Rugby - The Lull After The Storm

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Good morning Gentlemen.

Oh good. Finally, the return of some quality posting.

[finbar]

And now that I've stopped s******ing ...

After Toulouse the veteran Army of the Peninsula was de-mobbed. Wellington went into Waterloo the next year at the head of a totally ‘green’ allied force that included a large amount of Dutch. The Dutch nearly broke if I recall. Yes the Prussians were an important factor but there was something else in play – Napoleon met a better General. He deployed the old guard late, and he advanced them in his favourite column formation against English Infantry. No French column ever broke an English infantry line in the entire Napoleonic wars that I can recall – why Nap thought he could do so we can only guess?

Anyone else notice how he overlooks the Scots saving his arse?

Can Eddie keep his job now O’Neil has gone?

More likely to keep his job now that O'Neill has gone. Anyway, there are no alternatives either on the horizon or beyond the horizon.

And I told you Australia wouldn't win the series against the Indians. The Australian cricket fan has been given a very rude taste of Australian cricket post-Warne and post-McGrath.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Welcome back Havak, I can already see Finbar preparing is fishing rod...

No, the elephant gun will suffice. Pass it over, you firearms incompetent.

[Tamerlin]

I can't believe it, Havak is back and not a single post from Finbar or Havak for almost twelve hours...

[finbar]

I was ready and waiting. He posted once and obviously couldn't hack the pressure.

BTW, there was a nice article in this morning's paper about the locals' response to the Poms buying up all the apartments in Chamonix, setting up businesses and generally acting like they own the place. The locals have taken to writing Putain les Anglais on walls around the town.

A phrase that could come in handy in our threads, methinks.

[Caligastia]

Not much rugby on is there?

Happy New Year everyone.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Not much rugby on is there?

Not much good rugby being played around Leicester anyway.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak
– Napoleon met a better General. He deployed the old guard late, and he advanced them in his favourite column formation against English Infantry. No French column ever broke an English infantry line in the entire Napoleonic wars that I can recall – why Nap thought he could do so we can only guess?

Ironic isn't it? Wellington receives on a silver platter a situation that Nelson (and pretty much every other admiral throughout history) spends his entire life striving to achieve. If Nappy had ever boarded a boat in his life he might've been a little more circumspect about letting somebody cross the T on him.

More importantly it is now Martion Johnson CBE.

Lordy! They're just giving them out to every Tom, **** and Havak these days aren't they?

Originally posted by finbar
And I told you Australia wouldn't win the series against the Indians. The Australian cricket fan has been given a very rude taste of Australian cricket post-Warne and post-McGrath.

It's not quite all over yet. They've been scoring at a fair clip this morning. They might still win it as long as they don't throw away too may wickets.

Not much good rugby being played around Leicester anyway.

Wasn't that where Gloucester was playing a few days ago? Apparently they played quite well against somebody, although this may well be damnation by rather faint praise.

[finbar]

A special Havak smilie:

[Havak]

Welcome back Havak, I can already see Finbar preparing is fishing rod...

And his Bon Mot cannon as well Tamerlin.

Did I see that you had some concerns about the current performance of mighty Toulouse whilst I was missing?

Anyone else notice how he overlooks the Scots saving his arse?

Worse than that I said ‘English’ when I should have said ‘British’ Infantry. The Scots regiments almost without exception have superb reputations. At the time we are discussing they were led almost exclusively by English officers as well. There were more English regiments of foot in the field at Waterloo than Scots IIRC (go dig up the order of battle and check?). You can’t freeze the English out of this one.

More likely to keep his job now that O'Neill has gone. Anyway, there are no alternatives either on the horizon or beyond the horizon.

When Jack Rowell bowed to pressure in 1997 many said there were no alternatives. There are always alternatives – they simply need to come forward. Pat Howard has several years of backs coaching behind him now – maybe he might take the job?

And I told you Australia wouldn't win the series against the Indians

Nice attempt to wiggle – but you actually said India would win it – whereas I said Australia would. We were both wrong so the bet is void.

I was ready and waiting. He posted once and obviously couldn't hack the pressure.

First day back guys – the pressure got to me all right. By 3pm I wanted a drink.

A phrase that could come in handy in our threads, methinks.

Really? Would anyone here avail themselves of such services do you think? Not me that’s for sure!

