Rugby - Ball's Out!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I put it down to LDiCesare's urging through the moans and groans from his armchair. Oh, and the team knowing that Tamerlin had buggered up programming his VCR. What better time to be impressive than when Tamerlin can't see them?

Everybody told me I have missed nothing...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The Aussie-Scot is a lad called Parks (initial of D).

Never heard of him. Probably a club player here.

Edit. Yep, played with Eastern Suburbs here. Former Australian U21 rep. Went to Leeds. Still haven't heard of him.

The Aussie-Paddy Gleason broke his arm on Saturday and is out for two months.

Keith? Just a player, a trier. I've never understood how he's held a place in their national team. They must be hard up.

I was in at eight but was reading about how we are going to beat France before I posted.

Gotcha. Digesting every morsel. A dozen times over.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin




Everybody told me I have missed nothing...

You'd better not miss the game against les Tony Blairs!

[Havak]

Lets face it with England being the huge underdogs everyone will be supporting us - after all we are very popular in World rugby these days.

Personally I am hoping for one of those days where France fail to turn up.

[finbar]

I lost it after your first sentence. Sorry. Everything beyond the first sentence was a blur.

Matt Rogers will miss the Tri-Nations and the international matches. The dill came back too early from his ankle injury, now faces an operation and five months off!

Mmmm. Larkham to fullback, Giteau to 5/8.

[Havak]

Not a bad combination surely?

Shame about Rogers - it is always tricky coming back from injury at the right time.

I'm devastated you are not supporting England.

p.s. Are you keeping your eye on our second test in the Windies?

*Edit* England won with seven wickets in hand. The days of Ambrose and Walsh are behind them now and Lara is a shade of his old self. 2-0 up with two tests to go - rain must be the order of the day.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


You'd better not miss the game against les Tony Blairs!

Not a chance, a Rugby night with some friends is already scheduled in order to see England's demise and France's grand slam "in live"... a huge amount of dishonesty (along with a lot of beers) in perspective...

[Caligastia]

I accidentally came across this picture while surfing the net...thought I'd share.

Argentinean rugby at it's finest:

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
I accidentally came across this picture while surfing the net...thought I'd share.

Accidentally? You accidentally typed "Plastic Surgery For Fun and Profit The Argentinian Way" into Google?

Argentinean rugby at it's finest:

I think the owner of the fingers is just remembering the Falklands, don't you?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Not a bad combination surely?

I think it's the way of the future. Giteau at 5/8 anyway. Larkham's future is obviously finite. Might as well put the future platforms in place.

Shame about Rogers - it is always tricky coming back from injury at the right time.

It is, but the decision to take him to SA was a silly one. He had ligament damage. Patched up, he ended up doing even more damage. Silly short term thinking.

I'm devastated you are not supporting England.

If you were playing North Korea it might be different. Mmm. On second thoughts, no, it wouldn't be.

p.s. Are you keeping your eye on our second test in the Windies?

*Edit* England won with seven wickets in hand. The days of Ambrose and Walsh are behind them now and Lara is a shade of his old self. 2-0 up with two tests to go - rain must be the order of the day.

Yes, I've been seeing the highlights packages. A series against the Windies these days is akin to a series against Bangladesh - an opportunity to boost one's averages. What has to be guarded against, though, is self delusion.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Not a chance, a Rugby night with some friends is already scheduled in order to see England's demise and France's grand slam "in live"... a huge amount of dishonesty (along with a lot of beers) in perspective...

At least you know you can count on plenty of their lineout ball.

[Havak]

in order to see England's demise and France's grand slam "in live"...

You are watching a replay of 1998 again?

I think the owner of the fingers is just remembering the Falklands, don't you?

Hmm, dodgy stuff – given what happened to the Welsh guards down there (remember the landing ship that was bombed?).

Might as well put the future platforms in place.

Absolutely – and one thing Aussie Rugby does well is looking forward and making changes.

Rogers situation is not unique – many players push injuries too hard too fast, it has to be external pressure (coaches, clubs?). I agree with you – it was a silly decision to take him to RSA.

What has to be guarded against, though, is self delusion.

For the lads maybe – not for me. I have no illusions what it means. It simply means the West Indies no longer have a bowling attack nor any batsmen in form.

At least you know you can count on plenty of their lineout ball.

They won’t win it there (it was sorted out for the Wales game surprisingly enough). Their loose forwards and Centres worry me.

France are red hot favourites – but with a history of blowing the big games. Remember the most impressive sides going into the RWC semi finals? Neither appeared in the final.

I am confident if we can rattle their forwards and get them swinging haymakers we could upset the form books. In fact with Harinordoqoy on the field they will be down to 14 men early on – after all he hates the English so should be easy to bait.

Hold on why am I talking about form books – we are World Champions after all (at least two of the current squad were in Aus!).

[flipside]

If you were playing North Korea it might be different. Mmm. On second thoughts, no, it wouldn't be.

I am supporting England. All they need to do is beat France by 8, while we thrash Scotland by about 55ish and the 6N will be ours.

What has to be guarded against, though, is self delusion.

Oh bugger. Allez les bleus then.



Oh, and btw Grayson has just been withdrawn from the squad.
He has been replaced by Ollie.
Should plug those midfield gaps and avoid those loose forwards nicely.

[Havak]

Ollie tends to play much flatter than Grayson - Betsen will really enjoy himself.

If England beat France it is likely to be by a much bigger margin than the eight required. Rain, fisticuffs and a small handout to the ref and I see no way we can lose.

*Edit* I have to admit I like the IRB's sense of humour. The match official for Paris is scheduled to be Alain Rolland who is of course (with that name)....Irish.

Keep in mind that if England beat France by more than 8 and Ireland hammer Scotland the Irish can take the title...

[flipside]

Ollie tends to play much flatter than Grayson - Betsen will really enjoy himself.

Oh, I would think so. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mr. Catt come off the bench at some stage.

If England beat France it is likely to be by a much bigger margin than the eight required. Rain, fisticuffs and a small handout to the ref and I see no way we can lose.

*flipside checks pockets carefully*

Oh, here it is.

What has to be guarded against, though, is self delusion.

* edit to reply to edit*

*Edit* I have to admit I like the IRB's sense of humour. The match official for Paris is scheduled to be Alain Rolland who is of course (with that name)....Irish. Keep in mind that if England beat France by more than 8 and Ireland hammer Scotland the Irish can take the title...

Worried? Are we?