Rugby - Truck and Trailer!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
What made me laugh about both by elections is the Tories brought in a highly reputed campaign manager and still finished a poor third.

Yes, I enjoyed that fact too!

But Tigers beat Wasps twice – that must make us league and European Champions? I like this system!

Mmmm. I'm going to have to rethink my system.

Hope the old boy feels better soon.

He's not really, unfortunately. Any sudden activity and he's limping uncomfortably. Back to the vet for x-rays, I think.

You realise he got the better of you – fooled you into thinking he had not seen the cat? Score one to Dermott!

Yes. For a dullard, he showed an amazing grasp of strategy. Normally, if he sees a cat when he's in the car, he roars his head off and bounces up and down - it's a Honda Civic hatch - just about tearing the cabin off the chassis. This time he didn't bat an eyelid. Or maybe he did, and I didn't see it behind the hair.

[finbar]

All Blacks 16 -d- Wallabies 7

Crap conditions, crap Wallaby front row (why should today be different?), crap Wallaby field kicking, stunning Wallaby defence. With the possession the All Blacks had, and the time in Wallaby territory, they should have won by 40. They didn't. We wouldn't beat anybody in those conditions. We never see them. We'll beat the ABs next time.

The biggest pile of crap on the night was the ref. You were right and wrong about him, Havak. Yes, he's terrible; no, he's not better than any of our refs. He makes our worst look good. He can't spot a knock on right in front of his eyes, his policing of the front rows was a joke - I doubt that either front row knew what he was penalising. Worst of all, his last-minute penalty for the so-called high tackle on Umaga by Mortlock - it was around the shoulders! - cost me Civ Gold!

[Caligastia]

It was good to see so many lineouts being contested though. Hopefully that will continue throughout the rest of the Tri-nations.

The conditions definitely favored the ABs, but I wouldn't write them off in good conditions. The forwards can dominate just as much as in the wet, although it won't be so easy to stay camped out in the Wallabies' 22.

Is this another 2-test year for the Bledisloe Cup? When does the 3-test format begin?

[LDiCesare]

finbar proves he knows rugby. Crap front row = wouldn't beat anybody. I believe that's what you said, though you seemed to talk about irrelevant things too in the same sentence.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
finbar proves he knows rugby. Crap front row = wouldn't beat anybody. I believe that's what you said, though you seemed to talk about irrelevant things too in the same sentence.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
It was good to see so many lineouts being contested though. Hopefully that will continue throughout the rest of the Tri-nations.

The conditions definitely favored the ABs, but I wouldn't write them off in good conditions. The forwards can dominate just as much as in the wet, although it won't be so easy to stay camped out in the Wallabies' 22.

Is this another 2-test year for the Bledisloe Cup? When does the 3-test format begin?

The Bledisloe is still being played within the Tri-Nations format, so it remains a 2-Test series. You won the Bledisloe last night by virtue of the fact that: (a) you hold it; and (b) even if we win the return match, the score would be 1-all, meaning the holder retains it. I don't know if the 3-Test Bledisloe format has yet been confirmed. I think it's part and parcel of the broadcast rights negotiations between SANZAR and Murdoch.

Nice to see Eddie, this morning, admitting that our pack wasn't up to it last night. Trouble is, our problem is our front row, and we don't have a better one available.

Springboks 38 -d- Pacific Islands 24

Boks very impressive with strong, aggressive defence, powerful forwards and speed outside, until the last 20 minutes, when they either lost concentration or tired. This was their first match in 3 weeks. The PIs relatively impotent in the first half, their set pieces not up to scratch, and the Bok defence completely shutting them down. In the last 20 minutes, with the Boks dropping their guard, the PIs' broken play skills found the space they needed. The Boks of the first 60 minutes will threaten any team. Their last 20 minutes will worry the coach. The PIs can't continue to rely on broken play skills alone.

[finbar]

Havak - my research on your Samoan friend Roger Warren hasn't turned up a whole lot. Plays his club rugby in Samoa. He wasn't in the squad for the World Cup. He represented Samoa in 7s this year. Made his Test debut for Samoa against Tonga earlier this year, and kicked eight penalties, Samoa's entire score. He started against Scotland in their Test in NZ on Scotland's recent tour. Apparently he was stretchered off injured. I say apparently, because I watched the match and have no recollection of either him or him being stretchered off. He wasn't in the current PIs squad.

[finbar]

Andydog = Bill Gates!

There was only one real Civ Gold winner after the weekend's disastrous* rugby results - Andydog, who now rivals Bill Gates for personal fortune. The only question is, will Andydog donate a goodly amount of it to philanthropic causes, à la Mr Gates, or will he put it towards a week of drunken debauchery?

The results

Wallabies -v- All Blacks

Thanks to the utter incompetence of the ref*, the All Blacks won by 9. The pool was 80 Civ Gold, shared equally by Andydog and Caligastia.

Springboks -v- Pacific Islanders

Thanks to the sheer inability of the PIs to do anything other than throw the ball around in broken play*, the Boks won by 14. The pool was 75 Civ Gold, cleaned up by tinny Andydog.

