Rugby - Autumn Beckons!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
That and a winger playing his first match, another one playing full back for the first time and fast backs among the opponents, and you'll understand why we decided to play the second half keeping the ball with the forwards.

Relying on the forwards is, at least, something we know how to do in the Northern Hemisphere.

[Tamerlin]

Club Athlétique de Brive 16 - Stade Toulousain 27

A victory away from home for the Stade Toulousain. Though they are still making far too many fools the Toulousains have been more consistent than the last weeks. Frédéric Michalack's return was contrasted, he was sometimes good and sometimes not but all in all he was much better than Dubois. The Brivistes are playing a very ambitious game that could have been disastrous for the Stade Toulousain if the defense and the forwards had been less efficient.

All in all, this game demonstrates that there is perhaps a bit of hope for Toulouse... perhaps.

[LDiCesare]

Toulouse seems to be slowly discovering their game. They look like they are learning again how to play together. In contrast, Biarritz is aparently forgetting everyhting about rugby. And the USAP is doing very well. That makes for an interesting season, but I think having less clubs next year will be a good thing. The poor players from Auch, being poor, have little chance to win a single match this year.

[finbar]

Originally posted by finbar
And here's an example. I've been listening to a radio broadcast of Newcastle -v- Leicester via the BBC website. Leciester leading 17-7 at half time running with a strong breeze. Wilkinson just missed a penalty. I go to bed confident that Newcastle will come home strongly with the breeze.

Mmmm. I'm tempted to edit the above. Unfortunately, Leicester powered home against the breeze to win 44-15. And now I know why I didn't hear Matt Burke's name mentioned in the time I was listening to the game. He'd pulled out with a shoulder problem. Still, the day wasn't a total disaster. Worcester registered their first win against Quins, 37-7.

EDIT. Oh, and New Zealand is thinking about applying to host the 2011 World Cup. Goodoh. I'm sure we'll do it just as well in 2011 as we did last year.

[LDiCesare]

By the way I didn't mention I hadn't been able to find a ticket for the match against NZ? For some reason, there are tickets available against Australia on the 13th of november, but not 2 weeks later against NZ. I wouldn't mind seeing Australia live, except the 13th is the weekend for my son's birthday, so it'll probably be vetoed on grounds I can't be in Paris in the evening and in La Ferte the afternoon, whereas the 27th is my birthday, which was a perfectly good excuse. Does anyone think I can ask the IRB to switch the games so they play Australia on the 27th in order for me to be able to see the match live?

[finbar]

I'll get onto the ARU and organise it for you!

[Alexander's Horse]

Go the Doggies!!!!!!!!!

[finbar]

No rapists mentioned in this thread, thanks.

For the uninitiated, Horse is referring to yesterday's L***** grand final here in Sydney. The rapists beat the mob who are probably also rapists but haven't yet been exposed as such.

[Alexander's Horse]

Showing once again why rugby league is a superior game to union.

[Havak]

Well it was probably about time Horse dropped by to troll with League references again.

Does he not realise that outside of Australia the sport has no substantial following at all – the odd Yorkie and Lancastrian weirdo aside.

Truth be told, it's the lower classes who actually brought something to the country in the way of character

They are also the only thing that make this a country worth living in. By the time you get to middle class and above this country is simply morally and culturally bankrupt. But then with the scheming shafters conference (Tories) starting today I had probably better avoid politics.

I’m off to Ireland tomorrow for a few days of business and not back in the office until 12th – by which time I hope Tigers will have stuffed Aussie led Bath.

Let the NPC suffer the same way your domestic comp would suffer.

The Kiwis are VERY protective of it n’est pas?

I caught a fair bit of Auckland-Canterbury on Saturday. Don’t tell any of the kiwi lads but I actually quite enjoyed it. Canterbury even try to bring their forwards into the game – Graham must have had a word.

When we later went to the bar, I saw they had Murphy's on the tap. That barman was pitiful.

I hope you thumped the useless lump? Murphy’s is a nice drop – sweeter than Guiness and less of an after taste. I recommend Beamish if you can track any down. Belgian stouts tend to be just a little bit too strong for my enjoyment.

… and you'll understand why we decided to play the second half keeping the ball with the forwards.

Lets be honest – forwards always feel this way anyway!?

I go to bed confident that Newcastle will come home strongly with the breeze.

A shame you already knew about Burke as I was hoping to get some mileage out of saying he did absolutely nothing good.

Tigers are playing very well right now – some really nice fifteen man rugby and Rabeni is already a huge favourite with the fans. A certain lock is in the form of his life right now too. The forwards in fact are giving us such a platform that the opposition is living off scraps. It’s no surprise that only Sale, who took the game to a rusty Tigers pack, are the only ones to have beaten us.

For the first time in two seasons I am really enjoying watching the team again.

And sure Falcons had problems at centre. They played Epi Taoine at 12 but we should remember that he has played there before. We also had problems – Gibson and VD both out late on with Hammy problems meaning some very young lads entered the mix on the bench in a reworked back line and Rabeni lined up at 12.

