Rugby - Truck and Trailer!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Even this far out France have to be favourites. Their record at home is awesome. And should they win it they face England at Stade de France in Spring 2008 of course. But then keep in mind they beat this England side by only three points there this year – in hindsight not as impressive as it should have been.

A win is a win.

I have a lot to catch up with as I have not yet bought this week's Midi Olympique and thus I don't know much about what you are all talking about.

I don't have the time to separate the usefull information from the drivel these days.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

I don't have the time to separate the usefull information from the drivel these days.

I've found that putting all of the rugby thread regulars on ignore helps immensely in this regard.


Frenchies hit the USA!

http://www.planetrugby.com/News/story_36982.shtml

Well in the interests of restarting the betting competition I propose a 30-40 point margin to the US?

The French side sounds relatively new - Michelak and a number of others absent.
The US, while playing at home and having at least beaten Japan in the WC shouldn't really prove too much of an obstacle?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Without a doubt. But it’s Rob Andrew’s happy little band of soldiers there – could you handle that?

Oh, that's right. Not your favourite chap. I've probably forgotten his drop goals by now. Burke should help them enormously if he stays fit. Very experienced player. You'd think they have the talent to get higher up the ladder.

Interesting about Mark P. I have thought for a while Hewitt too has not reached his potential since the inclusion of a Belgian in his life? Not sure if he has a controlling parent too?

Yes, he has controlling parents. His father was a top Aussie Rules player in Adelaide. But I think the Poo has twice the amount of natural talent Hewitt has. In fact, I'd say Hewitt has probably over achieved in terms of his God-given abilities. He doesn't have a first serve let alone a second one, but he's very quick, has terrific ground strokes, and, most important of all, massive courage. It's the latter that has carried him to some of his better wins. I also suspect that his majors came at a time when tennis was between bona fide #1s. Federer and Roddick hadn't quite arrived. They have superior games to Hewitt.

Actually that is perhaps a little unfair – there are some very good youngsters around including some girlies – but the current coach has ignored them thus far with an odd exception (the ‘success’ with Jones and Barkley coming in).

Mmmm. You said it yesterday - get the youth into the team, sort out who's up to it and who isn't. Wear the losses that might eventuate for the greater good. It spooks me when I read people on that rugby forum praying for the return of people like Greenwood.

Actually I think the last competitive game we lost (Tigers that is) was to SF in February so I’m joining Tamerlin where they are concerned -

It’s quite easy to explain. France raced to a huge half time lead and then forgot to come back out. They just faded totally and were rather relieved at the end I would say. But that is France all over – patches of superb play mixed in with periods of strange lethargy…

Must be something in the grenouille water. Look at Tamerlin's performances here. Superb posts mixed in with periods of strange lethargy.

Before and after piccies?

Here's a before. Which is to say, after grooming, before assaulting the food bowl. He's got a wet gob after having assaulted the water bowl:



I'll post an after assaulting the food bowl photo when he looks suitably like a pig.

USAP ditch a coach just for losing a final? Is the club President a Kiwi by any chance?

Probably a bank manager. Having spent all that money buying players, they fall at the final hurdle.

Watson? Well he made the RWC final close and entertaining for the neutral didn't he? Even if the coal face baffled him more than the average ref.

I can only imagine how you would've worded that had England lost the final.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have a lot to catch up with as I have not yet bought this week's Midi Olympique and thus I don't know much about what you are all talking about.

I can save you the 2F (or whatever it costs):

Over the last three weeks, there have been 10 Tests between NH and SH teams. Only ONE NH team has won - Wales beat Argentina. In the process, England lost all three Tests to SH teams by an aggregate 30-123!

I don't have the time to separate the usefull information from the drivel these days.

The immediately above is patently obviously useful information rather than drivel.

[Havak]

A win is a win.

So Wasps tell me.

How typically French to go to the USA when we really wanted them in the SH upholding the honour of the north?

You'd think they have the talent to get higher up the ladder.

They do. They have an assembled squad with some real talent in it. And have finished near the foot of the table for six seasons. One has to question the quality of the coach?

Federer and Roddick hadn't quite arrived. They have superior games to Hewitt.

Huge game today – Hewitt and Federer. The way Federer is playing it’s hard to see Hewiit winning. But you never know?

It spooks me when I read people on that rugby forum praying for the return of people like Greenwood.

It seems inevitable he will return in the autumn with Smith shining the bench. The better option IMO (and forgive me for repeating it) is Tindall-Smith starting. That has to be the future combo and should suit Smith who has played outside Gibson (similar style to Tinders). The only reason Smith did not tour is he has just had a groin oppo to fix a lingering problem.

He has to blood youth. How can he do otherwise? He drove most of the old guys into retirement and annoyed them sufficiently most are not currently interested in getting involved coaching the youngsters for Sir Clive right now. It was suicidal to treat Back and Leonard the way he did in the 6N (dropped, shining Pine etc) – those guys have plenty to pass on to the lads who tried to fill their shoes.

Superb posts mixed in with periods of strange lethargy.

How can he accuse us of low signal to noise ratio?

So Ravagon ignores us eh? So he will miss me saying that the greatest lock ever to play the game in NZ is one…Martin Johnson (Kings Country).

Bet he sees that.

Now that’s more like it – that’s the classic OESD look. All it’s lacking is a quick roll in the back garden and he would be there. Two hours of grooming blown apart in 30 seconds?

