Rugby - Truck and Trailer!

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Originally posted by Havak


Here is a clue – Tight Head.

I noticed last year there were a lot more NH refs in the Tri-series. It seems the old system of the country not playing providing the ref has been swept away by an IRB edict?

There were two NH refs in last season's Tri Nations - the incompetent Paddy grenouille did a Boks -v- ABs match, Spreadbury did a Wallabies -v- ABs match. The others were all handled by a ref from the third nation. I don't know what the policy is.

I thought one of the young lads drafted this year is rated highly by Eddie? How is he rated by you? That may be rhetorical!

Don't forget that Eddie described Matt Dunning as the most improved S12 player in the comp of last season. There's a very young Brumbies prop, Nic Henderson, who is hanging around the squad. I think he was on the bench for the Scotland match. But he's had, at most, one season of S12.

It’s a valid question – and one the IRB need to answer. The concept of the Islanders is to develop Fijian/Samoan/Tongan rugby surely? And not to develop the already embarrassing riches of the ABs in terms of players. Someone somewhere has got it wrong.

The concept is aimed at generating some income for the PI Unions. And those players you identified are well known to the NZ Union anyway. They're S12 stars - Lauaki, in particular. So it's not as if the ABs are uncovering talent. Your next para addresses my problem with the concept -

And now the Islanders want in to the tri-nations. How can they play in that and then have players jump to the ABs? It makes a mockery of selection criteria being there in the first place?

Exactly. As it exists, the PI concept is nothing more than a basis for exhibition matches. Or, if they're to have Test status, they have to be on the same basis that the Lions operate, which we've kicked around before.

I have no answers – other than stopping the All Blacks immediately registering everyone who signs for an S12 franchise for residential qualification.

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Originally posted by Andydog


A 9 point win in those conditions is a fair thrashing - certainly a big enough for bragging rights!

Winning by a lip, in horse racing parlance, would be enough for you! And me, too.

NZ played to the conditions and maintained their game plan for 80 minutes. Henry obviously told them at half-time to forget about flinging it wide. Spencer and Carter were completely smothered by the Wallabies' defense. They couldn't hold onto the pill anyway. Good argument for standing deeper?

I'd've thought so. I don't know whether Henry restricted them to what they were doing, but, in the face of monumental defence, there seemed to be a singular lack of imagination in attack.

Marshall (and the absence of Gregan) was clearly the difference between the two teams. Larkham, without his Brumbie ally, looked completely lost. His kicking was absolutely shocking.

Yes, Larkham had an absolute shocker. I doubt we'll ever see anything that bad from him again. But I don't think it was Marshall (and Gregan's absence) that was the difference. Marshall was given the chance to do what he did because his forwards were utterly dominant, steamrolling forward, relentless. Gregan couldn't have done any more than Whitaker did. No halfback can attack if his pack his roller skating backwards. In fact, I thought Whitaker had an outstanding game - but, because of the pressure his pack was under, as a defender. I think Eddie Jones got it right (not that it took an Einstein to work it out) - our forwards were murdered on the night.

Mealamu will never be accused of having a glass jaw. Took that one fair in the face and stood up to give some back, and it was no Brialesque powder puff punch either. Well played.

I don't think I've seen as perfectly timed a wallop as Canon gave Mealamu. Exactly what is Mealamu's head made of? Canon, of course, was retaliating. And, of course, you've turned a blind eye to Carlos twice leaping in and raining punches.

Sheesh, you're turning into a Havak! Basically Mortlock swung around on Umaga's head. It started at the chin and ended at the eyebrows. Have a look at the photo - a man's body does not twist like that for no reason does it? The tackle was not legal, it was high, was penalised, and deserved to be so.

He grabbed Umaga around the shoulders. Momentum - and Umaga's twist to shake the tackle - took Mortlock's arms above the shoulders. Crikey, even the Kiwi commentators - who have one eye between them - called it a sh*t decision!

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Originally posted by Tamerlin


Are you writing about Mr. Roland? If so, he must have been briefed by Murdoch's watchdogs before the game.

No, he brought his crap, imcompetent NH rugby sensibilities with him!

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Originally posted by Havak
What do you mean he is turning into a Havak?

He was already intelligent and articulate.

I'll fight my own battles, thanks!

Listen, Andydog, what do you mean I'm turning into a Havak? I was already intelligent and articulate!

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Originally posted by Tamerlin
Keep the flame Havak, I am about to leave for Collioure tomorrow until the end of the month.

Keep the flame? Which flame? England's 5th ranked team in the world flame? Or France's courageously taking on the might of North American rugby and ducking real opponents flame? Or the your taking le têtard on holidays and dodging your responsibilities here flame?

Hopefully I will have far more time to spend on Apolyton when I am back.

Hopefully you'll have some time to spend here when you're back.

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Cripes, am I going to have to talk to myself for the next fortnight?

[Caligastia]

[Caligastia]

I saw this game last night...USA v France. It was France's second or maybe even 3rd string team of course, but the USA were ahead at half time and only lost the game 39-31.

Thought you might like to know...

[Caligastia]

Looks like the Boks will face a pretty different AB team in Christchurch. Greg Somerville is replacing Carl Hayman at prop, Gibbes and Robinson are both out with back injuries, and Carter is looking doubtful.

Hopefully this means Mehrtens will get a run.

[LDiCesare]

Didn't even know France had played that badly.
But they played better against Canada.
Apparently, Laporte says he was happy with one young third rower (Nyanga), and his goal was to find more players. He'd like to have about 45 players to choose from instead of around 30 currently when he gathers the players for trainings. I hope he'll get more players to work with, because that would lead to a better team overall.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Didn't even know France had played that badly.

To be honest it wasn't France playing badly so much as the US playing well. The US did have the home field advantage.

USA! USA! USA!

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Originally posted by Caligastia
Looks like the Boks will face a pretty different AB team in Christchurch. Greg Somerville is replacing Carl Hayman at prop, Gibbes and Robinson are both out with back injuries, and Carter is looking doubtful.

Hopefully this means Mehrtens will get a run.

According to the BBC website, Sam Tuitupou will replace Carter, with Mehrtens taking Tuitupou's place on the bench. Carlos will kick for goal. Apparently Marshall is also crook with the virus. What's happened to Aaron Mauger? Is he injured or something?

I'll tell you what. With those injuries and illness, the rest of the ABs will want to be on their game. The Boks look very impressive, particularly in the forwards.

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Originally posted by LDiCesare
Didn't even know France had played that badly.
But they played better against Canada.
Apparently, Laporte says he was happy with one young third rower (Nyanga), and his goal was to find more players. He'd like to have about 45 players to choose from instead of around 30 currently when he gathers the players for trainings. I hope he'll get more players to work with, because that would lead to a better team overall.

It was a sensible approach from Laporte. It's also arguable that Clive Woodward should have taken a similar approach on the recent tour down here.

Hey. If you hear of any young, up and coming props, change their first names to Bruce and point them in the direction of the Australian Consul General for a visa? Thanks very much.

[LDiCesare]

Sorry finbar, the only young front-rower who seemed to emerge was not a prop, but a hooker. His name is something like Swszwski except there are vowels inside.

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Still, I suppose a decent hooker's better than nothing, and that's what we've got at the moment - nothing! Bruce Swszwski ... hmmmm ... it has a ring to it!