Rugby - We need a proper Title! (temp)

[Havak]

The official Review is quite bizarre - it's quite rude to various nations at various times via the narration. All our respective countries receive a few swipes at one time or another.

And the Aussie game commentators are truly priceless - capable of being as ruthlessly rude about their own boys as they are to anyone else. I defy any non Aussie not to smile as they grudgingly acknowledge good play from teams they clearly don't particularly like...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The official Review is quite bizarre - it's quite rude to various nations at various times via the narration. All our respective countries receive a few swipes at one time or another.

And the Aussie game commentators are truly priceless - capable of being as ruthlessly rude about their own boys as they are to anyone else. I defy any non Aussie not to smile as they grudgingly acknowledge good play from teams they clearly don't particularly like...

I wonder who you're hearing. I think Greg Martin, Wallaby fullback from the '80s, is about the best of them in terms of honesty. He applauds good play - and berates bad play - regardless of the team.

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar


And, presumably, they have the foreign rights to sell?

I have RAI International on cable. I bet the rugby won't turn up there!

Okay. AFAIK.

BBC have the rights for Wales, England and Scotland.
RTE has the rights for Ireland.
France Television has the rights for France.

Each of these broadcasters has a reciprical deal in place to use the others visual feed.

Each union arranges their own broadcasting rights, remember the problem with England home games a few years back.
Each broadcaster can then sell games to other markets on a delay, for the Unions that they have the rights to.
Setanta is a closed circuit satellite broadcaster for the Irish ex-patriate community, mainly in the US and Ausralasia.
I know that they are showing the first three games which covers the French, Italian and BBC broadcasters.
They broadcast on a 48-hour delay and is how the Crusader's are showing the games, I would imagine.
The reason for them not showing games in Australia I don't know, they say to contact the Sydney office.

[flipside]

*I deny ever making this post. flipside was not here*

[flipside]

Originally posted by flipside


I can imagine.
"Oh yeah, Wilkinson has the ball.......Jeez they are gonna kick a drop-goal to win the cup. Christ how negative. They really think that winning is the only thing. "
"It's from his wrong foot"
"It's a wobbly bugger"
"And England have finally won something due to the fact that they have a flukey kicker that hits it equally badly off of either foot."
"And England, who have never won the Tri- Nations, finally win the next biggest tourney."

*flipside gives up on sports commentary as a career as well*

[Havak]

I wonder who you're hearing

I’m certain he is one of the team I heard. Tye dulcet tones of Poido certainly crop up and he frankly is as clueless as Stuart Barnes of Sky (this is a huge insult – trust me on that).

My old mate Budda sits between – sometimes very objective and others rabidly biased – occasionally torn between the two (just try to watch Balshaw’s try against Samoa again some time – the guy clearly didn’t know which tack to take!).

Each union arranges their own broadcasting rights, remember the problem with England home games a few years back.

Even now with the contract back on BBC this problem still exists. As unpopular as it remains with the other Unions the rights to England home games continue to draw a premium price. It’s simple economics though – the potential audience for England is much larger than that for the other home nations.

So Wales-Scotland then? What price Scotland getting the win?

I’m afraid France and England looks clear winners in the other fixtures?

Strangely with regards to that drop goal the Aussie commentators were highly complimentary. I think they were pleased that their boys ended so close. The more you watch that game the more the mind boggles that England didn’t cruise away with it frankly. Still they didn’t quite manage to blow it thank god.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I’m certain he is one of the team I heard. Tye dulcet tones of Poido certainly crop up and he frankly is as clueless as Stuart Barnes of Sky (this is a huge insult – trust me on that).

Poido made very few appearances in the commentary box during the WRC. Dan Crowley, former prop, seemed to take his place. Greg Martin is the fast-talking one with the turn of phrase who's quick to pick up the tactics.

We had two main commentators - David Fordham and Gordon Bray. Bray is the vastly superior caller.

My old mate Budda sits between – sometimes very objective and others rabidly biased – occasionally torn between the two (just try to watch Balshaw’s try against Samoa again some time – the guy clearly didn’t know which tack to take!).