Not much rugby on is there?

Loftily ignoring Finbar’s response our domestic season is in full swing – and Europe resumes on Saturday. Basically Tamerlin, LDiCesare and I are very happy with the amount of rugby we have available to watch right now, with the six nations only a few weeks away too.

And as for Tigers – Bath and Wasps may be laughing now but we’ll be back at the top soon. Time is after all relative.

Lordy! They're just giving them out to every Tom, **** and Havak these days aren't they?

My name was on the refusenik list leaked in December – anything less than a Dukedom is insulting to a man like myself who has done so much for the Leisure (brewing) Industry.

Wasn't that where Gloucester was playing a few days ago? Apparently they played quite well against somebody, although this may well be damnation by rather faint praise.

They didn’t play well. They are not the dominant force they were last season by a long way. All three tries came from stupid defensive errors by us. Two seasons ago that consistency of defensive lapse was unthinkable for us. The reality is now that whilst Glaws are generally a poor side Tigers are currently a completely inept defensive outfit with a back line bereft of attacking ideas – not a good combination. The 'Prodigal Son' Andy Goode kept kicking the pill away last Saturday and as Finbar will remind us that does not win games.

The entrance and exits doors will be propped open at Welford Road in the summer I suspect.

Oh yes - side note - the reason Goode returned to us from Saracens is rumoured to be that S.Larkham has signed for Saracens - but Goode is apparently under a gagging order on the issue as part of the move deal!

I was mildly amused by the Gloucester fan on the BBC Rugby boards yesterday who suggested it was time to sweep away the dead wood like JOHNSON at Tigers. Sadly such clueless chumps are fairly typical of the worst part of the Kingsholm faithful – if there was a decent soccer team down that way they would fit right in.

Okay we have discussed Tigers malaise enough I think – can we go back to a favourite target like, just for example, the Australians?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
And his Bon Mot cannon as well Tamerlin.

You've come back punning!

Did I see that you had some concerns about the current performance of mighty Toulouse whilst I was missing?

If he doesn't travel to away matches, he's not a true supporter, therefore he's disqualified from an opinion!

You can’t freeze the English out of this one.

I can freeze them out harder than you can shoehorn them in.

There are always alternatives – they simply need to come forward.

Nucifora is on thin ice at the Brumbies, Jeff Miller starts this season with the Reds, as does Ewen McKenzie with the Waratahs. There's no one else around.

Pat Howard has several years of backs coaching behind him now – maybe he might take the job?

Frankly, I think you need to worry about your own (domestic) coaching problems before you worry about others'.

Nice attempt to wiggle – but you actually said India would win it – whereas I said Australia would. We were both wrong so the bet is void.

I'll go back and check. I recall predicting an Australian loss or a draw. Anyway, it was basically a series between two strong batting line ups. Neither side had the firepower to dismiss the other twice unless the other's batting line up stuffed up. We did in Adelaide, they did in Melbourne.

First day back guys – the pressure got to me all right. By 3pm I wanted a drink.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Nice attempt to wiggle – but you actually said India would win it – whereas I said Australia would. We were both wrong so the bet is void.

Nice attempt to wriggle. You've spent too long with your welching mate!

I checked. I posted as follows:

Double or nothing on that 50 Civ Gold I owe you? (That I'm not sure I have in my account anyway! ) I'll bet that we don't win the series, it will be either a draw or an Indian win.

I dont owe you 50 Civ Gold anymore!

[Havak]

Damn it Finbar will you please stop checking up on the facts - it undermines all my best lines of argument when you do that!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Damn it Finbar will you please stop checking up on the facts - it undermines all my best lines of argument when you do that!

[Havak]

If he doesn't travel to away matches, he's not a true supporter, therefore he's disqualified from an opinion!

That reminds me I am being dragged to our away game at London Wasps on the last day of the season – and naturally enough they play in Wycombe these days.

Frankly, I think you need to worry about your own (domestic) coaching problems before you worry about others'.

I am worried about it.

Nigel Melville seems a good bet once the money runs out at Gloucester (tomorrow?).

But the reality is that Jonno is likely to be the next coach as the club has a history of promoting from within – or nepotism if you prefer.

I dont owe you 50 Civ Gold anymore!

Fair enough – I should recoup it in June anyway if the proposed fixture comes off.



Cracking smilies btw.