Rugby - Swinging Handbags!

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

Wasn't this a classic case of the player being the problem? The player, of Serbian descent, offered a symbolic gesture to the crowd of Croatian descent that was culturally highly offensive to Croatians.

Er, yes, quite.
I cleverly managed to leave out the part indicating that I was referring specifically to the act of a player retaliating for a slur - Tuiali'i being a case-in-point.
Whereas a player retaliating for an act might spark at most, generally speaking, an on-field fracas, the above act directed towards part of the opposing fan-base in the crowd might have led to any number of far worse off-field incidents - Bottles and other projectiles being thrown, actual riots, etc.
I shudder to think what might have happened if there had been a larger number of Croats in close proximity.

I don't think there's too much doubt that the crowd reaction was a little more than he'd intended, and, perhaps a little in his defense, other soccer players have, in principle, done worse, but then they haven't been so incredibly stupid as to incite centuries-old blood feuds.
I would've banned him from domestic competition permanently if I'd had the choice.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

I saw the movie at the cinema and I was pleasantly surprised though I found two scenes ridiculous (among which the fight on the cart) and two rejoinders a bit out of place.

Of course that fight was ridiculous. The whole point was to make it as over-the-top as possible.
It's an action/adventure movie after all.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
I don't think there's too much doubt that the crowd reaction was a little more than he'd intended, and, perhaps a little in his defense, other soccer players have, in principle, done worse, but then they haven't been so incredibly stupid as to incite centuries-old blood feuds.
I would've banned him from domestic competition permanently if I'd had the choice.

I don't think there's anything to defend what he did. It was stupid, offensive and provocative. And, given Australian s***** crowds' propensity for culturally-based violence, very bloody dangerous.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I will remember the angry smily at the end of your sentence.

The subjunctive is one of the great, rich - and misunderstood - elements in language!

I saw the movie at the cinema and I was pleasantly surprised though I found two scenes ridiculous (among which the fight on the cart) and two rejoinders a bit out of place.

The scene featuring the undeads walking under the sea is great.

I just wish they'd had the courage to take another half an hour out of it. As it was, the first cut ran something like four hours. Yes, the undead walking underwater was lovely. Computer generation and blue-screen combined for a great visual.

It was interesting to watch/listen to the DVD commentaries by Depp and the Verbinski. Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer, was only ever really worried by one thing - the two pirates wearing dresses when they were rowing out from the cave as decoys. Typical of every producer I've ever known!

[Havak]

Okay try and tell me the draw for the 2007 RWC was fair and above board?


England get the Boks yet again.

France get Ireland

NZ and Australia get Scotland and Wales respectively as their biggest tests in the pool stage.

No way will I be convinced this was not fixed. It's like putting the ABs and Wallabies straight into the QFs as group winners. Even Graham Henry could not lose to Scotland surely (although he has previously done so).

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Okay try and tell me the draw for the 2007 RWC was fair and above board?


England get the Boks yet again.

France get Ireland

NZ and Australia get Scotland and Wales respectively as their biggest tests in the pool stage.

No way will I be convinced this was not fixed. It's like putting the ABs and Wallabies straight into the QFs as group winners. Even Graham Henry could not lose to Scotland surely (although he has previously done so).

I agree. I think it's outrageous that SH rugby has obviously bullied the IRB into pole vaulting two of its three teams straight into the QFs.

[Caligastia]

I can't decide if that's sarcasm or not...

[Havak]

It was. You should flag it more clearly Finbar.

The fact remains the draw has greatly favoured teams that don't need the help yet again. This time the Wallabies don't even get Ireland for gawds sake.

[Caligastia]

It's not like the Boks are particularly dangerous these days...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
It's not like the Boks are particularly dangerous these days...

That it is not the case of Ireland... ask Havak!

[Caligastia]

That's France's problem.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It was. You should flag it more clearly Finbar.

Was it?

The fact remains the draw has greatly favoured teams that don't need the help yet again. This time the Wallabies don't even get Ireland for gawds sake.

Yet again, I couldn't agree with you more. Teams like England, that need all the help they can get, have been thrown to the, um, springboks.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Teams like England, that need all the help they can get

[finbar]

Well, he will leave openings you could drive a Mac truck through.

[Havak]

Really?

Sometimes you spin so much it's a wonder you don't fall over.

England:

England
South Africa
Oceania 1
Americas 3
Repechage 2

Those 'mickey mouse' options have every possibility of proving to be Samoa, Tonga and Canada making this group the biggest physical challenge any team will face.

Aussie:

Australia
Wales
Oceania 2
Americas 2
Asia 1

On current rankings that is likely to be Japan, USA and Fiji I believe. So definitely a much easier group - Eddie won't even need to play the first team once to win it.

Spin your way out of that?