far better partner for Jack than Williams of that lug who came from league (Thorn?). But he brings the game into disrepute every time he walks on a field.

Yes, he has ability. Just a couple of screws loose, unfortunately. I remember the Kiwi S12 commentator blaming it on his upbringing in the underprivileged suburbs of, I think, Auckland.

I bought an optical keyboard today. It's twice the size of my old one and I'm having great trouble adjusting!

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Face it. This is an off-topic off-topic thread.

It will teach you to watch a match on TV when you could have followed your team to Grenoble to see a good match, Tamerlin.

He was doing his Christmas shopping. Oh, and looking for early bargains on Easter eggs.

[Havak]

Yes, he wants an early release from his contract in order to put himself on the overseas market.

With Tigers and Saracens rumoured to be after his signature. So either my friend Deano, or our old mate Rod Kafer, may be after new work soon.

By the way it was pointed out to me over the weekend that Graham Henry, if he survives long enough, will become the first coach ever to coach for and against the Lions – and the only one to lose both times too.

Everything old is new again.

So Rod McQueen to return to the Wallabies and Jack Rowell for England (god help us!).

Just don't get me started on whichever bastard invented Valentine's Day!

Whoever it was I could strangle them. They should call it “you haven’t bought me anything ludicrously expensive since Xmas day” instead.

Literally!

Steady on old chap – would you kick a man when he is down?

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, Deano.

It is becoming quite clear he will have to be pushed.

Yes, but one Chinese player equals nine other nationalities, so Leicester is way in front in the Foreign Legion stakes.

Your logic leaves me lost for words.

Fair enough. Except I doubt that Campo doofed a barmaid in a pub.

True. Never has time/inclination to ‘Doof’ anyone other than himself I suspect.

Yes, he has ability. Just a couple of screws loose, unfortunately

It is a shame for the ABs, it really is. As it stands there is no way they could risk him again. Silly, silly arse.

I bought an optical keyboard today. It's twice the size of my old one and I'm having great trouble adjusting!

You mean ‘wireless’ right?

[Tamerlin]

You mean ‘wireless’ right?

No, that he bought a big keyboard with oversized keys as he has more and more trouble to see the letters...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
It will teach you to watch a match on TV when you could have followed your team to Grenoble to see a good match, Tamerlin. I suppose it's awfully long to get there though (to me, it always looked like Grenoble was very far from everywhere else except Lyon, from which it's only far).

More and more games are played Friday evening now, following the team when it is playing away from home is becoming very difficult in this case.

Moreover, Grenoble is far away from Toulouse (something like 10 hours away by bus) and you know the quality of a game can vary greatly in the French championship... All in all I am no more following the team when it is playing away from home to the exception of the final phases.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
With Tigers and Saracens rumoured to be after his signature. So either my friend Deano, or our old mate Rod Kafer, may be after new work soon.

Can't wait for him to turn up at Leicester and render your forwards impotent!

By the way it was pointed out to me over the weekend that Graham Henry, if he survives long enough, will become the first coach ever to coach for and against the Lions – and the only one to lose both times too.

Steady on old chap – would you kick a man when he is down?

"How much do I love to kick thee when thou art down? Let me count the ways ... " - with apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

You mean ‘wireless’ right?

Well, okay, it's called "cordless" on the box. It came with an optical mouse and I already have one! I didn't actually buy the keyboard for its cordless qualities. I just wanted a heavy-duty keyboard. Most computer keyboards are toys, not designed for the pounding I give them. My new keyboard lasted about three months so I borrowed Mrs finbar's, promising I'd give it back in good condition when I'd finished my work. I gave it back to her two months later totally wrecked! He says, laughing about it now, but certainly not laughing when I gave it back to her and copped a gobful. Anyway, it took the pressure off my usual nightmare of finding a Christmas present for her!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
No, that he bought a big keyboard with oversized keys as he has more and more trouble to see the letters...

Stop it, it'll send you blind!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
More and more games are played Friday evening now, following the team when it is playing away from home is becoming very difficult in this case.

Moreover, Grenoble is far away from Toulouse (something like 10 hours away by bus) and you know the quality of a game can vary greatly in the French championship... All in all I am no more following the team when it is playing away from home to the exception of the final phases.

In this country, you'd be called a fair-weather supporter!