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[Havak]

I honestly think Carlos is approaching his last chance.

He really does need to do something to show he is more than an omni-dimensional stand off. Failing that we will take him at Welford Road – he would prosper behind a pack like ours (mind you I initially thought the same of Pez!).

pity you missed our scrum disrupting theirs, even winning a tight head, N. Sharpe having a blinder, our lineout pinching four or five of their throws - we must be in with a chance

The Aussie pack performing? I’m in shock! I suspect the game will be very interesting – not least with head stamper Williams coming back in. Robinson has been a shock in terms of what he added – Williams has been tested many times and found somewhat wanting. Yes it will be very interesting!

I think you will start to see in time that Mr Henry has few answers to anything that doesn’t go to plan A. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this honeymoon period will simply not last.

Perhaps you could ask her when it's next your turn?

Faria Alam? Never met the ‘lady’.

Hmm Mark Palios, Sven Goran Eriksson. Faria Alam. This is the English FA right?

He was a damn sight better than that dreadful Irish grenouille!

White is not perfect – but as far as international refs go he is one of the better ones. The biggest plus he has for me is that he will not helm any England matches (and therefore can’t cost us games with harsh sending offs etc).

Thomas may not fit in – he is rapidly receding. He may fail the hairdresser initiation.

The interesting point is that the Kiwis have them at altitude, we have them at ground level. Not that that's helped us in the past!

You have them in Durban right? Very near where Rathbone spent his first 20 years of life? Expect a very vicious reception for the lad – and pray he answers it as eloquently on the pitch.

I think he also said G. Henry would watch how we coped with them and learn from it.

Well they will certainly have analysed your game with the boks ready for Saturday. Though I think your reasoning was sound enough on what they mainly need. Why is Mouth still out in the cold?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Casanis is a fairly potent brew, isn't it? But I don't get the quand même bit. I mean, I know what they mean, I don't get the juxtaposition.

This is more or less the same thing as the Pastis or the Ricard though there is much debate among the drinkers in order to know which is the best one.

For those that really appreciate the Anisette the answer is obvious (whatever the brand chosen) and one finds it difficult to imagine how someone can prefer another one.

The use of quand même at the end of a negative sentence, though not grammatically accurate, often means the speaker/writer is in dismay or is shocked by the target of the message. It means something like : "you will not dare" or "you can't go thus far" while in the same time the speaker/writer hopes the target will step back in front of the challenge or the indignation displayed.

Alternatively, "quand même" can be replaced with "tout de même" when you want to express a touch of distinction and/or irony.

"Vous n'allez pas manger ce foie gras avec un Cahors tout de même ?"

This way of speaking is a bit familiar and the sentences should rather be written like this:

"Allons, mon cher Gareth, vous n'allez tout de même pas me dire que vous préférez le Pastis au Ricard ?"

An English would of course add an anguished "..., isn't it?" at the end of this same sentence.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
He really does need to do something to show he is more than an omni-dimensional stand off. Failing that we will take him at Welford Road – he would prosper behind a pack like ours (mind you I initially thought the same of Pez!).

I think they'd work him out over there. Well, he's been worked out, but I'm sure defences over there would sweat on him too. Silly as it sounds, his problem seems to be that he struggles to play a (so to speak) conventional game when it's called for. The simple things, like just popping it over the top occasionally, changing the thrust of things.

The Aussie pack performing? I’m in shock!

You'd've choked on your breakfast chip buttie. I think they've been doing an enormous amount of work on technique. But N. Sharp, in the loose, was a man possessed. I'm very pleased Williams is in there for Robinson. I don't think anyone (wearing a head guard) is afraid of Williams.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this honeymoon period will simply not last.

It has been recorded.

Thomas may not fit in – he is rapidly receding. He may fail the hairdresser initiation.

Oh well, Tamerlin reckons it's more important that he can consume rocket fuel.

You have them in Durban right? Very near where Rathbone spent his first 20 years of life? Expect a very vicious reception for the lad – and pray he answers it as eloquently on the pitch.

Yep. He actually had a fairly quiet match last week. Until near the end.

Well they will certainly have analysed your game with the boks ready for Saturday. Though I think your reasoning was sound enough on what they mainly need. Why is Mouth still out in the cold?

At least he's back on the bench. If our defence shuts down Carlos again, I think we'll see Mehrtens into the game. If that fuc**** Irish grenouille hadn't robbed me of just about all my Civ Gold last time, I might've backed us!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

The use of quand même at the end of a negative sentence, though not grammatically accurate, often means the speaker/writer is in dismay or is shocked by the target of the message. It means something like : "you will not dare" or "you can't go thus far" while in the same time the speaker/writer hopes the target will step back in front of the challenge or the indignation displayed.

Alternatively, "quand même" can be replaced with "tout de même" when you want to express a touch of distinction and/or irony.

"Vous n'allez pas manger ce foie gras avec un Cahors tout de même ?"

This way of speaking is a bit familiar and the sentences should rather be written like this:

"Allons, mon cher Gareth, vous n'allez tout de même pas me dire que vous préférez le Pastis au Ricard ?"

An English would of course add an anguished "..., isn't it?" at the end of this same sentence.

Ah, now I get it. We would say something like "surely" and it would have a rhetorical edge to it. "Come off it, my dear Gareth, surely you're not telling me you prefer Pastis to Ricard?"

Or, harking back to your original line: "Surely not a Casanis?"

Excellent. Thank you. I shall file it away in my Idiomatic Folder.

