Rugby - Ball's Out!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Another player was reported as claiming that gang-bangs were part of the Canterbury club culture in particular and L***** in general...

Maybe is it a part of the campaign designed to attract women to Rugby L*****.

[finbar]

Yes, the irony is delicious. The ARL is, obviously, spewing about it. Canterbury is the club that deliberately breached its salary cap - and covered it up - by more than a million dollars the year before last. They were leading the comp when it was discovered. The ARL deducted all its points for the season, sending them to the bottom of the comp with zero points. If any of the rape allegations are proved, the ARL will punish the club just about out of existence.

[Caligastia]

Huh. Serves them right for playing l*****

[finbar]

Tidbits:

1. Andrew Mehrtens starts this week for the Crusaders against the Reds.

2. A report in this morning's press to the effect that Clive, looking for matches for his "A" team, frustrated by Scotland and Wales abandoning their "A" teams and the cancellation of a match against Italy, could be looking to a Super 12 team or two to help him out.

[Havak]

M-hm. So he will outrank Dougie if and when he gets an injury-free run?

Is that how it read? I meant he will finally catch the eye of the SH if he gets such a run – and lets face it SANZAR tend to be a little blinkered when the only NH club players they see are has beens like Kevin Yates and Gregor Townsend. Murphy’s quality is already acknowledged here, believe me. It is no wind up when I say I rate him higher than Howlett – he is that good IMHO.

One wonderful moment amongst it all, though. When asked if gang-bangs were part of rugby union culture, a former player said they were. Except the union lads kissed the girl afterwards.

That is some quote all right!

The whole thing has gone gloriously without mention up here. But then League is a tiny minority sport even compared to Union. Even Challenge cup results struggle to get more than a brief mention on the radio news of the day. Shame.

It’s serious stuff of course – I wouldn’t want to trivialise it too much other than to say maybe they should ban L*****?

…could be looking to a Super 12 team or two to help him out.

Why are you so happy? He is suggesting that S12 sides are the strength of Scotland or Wales A sides!!! It's a huge insult surely?

Seriously it's only the Bok franchises apparently – nothing personal to Aus/NZ but rather because of the similar time zones making it comparatively easy to travel for a brief period (similar to a 6N fixture). Personally I am all for it – as the other Unions (except France) abandon their A sides it can only help us to have a second 22 of lads getting experience of 'international' rugby.

Okay now Leicester played the Barbarians last night. We fielded an understrength side with some lads from the development squad thrown in and the legend Zinzan coached the baa-baa’s. Sounds like I’m pre-empting a huge loss doesn’t it? Well get this:

Leicester 69-21 Barbarians

It was a rout – and I think Zinzan has proved yet again (after his time at Quins) that not all great players make great coaches.

Just for reference I’ll post the teams below – it wasn’t the strongest Baa-baas side but on paper it should have been much better than it was.

This is the fixture that in amateur days was played on boxing day and attracted the biggest names in world rugby. People bought season tickets just to get to this game. It’s one of the things going Professional did ruin – ‘what you gain on the swings…’ and all that.

Leicester: M Holford, J Richards, J White, M Corry, J Hamilton, W Johnson, L Abraham A Balding, T Tierney, J van der Westhuyzen, J Holtby, D Gibson, G Gelderbloom , G Murphy, A Goode.

Replacements: P Clarke, G Chuter, R Nebbett, D Montagu, A Wright, S Glitherow, N Baxter

Barbarians: K Faiva'ai, T Leota, A Galasso, A Codling, B Casey, D Danaher, K Dawson, G Delaney, M Williams, N Jenkins, D Cech, A Marinos, M Denney, T Beim, W Serevi.

Replacements: T Fuga, A Jackson, S Hall, P Short, S Bonetti, I Derenalagui, L Balue

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Is that how it read? I meant he will finally catch the eye of the SH if he gets such a run – and lets face it SANZAR tend to be a little blinkered when the only NH club players they see are has beens like Kevin Yates and Gregor Townsend. Murphy’s quality is already acknowledged here, believe me. It is no wind up when I say I rate him higher than Howlett – he is that good IMHO.

Gotcha!

The whole thing has gone gloriously without mention up here. But then League is a tiny minority sport even compared to Union. Even Challenge cup results struggle to get more than a brief mention on the radio news of the day. Shame.

I thought it might have had a run in "The Sun". A copy of which one of your office cleaners might have left lying around.

It’s serious stuff of course – I wouldn’t want to trivialise it too much other than to say maybe they should ban L*****?

The ARL is absolutely totally ropeable. Understandably. Just to ice the cake for the ARL, today, at a combined codes - L*****, rugby and AFL - function, the Australian L***** team captain offered this from the podium (and to set the context, St George won 11 L***** premierships in a row back in the 60s, and Johnny Raper was one of their legendary players): "St George won eleven titles with one Raper, imagine how many Canterbury will win". Two minutes later, he was grovelling and apologising. L***** has this wonderful habit of self-destructing. If only it would go the whole hog.

Seriously it's only the Bok franchises apparently – nothing personal to Aus/NZ but rather because of the similar time zones making it comparatively easy to travel for a brief period (similar to a 6N fixture).

I assumed it was the Bok teams. None of which would be competitive against the Bognor Regis 3rd XV. So why bother anyway?

it wasn’t the strongest Baa-baas side ....

