Rugby - Swinging Handbags!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Shame on Toulouse. Enough said.

I agree and I am still angry.

Very angry!

Very, very angry!

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

For example Martin has never been cited post match for standing on the Kiwi fullbacks head.

I maintain that the kiwi fullback though it was just another part of the pitch.
It was rumoured that a detailed post-match chemical analysis to distinguish between the two came back inconclusive.

That’s what we want to ascertain. We ‘know’ from Finbar’s confessions that Eddie had a hand in it – but did the NZ Union as well?

Heaven forbid! Do you actually dare to suggest that we would ever do anything so underhanded?
Sometimes I doubt that you'll be happy until you're in a pool with Japan, Italy, Romania and the RoK.
Incidentally, for the right price I'll see what I can do ...

Either way I think Finbar had a point – Mitch is clearly keeping his options open with a view to getting the poison chalice again?

He may be but I doubt the board feels the same way. Canning someone for a poor performance is one thing, but then reinstating him after the failure of his successor?
There'd be some board members heads rolling on that day.

Well England on their own have a greater pool of talent. They might arguably not always convert that into on field success as well as the Kiwis. Cherry pick from the Celts and it can only be even better surely? If you disagree by all means tell me the last time the ABs overcame England?

The last time they played them of course. Barring two. As you well know.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


I agree and I am still angry.

Very angry!

Very, very angry!

I'm gathering from your post that you're not entirely happy?

[Tamerlin]

True, the Stade Toulousain lost a home game 18-24 against the Stade Français after a pitifull match. I am really angry.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
True, the Stade Toulousain lost a home game 18-24 against the Stade Français after a pitifull match. I am really angry.

So you were at the match?

[finbar]

My Brush With Fame

Yesterday, in the local supermarket, I saw Eddie. He was buying mineral water and apples with his pretty little daughter. Obviously gets her looks from her mother. Later, I stood behind him in the checkout queue. Gee, he's small. He'd be lucky to be five foot nine. And quite slight. Hard to believe he was ever one of the more ferocious hookers in New South Wales rugby.

[Havak]

Frankly you could write what I know about composers on a postage stamp. That one is your ball to run with Finbar.

He has looked very calm and self-assured. Smug, even. Not just as a result of the Chiefs' success, methinks.

Well you all know my position on Henry – so Mitchell has good cause to be smug methinks.

Australia!

We only injured their pride. When they win the tri-nations this year they will get over that one – and probably even start saying things like “if we replayed the final now we would stuff you”. We will loftily ignore them and polish Bill up nice and shiny.

Hmm so it is ACT-Canterbury. There is an awfully familiar feel to that line up?

But lets recap what happened in the big league play offs:

Tigers 43 Quins 26

We were cruising at 40-7 up when he pulled Jonno and the scrum half off – and the pattern disappeared. Still a fairly good day at the office I think. We face Glaws in the wildcard final (if it is played) as they just squeezed past Sale.

Wasps 57 Saints 20

I have said it before – but Wasps really are looking awesome right now. Unless Toulouse can really raise their game they risk being on the end of a terrible beating. The only team I think could stop Wasps now is Tigers.

Ooh now look at that transfer news. Burke sent packing. I have to admit I like that – he was the biggest arse of the Lions tour – exceeding VD even. Lets hope no one offers him anything?

Staniforth to London Irish. Well why not? They were the only Premiership team not to lose a single player to international duty during the six nations – they are practically a SH side.

I maintain that the kiwi fullback though it was just another part of the pitch.

Which doesn’t explain how Williams ended up stood on Josh Lewsey?

Is he still the best second row the Kiwis have to back Jack up?

Sometimes I doubt that you'll be happy until you're in a pool with Japan, Italy, Romania and the RoK.

Quite right – although if we could have Georgia instead of Italy I would be grateful. Give you a gallon of Old Speckled Hen if you can swing it?

There'd be some board members heads rolling on that day.

That’s what I love about kiwi rugby – the guy after all only lost one game in an RWC semi. He delivered a ‘Slam’ in last years tri-nations. By Kiwi criteria Clive should have been sacked in 1997.

The last time they played them of course. Barring two. As you well know.

Yes – sometime in 1999 I think (I was still young back then) - but I need to get the digs in before next month when things might change.

True, the Stade Toulousain lost a home game 18-24 against the Stade Français after a pitifull match. I am really angry.

Beware the Wasps!!

Hard to believe he was ever one of the more ferocious hookers in New South Wales rugby.