Buddha's not that bad. He will over-celebrate Australia's good play but he still recognises and applauds the oppo's good play. There's just too much of the former.

So Wales-Scotland then? What price Scotland getting the win?

They should win well. They need to, if they're to carry on from their WRC form.

I’m afraid France and England looks clear winners in the other fixtures?

I don't mind that France looks a clear winner.

Strangely with regards to that drop goal the Aussie commentators were highly complimentary. I think they were pleased that their boys ended so close.

More than that, they always acknowledged England were a very good team. Even when England were p*ssing around early on.

The more you watch that game the more the mind boggles that England didn’t cruise away with it frankly. Still they didn’t quite manage to blow it thank god.

You could have lost the match. The Wallabies were never going to let you cruise away with it.

[Havak]

We had two main commentators - David Fordham and Gordon Bray. Bray is the vastly superior caller.

The problem with the review is whilst I get the Aussie commentary the pundits are never actually named. Are these guys and Mr Crowley of a similar guttural style to Poido – certainly someone was talking pants quite a lot and I simply assumed it was Poido based on his performances in the last tri nations.

Don’t forget the review has footage of every single game so at times the ‘C’ team must have been on duty?

There's just too much of the former.

Well you clearly meant ‘the latter’ here?

They should win well. They need to, if they're to carry on from their WRC form.

But I was asking about Scotland’s chances…

I don't mind that France looks a clear winner.

Hot favourites for the title in fact. An England side bereft of tigers cannot win in Paris.

More than that, they always acknowledged England were a very good team. Even when England were p*ssing around early on.

Even when rocked in early games no team actually finished within ten points of England until the final. So how exactly were they p*ssing around one wonders?

You could have lost the match. The Wallabies were never going to let you cruise away with it.

Absolutely we could have lost it. We couldalso have run away with it. I never got the same feeling that the Wallabies could have – they were awfully tenacious and dogged about it but they were simply hanging on and living off scraps from our indiscipline. It’s a game we should have taken far greater control of – and repeated viewings only convince me of this more and more.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


The problem with the review is whilst I get the Aussie commentary the pundits are never actually named. Are these guys and Mr Crowley of a similar guttural style to Poido – certainly someone was talking pants quite a lot and I simply assumed it was Poido based on his performances in the last tri nations.

Don’t forget the review has footage of every single game so at times the ‘C’ team must have been on duty?

Is this a DVD? What's it called? I might get it and ID some of the callers.

But I was asking about Scotland’s chances…

You can't talk about Scotland's chances without addressing the Welsh. If the Welsh play up to their WRC form, they will win. If they don't, who knows? It will be whomever is less incompetent on the day.

Hot favourites for the title in fact. An England side bereft of tigers cannot win in Paris.

No, an England side, half of which has retired, with the other half unavailable through a shoulder injury, cannot win in Paris.

Even when rocked in early games no team actually finished within ten points of England until the final. So how exactly were they p*ssing around one wonders?

Absolutely we could have lost it. We couldalso have run away with it. I never got the same feeling that the Wallabies could have – they were awfully tenacious and dogged about it but they were simply hanging on and living off scraps from our indiscipline. It’s a game we should have taken far greater control of – and repeated viewings only convince me of this more and more.

I'll let you slumber on in your dreamtime of three months ago. I realise it's vastly more palatable than the current dismal reality. I'm sure your future grandchildren - in whatever form and place they might be at the moment - are hoping to Christ you lose all power of speech by the time they get to sit on your knee and be bored sh*tless about that one day in November 2003.

[Havak]

It’s called “Rugby World Cup - Official Review 2003” and I was lent the VHS video version but it is also available on DVD.

It will be whomever is less incompetent on the day.

I think I really just wanted to know who you personally thought that might be.

I actually fancy Scotland to sneak it. Wales are getting very confident based on just two games in the RWC (both of which ultimately exposed their weaknesses after all) – it may prove to be their undoing.

No, an England side, half of which has retired, with the other half unavailable through a shoulder injury, cannot win in Paris.

There is, unfortunately, too much truth in that!