Rob Andrew was uncharacteristically generous:
"It was as good a performance as I have seen at club level, alongside some of Wasps' efforts at the end of last season. They are back to where they were three or four years ago and with Martin Johnson and Neil Back so focused on club rugby it's a big bonus for them."

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Well it was probably about time Horse dropped by to troll with League references again.

Does he not realise that outside of Australia the sport has no substantial following at all – the odd Yorkie and Lancastrian weirdo aside.

Horse is perverse, you know that. He will champion any minor cause - the more irritating to everyone the cause, the better.

A shame you already knew about Burke as I was hoping to get some mileage out of saying he did absolutely nothing good.

I listened to the last ten minutes of the first half. Newcastle actually sounded like they were doing well. Lord knows what happened after I went to bed.

Tigers are playing very well right now – some really nice fifteen man rugby and Rabeni is already a huge favourite with the fans. A certain lock is in the form of his life right now too. The forwards in fact are giving us such a platform that the opposition is living off scraps. It’s no surprise that only Sale, who took the game to a rusty Tigers pack, are the only ones to have beaten us.

What a difference a coach makes!

For the first time in two seasons I am really enjoying watching the team again.

I'll be enjoying watching Randwick in the Sydney club final on Saturday. The rookie Wallaby tourist backrower Hoiles has grown an extra leg since his selection for the tour. Had a blinder for Randwick in the major semi where they smashed the team they're meeting again in the final.

Rob Andrew was uncharacteristically generous:
"It was as good a performance as I have seen at club level, alongside some of Wasps' efforts at the end of last season. They are back to where they were three or four years ago and with Martin Johnson and Neil Back so focused on club rugby it's a big bonus for them

This is the man you've called an idiot and a moron!

[Havak]

I listened to the last ten minutes of the first half. Newcastle actually sounded like they were doing well.

Must have been Radio Newcastle? They enjoyed more possession in the first thirty minutes but kept hitting a brick wall in the Tigers defence. As the game went on the Tigers forwards simply imposed themselves on the game and froze the Falcons out.

What a difference a coach makes!

Sometimes change is needed. The bigger difference is without doubt the fact that Johnson and Back returned at the turn of the year.

Had a blinder for Randwick in the major semi where they smashed the team they're meeting again in the final.

Sounds an interesting system?

This is the man you've called an idiot and a moron!

And also a very, very bad loser. And that is why what he said surprised me so much.

If Andy Robinson is the man to take England to new heights he has started poorly – they announced today Wilko is the new skipper. Boringly predictable Andy!

I do not think the pressure will help him at all – he is some way off his best form on Saturdays evidence and needs to concentrate on his game not the skippers role.

Mind you Robinson’s hand may have been forced as Hilly is crocked and Vickery looks likely to lose out to White at 3.

Right – off to the Emerald Isle.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Must have been Radio Newcastle? They enjoyed more possession in the first thirty minutes but kept hitting a brick wall in the Tigers defence. As the game went on the Tigers forwards simply imposed themselves on the game and froze the Falcons out.

Yes, Radio Newcastle. Although no one calling the game seemed identifiably Novacastrian.

Sounds an interesting system?

The vagaries of finals systems. There's a final 5 in the Sydney club comp. Too complicated to explain. All boiled down, a team finishing second or third can earn a "second chance" if they win their first final against each other. That's what Eastwood did. They went on to be thrashed by Randwick in the Major Semi, but their second chance got them into the Preliminary Final the week after. They won that, to win the right to meet Randwick again in the Grand Final. And should be beaten again. In anything other than the Sydney rugby comp, all the finals matches would be called a money-making exercise. With a crowd of maybe 2500 at the Grand Final, money doesn't enter into it!

If Andy Robinson is the man to take England to new heights he has started poorly – they announced today Wilko is the new skipper. Boringly predictable Andy!

I do not think the pressure will help him at all – he is some way off his best form on Saturdays evidence and needs to concentrate on his game not the skippers role.

I agree. It's the last thing Wilkinson needs.

Mind you Robinson’s hand may have been forced as Hilly is crocked and Vickery looks likely to lose out to White at 3.

I think that's the point. Who else was there?

Right – off to the Emerald Isle.

[finbar]

England 'target O'Connor'

World champions England are reportedly investigating whether Irish flanker Johnny O'Connor could play for them.

The Times newspaper claims the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is taking legal advice over whether there is a loophole that would allow O'Connor to play.

That seems unlikely, as the Galway-born Wasps player has already played for the Ireland A team.

But the paper quotes a source as saying: "The England management are exploring this very seriously."

Ah, Havak, the RFU sure knows how to hang you out to dry, doesn't it?

[Tamerlin]

Finbar, the activity of the forum seems to be rather low without your favorite "punching-ball".

I am afraid you will have to wait for Havak's return in order to have a serious debate about this subject.

As far as I am concerned, I still think that the IRB should have enforced the "three years" rule, I have always liked the fact that players are playing for their federation and not for their country, something that was setting Rugby appart from the other sports.