If you see him again wish him a long and happy life from me and Jonno. But tell him Clive is the better coach.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Beware the Wasps!!

My pronostics:

- Heavy defeat against the Wasps
- Loss against Biarritz away from home
- Loss against the Stade Français in Paris.

I think they will not qualify themselves for the final phases of the French Championship and that there wil be no H-Cup next year.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Frankly you could write what I know about composers on a postage stamp. That one is your ball to run with Finbar.

And Tamerlin isn't interested in the cause either. A SH bod has to fly the flag for NH culture!

Hmm so it is ACT-Canterbury. There is an awfully familiar feel to that line up?

Same old thing, despite the Crusader hiccups along the way.

Ooh now look at that transfer news. Burke sent packing. I have to admit I like that – he was the biggest arse of the Lions tour – exceeding VD even. Lets hope no one offers him anything?

After the report in yesterday's paper that he had been flicked by both Waratahs and Wallabies, this morning's paper has Eddie saying he's not out of the Wallaby equation at all. Might have something to do with Stirling Mortlock's knee injury on the weekend. I should have asked Eddie in the supermarket yesterday.

Staniforth to London Irish. Well why not? They were the only Premiership team not to lose a single player to international duty during the six nations – they are practically a SH side.

He's a good player. Too good to be losing to the NH, regardless of where he's going. He has been shat on from a great height by selectors for a long time.

Is he still the best second row the Kiwis have to back Jack up?

We know Thorn isn't up to it so I suppose he has to be. But Chris Jack hasn't been setting the world on fire either.

If you see him again wish him a long and happy life from me and Jonno. But tell him Clive is the better coach.

Get back to me when Clive lifts the team from third best in the NH.

[Havak]

German and French culture Finbar – the great composers cannot be raised in association with UK culture after all.

Might have something to do with Stirling Mortlock's knee injury on the weekend. I should have asked Eddie in the supermarket yesterday.

When do the tri-nations start? Burke has been contracted by the Barbarians for the now regular series of games against the home nations starting the last weekend in May.

He has been shat on from a great height by selectors for a long time.

He needs to understand where he is going. London Irish always end up mid to low table despite having spent a lot of money. They could almost be London Tribe on their own. Why didn’t he come to Tigers?

But Chris Jack hasn't been setting the world on fire either.

He showed huge potential last summer – but the RWC semi did him no good (not any other AB of course). Last June I would have said give him another decade and he could be 80% of full Lantern jawed potential – but now the jury is back out…

Get back to me when Clive lifts the team from third best in the NH.

We are still the best side in the NH as you well know. France consists mainly of Toulouse and Stade Francais players so there is no threat there. And Ireland were just lucky. And the earth really is flat too!

Clive is due to name the squad today – and once again there is the senior squad heading south whilst a development side heads to the Churchill cup in the Americas. Current indications are the young lads will head to America whilst the best vets he can muster head down south. I’ll let you know when the details are out.

[Havak]

Why do Australian Locks wear out so young? I see that Giffin is hanging his boots up at the tender age of 30?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
German and French culture Finbar – the great composers cannot be raised in association with UK culture after all.

Well, there's Benjamin Britten. Um. Errrr. And those drunken f*ckwits from Oasis. Mmmm. I take your point.

When do the tri-nations start? Burke has been contracted by the Barbarians for the now regular series of games against the home nations starting the last weekend in May.

Tri-Nations are mid-July to mid-August. It's reported in this morning's paper that he will be released from his contract at the end of the Tri-Nations and not held until December. The ARU now has a policy of considering early releases subject to length of service and the proximity of the release to the end of the contract. Mortlock is probably going to miss the two Tests against Scotland with his knee injury. I suspect Eddie wants Burke around as a back up. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised, though, if Lote Tuquiri has a run at outside centre. Eddie has long thought it's where Tuquiri really belongs.

He needs to understand where he is going. London Irish always end up mid to low table despite having spent a lot of money. They could almost be London Tribe on their own. Why didn’t he come to Tigers?

You obviously didn't get in quickly enough. He has shades of Ben Cohen about him with his size and strength, and he could even be quicker than Cohen.

He showed huge potential last summer – but the RWC semi did him no good (not any other AB of course). Last June I would have said give him another decade and he could be 80% of full Lantern jawed potential – but now the jury is back out…

He suffered badly during the Crusaders' early-season crap form. They were, inexplicably, a rabble. They're 100% better now, but still, I would opine, at least 25% down on what they were at their best. They still misfire and their once impeccable defence is leaky. I think Jack is still the best of their locks. He probably just needs some confidence. He missed last week with injury.