* = unbiased editorial comment by the treasurer.

Our updated Bank Account

Andydog 246.5 - 60 + 115 = 301.50
Bearcat 80.5
Caligastia 90.5 - 60 + 40 = 70.5
finbar 34.5 - 20 = 14.5
Frozzy 124
Havak 88.05 - 15 = 73.05
Journeyman 122.5
LDiCesares 152.3
Mickeyj 143.5
NeoStar 114
ravagon 110.25
redbull 80
Tamerlin 59.3

[Havak]

This time I really have been ripped off – I bet 5 on the PIs but the bookie took 10 off of me!

I also have some good news for you all – after today I’m off for a fortnight so the next few tri-nations matches will not be troubled by my critical eye – and after Saturdays dire opener that can only be a good thing.

This time he didn't bat an eyelid. Or maybe he did, and I didn't see it behind the hair.

Hmm – could it be the old boy is showing adaptive learning? Anyway hope the vet does the trick. We can be fairly sure Dermott cannot connect cause and effect for his injury so you may need to be extra vigilant.

The biggest pile of crap on the night was the ref.

If memory served he also helmed the Paris game this year and was crap for that – so I’m not surprised.

Trouble is, our problem is our front row, and we don't have a better one available.

I have suggested before that the presence of Dunning in your 22 signals significant problems for Eddie? No strength and no depth.

The Boks of the first 60 minutes will threaten any team

Fascinating game wasn’t it? Totally in control and then suddenly they started playing the same game as the Islanders – and it didn’t suit their strengths.

But I have to say, and I am sure it will annoy the ‘NZ Lions’ fans, it is disappointing that both the first two try scorers for the Islanders are being lined up to wear the Silver Fern. What with them and the flanker too exactly what are the PIs meant to be – an AB feeder team?

Thanks for the information on Warren Finbar – no information yet on whether we will sign him. Apparently the young lad Broadfoot has been outstanding in early pre-season sessions so maybe it is his break through year.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
This time I really have been ripped off – I bet 5 on the PIs but the bookie took 10 off of me!

I have overheads!

*skulks away to amend the figures on account of he misread Havak's bet*

But who bets 5 of anything anyway!

I also have some good news for you all – after today I’m off for a fortnight so the next few tri-nations matches will not be troubled by my critical eye – and after Saturdays dire opener that can only be a good thing.

Take your hopeless NH ref with you too!

We can be fairly sure Dermott cannot connect cause and effect for his injury so you may need to be extra vigilant.

Actually, he's not bad on cause and effect in very specific situations:

(1) Hears cupboard containing treats being opened = drools.
(2) Hears tin of dog food being opened = slobbers.
(3) Hears one of us say the word "bedtime", meaning he gets a biscuit = gallops to his trampoline bed in the corner of our bedroom, leaps onto it, sits with mouth open, waiting for biscuit.

I have suggested before that the presence of Dunning in your 22 signals significant problems for Eddie? No strength and no depth.

We haven't had them for 10 years or more. And no end in sight to the problem.

Fascinating game wasn’t it? Totally in control and then suddenly they started playing the same game as the Islanders – and it didn’t suit their strengths.

Do you think that's what happened? I just thought they - their defence, in particular - switched off. Pity, because they were very impressive before that. What a difference a coach makes. And I imagine he will be having a piece of them for the last 20 minutes.

Oh, your Far South Leicester signing can kick for goal, too.

But I have to say, and I am sure it will annoy the ‘NZ Lions’ fans, it is disappointing that both the first two try scorers for the Islanders are being lined up to wear the Silver Fern. What with them and the flanker too exactly what are the PIs meant to be – an AB feeder team?

That's my problem with the whole PI concept. What are they? Those players you refer to are eligible to play for New Zealand. So who are they representing playing for the PIs?

[Havak]

But who bets 5 of anything anyway!

Here is a clue – Tight Head.

Take your hopeless NH ref with you too!

I’m going to try and forget all about rugby for a little while. It’s a year best forgotten so far is 2004.

I may get chance to drop by and offer the odd thought (some very odd no doubt).

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?

Actually, he's not bad on cause and effect in very specific situations:

All three of which were beautifully described!

We haven't had them for 10 years or more. And no end in sight to the problem.

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!

Do you think that's what happened? I just thought they - their defence, in particular - switched off

Partly so – but they also started throwing wild passes in attack. Witness the Bobo(?) try.

The more I see of Rabeni the happier I am. He is a trier so he will go down well with the lads.

Those players you refer to are eligible to play for New Zealand. So who are they representing playing for the PIs?

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.

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?

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

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar
With the possession the All Blacks had, and the time in Wallaby territory, they should have won by 40.

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

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?

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.

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.

Worst of all, his last-minute penalty for the so-called high tackle on Umaga by Mortlock - it was around the shoulders! - cost me Civ Gold!

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.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

Take your hopeless NH ref with you too!

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

[Havak]

What do you mean he is turning into a Havak?

He was already intelligent and articulate.

[Tamerlin]

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

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