But who's Gareth?

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
Andydog remains convinced they displayed a Plan A and a Plan B in the game. I think not.

Actually I said that they went in with a plan A - which was to play a more expansive game (evidenced by the flat backline), but never got a chance to execute it because of the offside rush defense. Thus their plan B was to hammer it out up front and in the centres until cracks appeared, and they did towards the end luckily for us.

In any case, we did play badly but we still managed the win!

With that welter of possession percentage - as against us - they should have scored more. I honestly think Carlos is approaching his last chance.

As I've already said - the defence was the best I've seen. And It's had to score against a defence like that. You just need to tire them out, which is just what we did. Plan B.

As for Carlos, I've written before of my concerns about his ability to control the game and to keep the oppo on the back foot in their own territory. I'll reserve judgement as to whether he should be in the squad until after the tri nations. I want to see if Henry has cooked up a plan to combat rush defence. He seems to think he has, we shall see!

ABs by 5.
And I'll put 30 gold on that.
How much gold will you be betting on the Wobblies finbar?

[Havak]

To help Finbar decide:

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch Judges: Chris White (England), Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assessor: David Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Havak's verdict on Kaplan is - he sucks.

And I suspect his tunnel version will benefit the ABs as he is obsessive about the set pieces and will stangle the Aussie forwards performance Finbar is hoping for.

Far too many Boks on this roster? Tamerlins beloved Chris White will not be able to keep them in line on his own.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog


Actually I said that they went in with a plan A - which was to play a more expansive game (evidenced by the flat backline), but never got a chance to execute it because of the offside rush defense. Thus their plan B was to hammer it out up front and in the centres until cracks appeared, and they did towards the end luckily for us.

In any case, we did play badly but we still managed the win!

The Havak defence.

As for Carlos, I've written before of my concerns about his ability to control the game and to keep the oppo on the back foot in their own territory. I'll reserve judgement as to whether he should be in the squad until after the tri nations. I want to see if Henry has cooked up a plan to combat rush defence. He seems to think he has, we shall see!

Havak thinks Henry is incapable. We shall see.

ABs by 5.
And I'll put 30 gold on that.
How much gold will you be betting on the Wobblies finbar?

As Treasurer and auditor of our funds, I'm going to award myself a line of betting credit!

Cripes! I don't remember updating the Bank A/c after the last round of betting. I'll get onto it.

Two of the local online betting organisations have the ABs favourites by 2.5 and 3.5. I don't have a problem with 5, except it can't be 5. It has to be a fraction. Either 4.5 or 5.5. Regardless, your bet is recorded.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
To help Finbar decide:

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch Judges: Chris White (England), Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assessor: David Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Havak's verdict on Kaplan is - he sucks.

And I suspect his tunnel version will benefit the ABs as he is obsessive about the set pieces and will stangle the Aussie forwards performance Finbar is hoping for.

Far too many Boks on this roster? Tamerlins beloved Chris White will not be able to keep them in line on his own.

Mmmm. I've seen Kaplan have some pedantic shockers. My heart is not filled with joy.

[finbar]

Our updated Bank A/c prior to any bets this weekend:

Andydog 322.50
Bearcat 80.5
Caligastia 50.5
finbar 2.5
Frozzy 124
Havak 73.05
Journeyman 122.5
LDiCesares 152.3
Mickeyj 143.5
NeoStar 114
ravagon 121.25
redbull 80
Tamerlin 59.3

[finbar]

All right, Andydog's having 30 Civ Gold on the ABs with the Wallabies getting a 5.5 points start. I'm having a credit bet of 15 Civ Gold on the Wallabies. If I lose, I retire to the library with the port and the revolver.

Any other bets with the Wallabies getting 5.5 points start?

[Havak]

I’ll take ten on the Wallabies. I take no joy in it but I have to back the wattle on this one.

Andydog has clearly been very very lucky with his betting?

The Havak defence.

Biting analysis, cutting wit, eloquent charm? Welcome to the H team Andydog.

Havak thinks Henry is incapable. We shall see.

I think he is a dill of the first order who failed to capitalise on the strongest Lions squad ever to leave these shores, actually. That is so damning he should never have helmed international rugby again.

We’ll see. He could be persona non grata with the Kiwi lads as early as Sunday after all.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Havak's verdict on Kaplan is - he sucks.

I agree with Havak!

Tamerlins beloved Chris White will not be able to keep them in line on his own.

And I don't like Mr White neither!

[Havak]

And with Joel Jutge right at the top of my favourite referee list too.

Just be grateful Chris White is on the roster rather than Steve Lander.

I see Giteau is the current Aussie kicker - does that mean Flatley (not in the 22) is injured? Even that Rob Andrew fan boy Matt Burke took the late pot shots against the Boks because Giteau has a 50/50 average I'm told?

Hmm should I revise my bet? No I'll hang tough with it.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
And with Joel Jutge right at the top of my favourite referee list too.

I agree, we should burn him with the others!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I’ll take ten on the Wallabies. I take no joy in it but I have to back the wattle on this one.

Gotcha.

Andydog has clearly been very very lucky with his betting?

Sheer unmitigated absolute total arse.

Biting analysis, cutting wit, eloquent charm? Welcome to the H team Andydog.

*cough* Try this as the Havak defence: a lucky win is turned into something it isn't.

We’ll see. He could be persona non grata with the Kiwi lads as early as Sunday after all.

The fact that you've put your hard-earned on it should worry G. Henry enormously!