Rugby - We need a proper Title! (temp)

[finbar]

Tamerlin: don't take this personally, but Dermott just expressed his preference not to have to gaze at you all day. Then he went to bed.

Now, speaking of Marché Victor Hugo as we were, when I was down visiting my folks at Christmas, I was given a whole heap of my old school stuff to bring back. Lord knows why they kept it. Anyway, amongst it all, I found my Anthology of French Poetry from Year 12 French.

Recognise this?

L'Expitation

Il neigeait. On était vaincu par sa conquête.
Pour la première fois l'aigle baissait la tête.
Sombres jours! l'empereur revenait lentement,
Laissant derrière lui brûler Moscou fumant.

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar


Yes, and I don't think it's helping the cause. I would argue that county cricket should be the nursery, with the academy the - as it were - finishing school. They obviously work hand-in-hand, but it's the week-to-week competition of county cricket that should be developing and practising the skills that are fine-tuned at the academy. And, perhaps more importantly, county cricket should be where they're developing their competitive edge.

Here, we have six state teams. Competition to get into the teams is fierce because the next step up is Test cricket. Ergo, competition between the teams is fierce, because they know they're on display for the Test selectors. Our academy works on honing skills. The competitive edge is developed playing state cricket.

The county system was the first "professional" cricket in the world. Unfortunately, the "job" factor has never been overcome. Players hung around for their superannuation in the form of their testimonial year. Certainly, some highly skilled players came through the system, but, it seems, almost by accident rather than design.

They've tinkered with the county system - creating two divisions - but they haven't addressed the real problem of too many teams allowing too many players who will never reach the higher level to drag down the overall quality. I can appreciate why the authorities haven't bitten the bullet and created a league of, say, eight teams - tradition. I'm all for tradition, but I think it's holding England back.

Along with, as Havak has pointed out a couple of times, the disappearance of cricket from schools.

Yes, but Hampshire produced the inimitable John Arlott, cricket's finest ever voice, IMHO. Be satisfied with that.

I mainly agree with your analysis.
Cricket in schools is poor, John Arlott was great,county cricket does not prepare you for test cricket, too many players who will never will be hang around clogging up the county system waiting for a benefit because they cannot see a job after cricket, the Australian system means that each game means more and is supported by grade cricket.
I do, however, think that as the game as a whole at international level becomes divorced from domestic cricket that the competitive edge and skills will be learnt through international games.
The system in Australia produces better players obviously. I think that in time, however, that the English system will work to improve standards.

EDIT: In England. Sorry.

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar


Ah yes. I've seen him a couple of times in various cooking-related shows on cable here. He made an appearance in one very interesting short series about the "chemistry" of cooking - literally, the science of what happens to food when it's cooked, and the various alternative methods that can be used. I remember they worked on debunking the traditional claim that adding salt to water brightened a vegetable's colour - the green of green beans, for example.

Yep. Have you tried any of his ideas?

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar


Goodoh. I'd rank that 7/10. Work on flattening your vowels and increasing your waistline with a couple of hundred yards of bitter, and you're looking at 9.5/10 as a Havak clone.

Couldn't I just learn Ferench? It would save buying a new wardrobe.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside
the Australian system means that each game means more and is supported by grade cricket.

Yes, the competition extends all the way down the ladder.

I do, however, think that as the game as a whole at international level becomes divorced from domestic cricket that the competitive edge and skills will be learnt through international games.

I think that's the danger posed by the ever-increasing international workload. But the evidence is, I think, that neglecting the grassroots is the surest way to trouble. Look at the West Indies. They just assumed another Ambrose, Lara, Roberts, Marshall, et al, would appear. Unfortunately, they share a problem with England - the game is disappearing out of West Indian schools, too, replaced by a fascination with things like basketball. The current West Indian team is a classic example of trying to learn Test cricket on the job.

I think the ever-increasing international workload has also brought about an allied problem - the internationals are playing fewer and fewer domestic matches, thus the next generation, learning the ropes, are missing not only the challenge but also the vital after-play dressing room contact over a drink. I know the latter is of concern to the Australian players and the hierarchy.

The system in Australia produces better players obviously. I think that in time, however, that the English system will work to improve standards.

Well, we pioneered a system. It came about through necessity after we hit rock bottom in the 80s. Lillee, the Chappells and Marsh all retired within a season or two of each other. Suddenly, the cupboard was bare. We're still producing batsmen, but, over the last decade, we've been spoiled by having McGrath - one of the best of his generation - and Warne, a once in a century bowler. Beyond them, as is being discovered, our bowling stocks are only average, with no one of great potential on the horizon.

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar


Could have been worse. You could have hit the "f" rather than the "r".

Nah, we knew he had SH blood in his veins from the first mistake .
I can happily confirm that Finbar is a fair dinkum aussie though by what was the first word that came into his mind when the idea of having forwards was said.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside

Couldn't I just learn Ferench? It would save buying a new wardrobe.

Yes, but you'd also have to learn to misuse personal pronouns and smoke an awful bloody lot of wacky-backy. The latter of which might not be a drawback.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside
I can happily confirm that Finbar is a fair dinkum aussie though by what was the first word that came into his mind when the idea of having forwards was said.

True blue ridgey-didge, cobber, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse and chase the rider.

[finbar]

Originally posted by flipside

Yep. Have you tried any of his ideas?

Let me put it this way - my primary interest is Italian cucina. Say no more?

[finbar]

Mmmm. Graham Henry is looking for a loophole in the NZRFU rule that says foreign-based players can't be selected for the ABs. To what lengths will this man go to get Todd Blackadder back in the team?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Yes, but you'd also have to learn to misuse personal pronouns and...

What? Am I misusing the personal pronouns?

[finbar]

Only after the wacky backy kicks in.

[finbar]

Presumably Havak hasn't shown his face because he's too embarrassed by the appointment of Dallaglio as England skipper.

That, or he's as outraged as I am by the naive piece of whitewashing judicial claptrap posing as the Hutton Report!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
That, or he's as outraged as I am by the naive piece of whitewashing judicial claptrap posing as the Hutton Report!

What did you expect of a court led by a lord?

[finbar]

Exactly! And he'd be a Tory. Which only goes to show where New Labour lines up in the political spectrum.