Barbarians: K Faiva'ai, T Leota, A Galasso, A Codling, B Casey, D Danaher, K Dawson, G Delaney, M Williams, N Jenkins, D Cech, A Marinos, M Denney, T Beim, W Serevi.

Replacements: T Fuga, A Jackson, S Hall, P Short, S Bonetti, I Derenalagui, L Balue

Um ... who?

[Havak]

Gotcha!

Bugger!

I thought it might have had a run in "The Sun". A copy of which one of your office cleaners might have left lying around.

Thankfully not.

Two minutes later, he was grovelling and apologising

Oh my god – talk about ill considered jokes. It makes the one about Cocklers cracked by that Tory moo up here seem almost reasonable…

I assumed it was the Bok teams. None of which would be competitive against the Bognor Regis 3rd XV. So why bother anyway?

I think it is to embarass the Countries that have ditched their A sides perhaps – Clive kind of works like that, as in toss an idea out and get press space...

Um ... who?

You missed the top points scorer in international rugby then? And the Fijian wizard? Apart from that you are right – the names used to sell tickets were conspicuous by their absence.

None of which changes the fact Zinzan does not seem to be a natural coach.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Tidbits:

1. Andrew Mehrtens starts this week for the Crusaders against the Reds.

It's about time. The Crusaders really lift with him in the team. Not exactly a tough match to bring him on for though.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
None of which changes the fact Zinzan does not seem to be a natural coach.

I recall Zinzan making an utter goose of himself with his opinions during the WRC.

[Havak]

It's easily done - he is a heck of a nice guy so I am told - but he is neither a natural pundit nor coach.

Fitzy seems to have taken on the role for the six nations. He gets a special award for continually stating the bleeding obvious ("what they need to do is get the ball up the other end"!!!).

Still he has competition from Brian Moore who describes everything as 'handbags' that doesn't actually result in someone going unconscious. If they do pass out from a haymaker it gets decribed as a 'slap'.

Tomorrow could be interesting - I suspect Ireland may turn us over. They are well motivated and coming off a good win - whilst we have drafted a guy I simply don't rate at all to fill J's shirt and are persisting with that mis-shaped back row with Hill at 7. I hope I'm wrong of course!

Naturally Wales will beat France on Sunday (wait for Mr )

Can Italy turn over the Scots tomorrow I wonder?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Tomorrow could be interesting - I suspect Ireland may turn us over. They are well motivated and coming off a good win - whilst we have drafted a guy I simply don't rate at all to fill J's shirt and are persisting with that mis-shaped back row with Hill at 7. I hope I'm wrong of course!

And why is Neil Back - so to speak - back on the bench? What sort of selection is that? At his age?

Naturally Wales will beat France on Sunday (wait for Mr )

He's currently in Cardiff with a lump of coal claiming citizenship.

Can Italy turn over the Scots tomorrow I wonder?

I doubt they can get their act together sufficiently.

The Chiefs rolled the Blues tonight. Gee, the Blues are struggling. They lost Rokococo early with a shoulder injury but his presence wouldn't have helped them. They never looked in control, never seemed coordinated. They haven't in any of the three matches, despite the win against the Crusaders. To the Chiefs' credit, they played very well, never giving the Blues an inch. Carlos went off injured midway through the second half but he hadn't had any great impact.

Waratahs thumped the Cats. Another super first half - helped by the incompetent Cats missing 19 tackles in the first half - followed by a lacklustre second half, which would worry the coach. So would Matt Rogers being carted off on the medi-cab in the last minute with an ankle injury. He's been in sublime, silky form. Hopefully it's not serious.

[Havak]

And why is Neil Back - so to speak - back on the bench? What sort of selection is that? At his age?

A good one!

You know I am actually old to enough to remember when there were coal mines in Wales. That is scary.

It does rather look like Waratahs are making the early pace. Who was it who suggested it won't be a Kiwi side winning this year – they may have a point?

If Blues keep struggling and Henry jumps another way for the tri-series we may have Carlos signed and sealed sooner rather than later. I’m trying to work out if that is a good thing!?

*edit* On the day you were telling me about Canterbury League side and their legal troubles Seven Leicester City Soccer players were heading into deep trouble in Spain. Six are still in custody on suspicion of various offences that all revolve around an alledged sexual assault on three German women. Another sport shooting itself in the foot...

[LDiCesare]

I see Magne has been dropped - how do you feel about that?

(maybe a bit exaggerated, but he's so overrated...)

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It does rather look like Waratahs are making the early pace.

They've played one complete game. Against the Crusaders. Apart from that, they've played two great halves in the other two matches. Currently, IMHO, the Brumbies would thump them. That aside, the Waratahs are benefiting enormously from the presence of Plank and Vickerman. Last year, their lineouts were a joke. Not so this year.

*edit* On the day you were telling me about Canterbury League side and their legal troubles Seven Leicester City Soccer players were heading into deep trouble in Spain. Six are still in custody on suspicion of various offences that all revolve around an alledged sexual assault on three German women. Another sport shooting itself in the foot...

I read about it. I saw the words "Leicester" and "sex allegations" in the headline. Naturally I assumed that J**** had rubbed the lantern object up against some poor unfortunate lass.

[LDiCesare]

Forza Italia!

Italy beat Scotland by 20-14 (or 16 - I didn't really check the result of the last kick).

Scots are pitiful. They are unable to attack, scored one try at the end of the match but really they were lucky the Italians gave them 9 points out of silly penalties. Very unsurprising match, but entertaining nonetheless.