We are still the best side in the NH as you well know. France consists mainly of Toulouse and Stade Francais players so there is no threat there. And Ireland were just lucky. And the earth really is flat too!

Clive is due to name the squad today – and once again there is the senior squad heading south whilst a development side heads to the Churchill cup in the Americas. Current indications are the young lads will head to America whilst the best vets he can muster head down south. I’ll let you know when the details are out.

Bring on the vets!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Why do Australian Locks wear out so young? I see that Giffin is hanging his boots up at the tender age of 30?

I think he has a fairly chronic back problem. He's been coming off the bench for most of the season.

[Havak]

Eddie has long thought it's where Tuquiri really belongs.

According to reports here he is considering returning to the inferior code with Gold Coast?

He has shades of Ben Cohen about him with his size and strength, and he could even be quicker than Cohen.

Tigers are notorious for their rather casual attitude to signings so I am hardly surprised we lost him. I’ll keep an eye out for him when the exiles are on the box next season. I hope someone told him that London Irish actually play in Reading (boring little town)?

Bring on the vets!

It’s an interesting squad – but more on that later.

I think he has a fairly chronic back problem. He's been coming off the bench for most of the season.

That would excuse him a great deal – bad backs I can sympathise with.

The Wallabies still look weak in the second row – Sharp, Vickerman, Plank? Looks weak up against Shaw and Grewcock on paper.

So the big news I think is that Clive is ‘resting’ Ben Kay, Greenwood and Robinson. He has hinted this is because he wants them fresh for the autumn tests. Kay has certainly been struggling – he has been coming off the bench for Tigers and does look tired. Greenwood was widely rumoured not to go as his form has not been good – and Robinson has been reported as claiming he is exhausted (he has played rugby pretty much non-stop since the 6N in 2001).

Greenwood had something to say about the tour yesterday:
"Everybody is writing us off already but that is nothing new. We are used to that. They did that last year and look what happened. There will still be a lot of quality players on that plane who enjoy being told they have got no chance."
This did bring a smile to my face as I recalled all the pre-match media talk last year of how many the ABs would stuff us by.
As for the squad itself eleven of the boys are 24 or under – and as I tipped young Harry Ellis travels as third scrum half. However Dawson is struggling for fitness and Gommers not playing well so the lad may well get his baptism of fire.
Other Tigers making the trip are Julian White and Martin Corry – both players being key to Tigers resurgence recently. Ollie Smith sadly misses out – he picked up an injury is Saturday’s game with Quins. But that is good news for the SH as it means the centres travelling are Stuart Abbott (Wasps), Mike Catt (Bath), Mike Tindall (Bath), Fraser Waters (Wasps) – and that looks weak to me.

Anyway here is the full squad:

Full-backs/Wings: Phil Christophers (Leeds), Ben Cohen (Northampton), Josh Lewsey (Wasps), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Tom Voyce (Wasps)

Centres: Stuart Abbott (Wasps), Mike Catt (Bath), Mike Tindall (Bath), Fraser Waters (Wasps)

Fly-halves: Olly Barkley (Bath), Charlie Hodgson (Sale)

Scrum-halves: Matt Dawson (Northampton), Harry Ellis (Leicester), Andy Gomarsall (Gloucester)

Hookers: Mark Regan (Leeds), Steve Thompson (Northampton), Andy Titterrell (Sale)

Props: David Flatman (Bath), Matt Stevens (Bath), Julian White (Leicester), Trevor Woodman (Gloucester)

Locks: Steve Borthwick (Bath), Danny Grewcock (Bath), Simon Shaw (Wasps)

Back-row: Martin Corry (Leicester), Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps), Richard Hill (Saracens), Chris Jones (Sale), Michael Lipman (Bath), Joe Worsley (Wasps)

So it’s the same old story – they look more than powerful enough up front to master anything thrown at them – but the backs, particularly the midfield, look suspect. Traditional England?

We remain as far as I know the only side that holds two summer tours and the squad being sent to America is also interesting as young lock Louis Deacon gets his call up. It can only be a matter of time before he makes the full side. Also travelling with this squad is Tigers hooker George Chuter – who just over three years ago declared he was done with rugby and went back packing in some colonial backwater for a few months before realising Leicester was a much nicer place to be. It’s a remarkable renaissance for the lad.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Anyway here is the full squad:
...
...

Too many Wasps!