Rugby - We need a proper Title! (temp)

[Havak]

They committed unusual fools? Sounds like the Wallabies to me.

That was a tough run in - but I'm still surprised they lost it really - SF look nothing like the Touloiuse that played in the second half at Leeds. Tigers will really struggle to beat you in the final.

Finbar really needs to read Jonno's autobiography. He makes fools of McBain, Dwyer, McQueen and Jones for the comments they made around the Lions tour. McBain in particular comes in for very harsh criticism following his infamous maul comments. Jonno quietly points out of the 31 tries scored to that point (just before the Lions demolished his team) 20 came from Backs and 7 more were scored in non maul situations. Still never let the facts get in the way of a good stereotype though eh?

[LDiCesare]

I've got another match cancelled because of snow, cold, frozen soil and other silly impediments. Luckily, I had a game last week, and I don't think I pointed out one other great point about mud:
After a very muddy match, one of the great joys is to watch the president, who happens to be in charge to retrieve the jerseys, look at the heap of mud with bits of cotton inside and decide to move his car up to the door of the changing room in order to be able to haul the sack of mud into his car (while you're drinking a well-earned beer of course). Poor man, the sack was probably four times as heavy as before the match.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
I've got another match cancelled because of snow, cold, frozen soil and other silly impediments. Luckily, I had a game last week, and I don't think I pointed out one other great point about mud:
After a very muddy match, one of the great joys is to watch the president, who happens to be in charge to retrieve the jerseys, look at the heap of mud with bits of cotton inside and decide to move his car up to the door of the changing room in order to be able to haul the sack of mud into his car (while you're drinking a well-earned beer of course). Poor man, the sack was probably four times as heavy as before the match.

Everybody knows now why it is difficult to find a president...

Leicester 13 - Stade Français 26

A very curious game with a muddy field and a wind against the Stade Français in the first half. The Stade Français dominated most of the time but missed some opportunities to score tries while the Tigers scored two tries in the first half. But the Parisiens, with Diego Dominguez, scored some penalties when the Tigers only scored one. The Tigers will lose many games this year if they don't find a good kicker.

Though the field was muddy the two teams tried to send the ball to the backs, but the best phases were mauls and one almost led the Parisiens behind Leicester's try line.

The Tigers have not been bad, they have been tamed by a solid defence and a great Diego Dominguez. One of the weakest point of the Stade Français is Augustin Pichot, though he is a good defender he is really bad in attack... and that is not a good point for a Scrum-Half.

Mr Roland's performance as a referee has been very curious. He and the line referees have sometimes punished hardly some fouls while ignoring some others (like Martin Johnson one-handed strangulation attempt of Auradou, Neil Back punch attempt a moment later or two high tackles from the Parisian players). He has been very strict on some laws while allowing the Stade Français to score a try in the first half during which they committed at least two obvious fouls (a dummy runner and a contact), while not punishing two obvious late tackles on Diego Dominguez or allowing the Tigers to crumble almost all the mauls started by the Stade Français.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Finbar really needs to read Jonno's autobiography. He makes fools of McBain, Dwyer, McQueen and Jones for the comments they made around the Lions tour. McBain in particular comes in for very harsh criticism following his infamous maul comments. Jonno quietly points out of the 31 tries scored to that point (just before the Lions demolished his team) 20 came from Backs and 7 more were scored in non maul situations. Still never let the facts get in the way of a good stereotype though eh?

With what you're going through domestically at the moment, I don't blame you for living in the past. Just a pity that your bagging of Stade Français appears on the same page as their scoreline -v- Leicester, though.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have often witnessed that the more you brag about a game the more chances you have to lose it.

You clairvoyant, you!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Three wins in a row and I might start to think there is hope yet…

Ho hum. Back to the drawing board.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

You clairvoyant, you!

A supporter from Edinburgh is required to brag about his favorite team now!

[Tamerlin]

Stade Toulousain 33 - Edinburgh 0



More on this (and Mister White ) tonight...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
More on this (and Mister White ) tonight...

Don't worry about it. I think we've all had a gutful of incompetent NH refs.

But congrats on the win anyway. If a win over a Scots team is praiseworthy these days.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

Don't worry about it. I think we've all had a gutful of incompetent NH refs.

Even Havak doesn't like Mister White.

But congrats on the win anyway. If a win over a Scots team is praiseworthy these days.

Edinburgh is the best team of the pool (to the exception of the Stade Toulousain of course ) and several internationals are playing in this team (Chris Paterson, Scott Murray...) so they are not to be considered lightly.



The first half was a real nightmare, good movements hampered by stupid fouls pushing back the Stade Toulousain in his side of the field, the kickers of the Stade were terrible fumbling almost every ball.

The Toulousains were unable to keep the ball while Mister White was critically on the loose.

A strong Scottish defence kept a clumsy Stade at bay.

Jean-Baptiste Ellissalde scored two penalities for the Stade Toulousain while the Scottish kicker missed several ones among which two were rather easy.

Score at the end of the first-half: 6-0

The second half was another matter. The first ten minutes let us fear it could become worse until the forwards started the revolt with a beautiful maul crushing the Scottish forwards, thus starting a long and impressive sequence of actions (strong defence, scrums, mauls, attacks towards the wings) that led to a hard won try.

After the first try the Stade Toulousain played a strong and delightful game that reminded me of the great Stade Toulousain I have seen winning two finals of the French Championship in the Parc des Princes... the last one being the last final played in the Parc des Princes.




















Give us back the Parc des Princes

[Tamerlin]

By the way, great performances from Jean-Baptiste Ellissalde, the forwards, Cédric Heymans and Clément Poitrenaud.

Finbar, you will be pleased to know that, once again, Mam'zelle Labit has been elected Woman of the Game for her outstanding performance.

The Maka* brothers must also be creditted for a great game.







* It is today obvious that the Maka brothers are more Toulousains than real Toulousains. Starting from this very minute, the name of the Maka brothers shall be written in italics as all French players' names deserved to be.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Finbar, you will be pleased to know that, once again, Mam'zelle Labit has been elected Woman of the Game for her outstanding performance.

Yeah well, shows what Hormone Replacement Therapy can do for a girl.

* It is today obvious that the Maka brothers are more Toulousains than real Toulousains. Starting from this very minute, the name of the Maka brothers shall be written in italics as all French players' names deserved to be.

So quit putting Mam'zelle Lab1tch's name in italics!

[LDiCesare]

The first half was a real nightmare(...)The second half was another matter.

This can easily be explained by the fact I watched the first half and then had to leave. Since I couldn't see it, the second half had to show great play.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

This can easily be explained by the fact I watched the first half and then had to leave. Since I couldn't see it, the second half had to show great play.

This is unfortunately something that is very common as I have already experienced this kind of things in the past.

[finbar]

Me too. Particularly watching NH rugby. I watch the first half and it's crap. I stop watching. Later, someone like Tamerlin tells me the second half was wonderful.