I was half expecting a “your country needs you” call to go out to Jonno when fans realised what a strange side Clive has picked. Just wishful thinking.

are hoping to Christ you lose all power of speech by the time they get to sit on your knee and be bored sh*tless about that one day in November 2003.

Not forgetting that day in March 2003 when we upset the entire Irish nation too. 2003 really was a very good year for us. The poor little sods will also be regaled with such trivia as “I remember a time when we got five consecutive wins against the reigning world champs with the fifth taking Bill away from under their noses”.

Who knows - I may also have to tell them that I remember a time when Tigers used to be a good side...

[LDiCesare]

Ergo, of absolutely no interest to anyone outside Ulster.

Hey! No! I know Setanta/Cuchulainn, and Conchobar Mc Nessa (OK, it's pronounced Conor, but I prefere to spell it that way). I even read the French translation of the Leabhar Gabala (book of conquests) and whatever I could find of the Book of the Red Branch and the Tain Bo Cualnge. I love Irish mythology.

Paul Grayson is efficient though not creative, this is at least the way I remember him...

As far as I remember, England's games under his leadership were rather unimaginative.

Tamerlin, flipside DID say "An old school English 10". You didn't have to repeat it.

I checked the team France is fielding. Tamerlin will be happy to see his favourite club's scrum and fly halves together. I will be relieved to see Yachvili stay on the bench, except it looks like he's here to replace both halves (since both of them can play 10, Elissalde will probably play 10 if Michalak gets hurt, and Y. would play 9). I also counted no less than six Toulousains in the team.

Oh, and I played and won a match last Wednesday. One of our wingers even made a pass between his legs which directly led to a try. Of course, if the center who passed him the ball hadn't thrown it badly, the winger could have scored it himself, but it was still a great move. This was a really good game for me. I managed to be penalised only once, ran with the ball twice, doing one pass while still spending lots of time in the scrums, rucks and mauls (lots of mauls). Mmmm... 2 balls in the match and I'm happy. I've been playing hooker for too long.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I was lent the VHS video version

So the poor bastard will get his VHS back in tatters from having been rewound, replayed and paused so many times during the Final match.

I think I really just wanted to know who you personally thought that might be.

How can I know? I have no idea what's been going on over there in the lead up to these matches.

I actually fancy Scotland to sneak it.

In that case, obviously, I fancy Wales.

Not forgetting that day in March 2003 when we upset the entire Irish nation too. 2003 really was a very good year for us. The poor little sods will also be regaled with such trivia as “I remember a time when we got five consecutive wins against the reigning world champs with the fifth taking Bill away from under their noses”.

And, being s***** fans, they will chorus: "Bill Who?".

Who knows - I may also have to tell them that I remember a time when Tigers used to be a good side...

I think you'd be better to let them learn about it at school in Ancient History. Somehow, if something is written down, it has a feeling of credibility.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Hey! No! I know Setanta/Cuchulainn, and Conchobar Mc Nessa (OK, it's pronounced Conor, but I prefere to spell it that way). I even read the French translation of the Leabhar Gabala (book of conquests) and whatever I could find of the Book of the Red Branch and the Tain Bo Cualnge. I love Irish mythology.

Turn it up! flipside will be having delusions of grandeur!

Mmmm... 2 balls in the match and I'm happy. I've been playing hooker for too long.

Still, it puts you one up on Havak. He was happy if his hooker didn't mistake him for the beer keg and try to yank the tap.

I notice Tamerlin has disappeared again. Off to apply for the job running the merged Air France and KLM, no doubt.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

I notice Tamerlin has disappeared again. Off to apply for the job running the merged Air France and KLM, no doubt.

Not at all my dear, but since a few days the posters here are mainly arguing about Intra-Commonwealth issues. As I am obviously nor a subject nor a former subject of Her Majesty your Queen I have to wear the veil of neutrality*.





*Though I am damn happy England has taken the World Cup out of the hands of the Southern heathens.

[flipside]

Originally posted by finbar
I don't mind that France looks a clear winner.

And I don't care if Australia sinks.