Rugby - Autumn Beckons!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Mmmm. In our venacular, you're a "blowie". Havak might have come across the occasional "blowie" in his visit here. Persistent, annoying, never stopping in the one spot long enough to be swatted, and eyes in the back of your head to spot the swat coming anyway.

Sounds rather like your description...

I still don't know if I have to feel flattered.

[Havak]

Oh I met a few ‘blowies’ I think – though none had wings (although some thought they should have had).

Needless to say that the said supporters often went back home with their tails between the legs.

True enough. But when chanting it at home or on neutral ground it proves true more often than not.

That's something I've missed - J****'s furious scowl and muttering and head shaking as he tramps away from the ref.

And that after a decision has gone his way. You should see him when it doesn’t.

In fact, the East Midlands in winter is probably tropical compared to Otago in winter.

I am happy to take your word for that – but it certainly doesn’t make me want to visit Otago in winter.

If they decide the franchise isn't strong enough, the rule could be changed to allow in, for example, the Pacific Islanders. All of which renders the argument about creating Wallaby depth completely fallacious.

I would hope they don’t open it up. Doing so caused (and is still causing) untold grief for the English leagues. Clubs loaded with foreign talent were unaffected by the RWC call ups for example – and that created bad blood between supporters.

But then as previously mentioned we are handcuffed by EC employment legislation – the ARU seems to have no such concerns.

It must be a worry though – how would a little pit bull like Waughy get game time and break through if a franchise coach had five huge Islanders he could play at flanker?

The other potential benefit of an extra franchise, of course, is taking rugby to more people, increasing its exposure. Which has to be a good thing for the game. Providing, of course, the franchise is set up properly and isn't a lemon.

Is there a market for the game on the west coast?

If the franchise doesn’t work out it is only another nine years to the next Lions cash boost.

I saw that. And p*ssed myself laughing!

And Krige’s foreign legion thumped Bath.

Sébastien Chabal has already played in the French team and he is a very good player but the competition is very strong at this place.

He impressed me a great deal more than that Catalan anglo-hating farm boy did in this years 6N – maybe it was a one off by Chabal though.

We have named what I think is close to our strongest possible side for Saturday, with the possible exception of blindside where Jonno junior would probably play if fit. If we don’t win with this line up at home it really will be a long hard season. Note that Benny Kay has been dropped to the bench for young Deacon again – Ben risks being overtaken at both club and national level by the lad.

There are four Samoan Tuilagi brothers – and we briefly had all of them but the oldest Fereti has now gone to Cardiff. Alex Tuilagi made a huge splash in the development side last Monday as he scored five tries in a 68-10 destruction of the Leeds development side. Also on the bench again is Broadfoot – and I am looking forward to seeing him tested at the top level.

Leicester Tigers team to face Leeds Tykes:

15 Geordan Murphy
14 Austin Healey
13 Ollie Smith
12 Daryl Gibson
11 Seru Rabeni
10 Andy Goode
9 Harry Ellis
1 Graham Rowntree
2 George Chuter
3 Julian White
4 Martin Johnson (captain)
5 Louis Deacon
6 Brett Deacon
7 Neil Back
8 Martin Corry

Replacements (from):

James Buckland
Darren Morris
Ben Kay
Will Skinner
Henry Tuilagi
Scott Bemand
Ross Broadfoot
Alex Tuilagi

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Sounds rather like your description...

I still don't know if I have to feel flattered.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...

SLAP!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Oh I met a few ‘blowies’ I think – though none had wings (although some thought they should have had).

The one that's bothering me has a French-accented bzzzzzz!

I am happy to take your word for that – but it certainly doesn’t make me want to visit Otago in winter.

Bitter. Bitter. Bitter. Snow. Ice. Sleet.

I would hope they don’t open it up. Doing so caused (and is still causing) untold grief for the English leagues. Clubs loaded with foreign talent were unaffected by the RWC call ups for example – and that created bad blood between supporters.

Less of a problem here because local club rugby wouldn't be affected and S12 doesn't compete with Tests.

It must be a worry though – how would a little pit bull like Waughy get game time and break through if a franchise coach had five huge Islanders he could play at flanker?

That's the potential downside. Easy, quick fixes instead of developing the young talent.

Is there a market for the game on the west coast?

Perth is full of Boks and Poms. And ravagon. It seems to be a four-way competition for the franchise - Perth, Melbourne, Gosford on the NSW Central Coast (where they played a number of RWC matches), and the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast would be the longest odds, followed, perhaps, by Gosford. Gosford has a good stadium, sport-mad local population, and the backing of a billionaire advertising/media mogul. Melbourne's appeal would be its inhabitants' passion for any form of sport. A good S12 franchise would be very successful down there. From what I read in the press, Perth is the front-runner. Strong local ex-pat support, it's a damn sight closer for the Boks than anywhere on the east coast, and, perhaps most telling, the ARU has chosen Perth over Melbourne in the last couple of years for a couple of major Test matches.

And Krige’s foreign legion thumped Bath.

I noticed that too. Maybe will inject some steel into the Saints. I notice that Burke didn't turn out for Newcastle. Any reason why?

Note that Benny Kay has been dropped to the bench for young Deacon again – Ben risks being overtaken at both club and national level by the lad.

Mmmm. Time to shape up or else, Benjamin. He's slid a long way in a short-ish time, hasn't he.

There are four Samoan Tuilagi brothers – and we briefly had all of them but the oldest Fereti has now gone to Cardiff. Alex Tuilagi made a huge splash in the development side last Monday as he scored five tries in a 68-10 destruction of the Leeds development side. Also on the bench again is Broadfoot – and I am looking forward to seeing him tested at the top level.