I can only imagine how you would've worded that had England lost the final.

Best that I leave that to the imagination I feel.

The immediately above is patently obviously useful information rather than drivel.

Actually it is better discretely swept under the carpet and ignored. Or is that just me?

It won’t matter in November when the cunning (I think that is the word) Sir Clive defeats the Wallabies by using his secret weapons. Hill at openside, Chris Jones at blindside and a load of clueless twonks in the girlies. We will leave it to Andy Robinson to point out to him that this masterplan has already been tried – and failed (a little bit).

We drew Wasps, Calvisano and Biarritz. The defending Champions will not make it out the group stage!

If tamerlin finds time he may tell you who Toulouse have drawn - not an easy group. I'll post the full draw later if he doesn't.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

... some stuff ...

Originally posted by Havak

... more stuff ...

* Adjusts bandpass filter and applies synthetic inversion gain *

Originally posted by Havak
So he will miss me saying that the greatest lock ever to play the game in NZ is one…Martin Johnson (Kings Country).

Hey!!


Incidentally, I'd forgotten all about the Aus-PacIsl game this weekend.
How does a 25 point start for the Wallabies sound?

[Havak]

Like you have been eating the same cake from Amsterdam that Sir Clive has been recently.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

How typically French to go to the USA when we really wanted them in the SH upholding the honour of the north?

America obviously has superior hairdressers.

They do. They have an assembled squad with some real talent in it. And have finished near the foot of the table for six seasons. One has to question the quality of the coach?

Now we're getting down to it. Okay, scrub Newcastle from my list. Mmmm. This is going to take some thought.

Huge game today – Hewitt and Federer. The way Federer is playing it’s hard to see Hewiit winning. But you never know?

Hewitt will guts it out, but Federer can do most thing Hewitt can do, and more. Like, amongst other things, serve.

It seems inevitable he will return in the autumn with Smith shining the bench. The better option IMO (and forgive me for repeating it) is Tindall-Smith starting. That has to be the future combo and should suit Smith who has played outside Gibson (similar style to Tinders). The only reason Smith did not tour is he has just had a groin oppo to fix a lingering problem.

I thought Tindall looked old and fat. Maybe he was just worn out.

He has to blood youth. How can he do otherwise? He drove most of the old guys into retirement and annoyed them sufficiently most are not currently interested in getting involved coaching the youngsters for Sir Clive right now. It was suicidal to treat Back and Leonard the way he did in the 6N (dropped, shining Pine etc) – those guys have plenty to pass on to the lads who tried to fill their shoes.

I also can't imagine why he sacked someone like Back in front of someone like Catt.

Now that’s more like it – that’s the classic OESD look. All it’s lacking is a quick roll in the back garden and he would be there. Two hours of grooming blown apart in 30 seconds?

Home, straight out the back door to stick his head into the bushes, pulling it out covered with what we call "farmer's friends" - little sticky burrs that take forever to comb out!

It won’t matter in November when the cunning (I think that is the word) Sir Clive defeats the Wallabies by using his secret weapons. Hill at openside, Chris Jones at blindside and a load of clueless twonks in the girlies. We will leave it to Andy Robinson to point out to him that this masterplan has already been tried – and failed (a little bit).

For starters, someone like Pat Howard should show them how a backline operates. How you don't execute wonderful passes thirty metres short of the defence, giving the defence half an hour to line you up and smash you. Better still, show the girlies the video of Joe Roff orchestrating some moves last Saturday night.

If tamerlin finds time he may tell you who Toulouse have drawn - not an easy group. I'll post the full draw later if he doesn't.

I suspect he's down at the embassy applying for a SH passport.

I notice Eddie has frowned on the Pacific Islands combined team concept. He's right, in the long term.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
Incidentally, I'd forgotten all about the Aus-PacIsl game this weekend.
How does a 25 point start for the Wallabies sound?

A structured game should find them out. It usually does. Anyway, it will be nice to have some competition after last Saturday night's practice match.

*crosses fingers for a structured game*

[ravagon]

Originally posted by ravagon

How does a 25 point start for the Wallabies sound?

Er, whoops ...

... I think I meant a 25 point start for the Islanders... heh.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
How typically French to go to the USA when we really wanted them in the SH upholding the honour of the north?

The reason given by the French Rugby authorities is that the French team is sent there in order to convert the North American heathens to the true and only game.

If tamerlin finds time he may tell you who Toulouse have drawn - not an easy group. I'll post the full draw later if he doesn't.

Pool 3

Stade Toulousain
Glasgow Rugby
Northampton Saints
Llanelli Scarlets

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Must be something in the grenouille water. Look at Tamerlin's performances here. Superb posts mixed in with periods of strange lethargy.

You vile flatterer...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


The reason given by the French Rugby authorities is that the French team is sent there in order to convert the North American heathens to the true and only game.

Yeah yeah. The Yanks will convert les grenouilles to basketball, more likely.

Pool 3

Stade Toulousain
Glasgow Rugby
Northampton Saints
Llanelli Scarlets

You should be able to handle that lot, shouldn't you?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin




You vile flatterer...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Yeah yeah. The Yanks will convert les grenouilles to basketball, more likely.

Not a chance...

You should be able to handle that lot, shouldn't you?

That does not look like a tough pool actually.