Are any of the brothers from Kiwi S12 teams? The name seems familiar.

The team looks quite reasonable apart from the d*ckhead on the wing. And I don't mean the North Aucklander.

[finbar]

Hey Tamerlin. I was talking to a friend on the phone tonight and the subject of France arose. As it does in any sophisticated conversation. I mentioned that you were in Toulouse. He mentioned that he once had a wonderful meal of fish in Toulouse. He nominated a restaurant by a footbridge over a river. Does that make any sense to you?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...

SLAP!

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Hey Tamerlin. I was talking to a friend on the phone tonight and the subject of France arose. As it does in any sophisticated conversation. I mentioned that you were in Toulouse. He mentioned that he once had a wonderful meal of fish in Toulouse. He nominated a restaurant by a footbridge over a river. Does that make any sense to you?

Unfortunately I am not often going to the restaurant and the best ones are out of my purse's reach, I think he is talking about a restaurant near the Pont Neuf (which is... the oldest bridge of Toulouse), I can see which one it could be (as far as I remember the one with a charming deep green old wooden front) but I am unable to give you a name.

[Caligastia]

Looks like the Super 12 and Tri-nations expansion is going ahead.

Which region of Australia do you think will get the new franchise Finbar? Do you think the new team will siphon players away from other Aussie Super 12 teams? I suppose in the long run this will be good for Australian rugby, but in the short term it might weaken Australian Super 12 performance.

As for the Tri-nations, I look forward to the expansion. Having a longer Tri-nations tourney will keep the top All Blacks from playing much NPC, and therefore give more new talent a chance to shine. It could be a bit of a drain on the energies of top players though.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
There was another NPC match on FoxSports late last night. Waikato -v- Someone. The problem is they're on so late! But I shall make an effort this week.

Don't you have video recorders down in Australia yet?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Which region of Australia do you think will get the new franchise Finbar?

I did a bit of an analysis of the situation in my post about 4 or 5 posts above yours. In summary, I suspect it's between Melbourne and Perth, with Perth possibly having its nose in front for reasons mentioned in my post.

Do you think the new team will siphon players away from other Aussie Super 12 teams? I suppose in the long run this will be good for Australian rugby, but in the short term it might weaken Australian Super 12 performance.

Players are obviously contracted to their franchises, so contract negotiation time will be more interesting than usual. As it is, under the current set up, when top players come out of contract, there is interest from other teams. Sometimes huge interest, as in the Lote Tuquiri scenario earlier this year. His Waratahs contract was up and both the Reds and Brumbies chased him. He stayed with the Waratahs. OTOH, the whole bargaining situation is stymied somewhat by our S12 salary cap. There's a maximum a franchise can pay a player. Anything above and beyond the figure is, um, a matter between franchise, player and private sponsor.

As I also posted the other day, the extra franchise offers a great opportunity for very promising players who are currently back-ups to top players in teams. Matt Henjak is the prime example. He's a young, very talented scrummy, who is patently obviously George Gregan's replacement with the Wallabies when George retires. Currently, he warms the Brumbies' bench behind Gregan. Getting him into the new franchise, where he would be the starting scrummy, will help his career enormously. Whether the Brumbies would want to let him go is another matter.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...

Good heavens! Reincarnation!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia


Don't you have video recorders down in Australia yet?

I have three in the house. I discussed the matter with each of them. They each said they'd prefer to record synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics before they'd record an NPC match.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Unfortunately I am not often going to the restaurant and the best ones are out of my purse's reach, I think he is talking about a restaurant near the Pont Neuf (which is... the oldest bridge of Toulouse), I can see which one it could be (as far as I remember the one with a charming deep green old wooden front) but I am unable to give you a name.

Goodoh. I shall ask him if he remembers what the restaurant looked like. I'm sure he will.

[Havak]

Bitter. Bitter. Bitter. Snow. Ice. Sleet.

Bitter as in the drink I hope?

Less of a problem here because local club rugby wouldn't be affected and S12 doesn't compete with Tests.

Good point. I forgot your organisation of fixtures was rational – as opposed to the RFUs policy of maximising assets by playing players every week of the year.

That's the potential downside. Easy, quick fixes instead of developing the young talent.

And in the long run this will cripple some clubs here – Kafers mob for example have practically no youth setup at all.

Perth is full of Boks and Poms. And ravagon.

Ravagon is a Pom isn’t he? His love for blighty shows in every word he writes.

So Perth the front runner then – and the prospect of a Bok/Pom supported franchise. Troubled water ahead there I feel.

I notice that Burke didn't turn out for Newcastle. Any reason why?

He had only been in blighty a few days before the match apparently so was allowed to acclimatise – he will figure this week against Bath.

Mmmm. Time to shape up or else, Benjamin. He's slid a long way in a short-ish time, hasn't he.

Has not secured a starting spot for Tigers since the RWC final – although of course he did for England in the 6N. Fallen a long way as you say. The problem is one thing we do keep churning out is young locks that pressure incumbents like Ben. Jonno of course just chewed up all challengers – but the competition seems to have done in Ben somewhat.

Are any of the brothers from Kiwi S12 teams? The name seems familiar.

Not sure about S12 – but I do think one of them came from an NPC side. I’ll ask around tomorrow (someone at the ground will know).

The team looks quite reasonable apart from the d*ckhead on the wing. And I don't mean the North Aucklander.

Then you must mean…

On paper it looks a side that should be challenging anyone – fingers crossed they pass the practical exam.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


I have three in the house. I discussed the matter with each of them. They each said they'd prefer to record synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics before they'd record an NPC match.

They've been talking with Mrs Finbar again haven't they.