Rugby - Running Out of Titles

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

In Toulouse. In Tamerlin's sitting room!

No!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I would agree that Toulouse's luck is outrageous. Any break that Toulouse gets is outrageous.

That has nothing to do with luck, skill is the appropriate word.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

The team play in Wattle. Those muppets wear bright yellow.

I suppose that's one advantage of playing in white. Washing doesn't fade the colours. OTOH, it does show up the nancys in the team - Luger, Simpson-Daniel, Healy - who remain as white as driven snow at the end of a muddy match.

It seems likely at the moment that Harmison will not play. He is out of sorts anyway so they should give the young ‘un a go.

I think Jones was injured for the last match. If he's fit, I want to see him again. He looked vastly more accurate than any of the others in the match he played.

The pity with Ntini is that it's obviously too late to change his action. He reduces his options terribly by falling away in the delivery stride. He's quick and very strong, but compromised.

Well between us we should have attracted Ravagon’s interest. Good job he is only a naturalised sandgroper perhaps?

The Sandgropers welcome anyone. Rumor has it that Hitler works as a beach inspector at Cottesloe.

One nugget – he says he only discovered from Rod McQueen’s book that Campo is as loathed in Australia as he is in England.

Oh yeah, sure. Clive's attempt at wit. Campo's not altogether loathed here. He's just not taken seriously.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Given that he just announced a testimonial fixture at Twickenham that takes place on the same day as the opening game of the Lions tour I think we finally have confirmation that Jonno is not going.

This same pointless money earning circus (do I sound bitter?) has been announced as involving Jonah Lomu and his invitational XV. Jonah as what though? Drinks carrier? No way does the RFU want a kidney transplant patient croaking on HQ turf!!

A no-contact exhibition match, obviously.

And there's talk of two NH -v- SH matches to raise money for the tsunami victims. How quickly will the English clubs veto them?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


It could make for a very good fullback...

He would bring new meaning to the term innovative defence - he'd eat the ball.

Impossible, I was working and struggling into the traffic jams because of all the pundits coming in Toulouse to see the show...

Ah! I heard the sound of rampant car-horn blowing in the background!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

Ah! I heard the sound of rampant car-horn blowing in the background!

It can't be me neither, a long time ago (around December 2004) I would have used the car-horn but the new enlightened Tamerlin isn't using this aggressive ear blowing tool.

[Havak]

Luger, Simpson-Daniel, Healy - who remain as white as driven snow at the end of a muddy match.

You malign VD unfairly there – he is a hard tackler and frequently covers an absent fullback in that capacity, not to mention stepping in for scragged scrummies – he definitely gets dirty even when playing on the wing. The other two I have no argument with.

Jones was injured. It looks like they intend to play him and Harmison this time after all.

Campo's not altogether loathed here. He's just not taken seriously.

Read McQueens book. I understand he is genuinely not a fan of Campo as a person. No exaggeration from Clive there I suspect. Maybe the leap from McQueen to all Australia was a stretch. I bet one person there likes him.

How quickly will the English clubs veto them?

Very quickly – may I remind you we are in the middle of our season. There are other ways to raise money for this worthy cause than help S12 players warm up and injure our own lads mid-season.

Incidentally are you proud of your PM for being the one who caused ‘deliver rather than promise’ rebuke from the UN when he tried to top Japan’s donation of financial aid one day later?

but the new enlightened Tamerlin isn't using this aggressive ear blowing tool.

And I think we all know what enlightening and the more passive 'blowing tool' you mean. Who said Splif?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
And I think we all know what enlightening and the more passive 'blowing tool' you mean. Who said Splif?

Spliff only enhances a state of mind it does not create it...

[Havak]

I forget - I've been strictly alcohol only for twenty years now.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
I forget - I've been strictly alcohol only for twenty years now.

Alcohol dilutes a state of mind, it does not enhance it...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
You malign VD unfairly there –

Moi? If so, accidentally, I'm sure.

Read McQueens book. I understand he is genuinely not a fan of Campo as a person. No exaggeration from Clive there I suspect. Maybe the leap from McQueen to all Australia was a stretch. I bet one person there likes him.

I'm sure there are people who genuinely hate him. For the most part, though, he's seen as a goose, not to be taken seriously. At the same time, even his harshest critic and strongest enemy doesn't deny his playing skills. It's off the field that his problems arise.

Incidentally are you proud of your PM for being the one who caused ‘deliver rather than promise’ rebuke from the UN when he tried to top Japan’s donation of financial aid one day later?

Things go from bad to worse here. The Labor Party leader Mark Latham has just quit after 13 months and an election loss citing health reasons. The health reasons are legitimate. But the line up of replacements is depressing, apart from Julia Gillard, who is the party's best performer in Parliament by a mile. She has two problems - she's a woman, from the Left. She hasn't got a hope, unfortunately. So Labor will be led by one or another of the bland, conservative male choices.

Still, on the bright side, another one of our conservative aparatchiks, a Lynton Crosby acolyte, on his way over there to work with the Tories has had his work permit refused on the basis that there are locals who can do the job.

[Tamerlin]

Finbar, I have recently discovered, thanks to a friend of mine, John Irving. I have already read "The Cider House Rules" and I am about to start "The World According to Garp". I would be interested in knowing what you, as a writer, think about this author.

As far as I am concerned, "The Cider House Rules" is one of the best books I have ever read, John Irving has a very special and efficient style, this is the first time I can see such a knack at describing shocking things and yet making you smile and even laugh.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Finbar, I have recently discovered, thanks to a friend of mine, John Irving. I have already read "The Cider House Rules" and I am about to start "The World According to Garp". I would be interested in knowing what you, as a writer, think about this author.

As far as I am concerned, "The Cider House Rules" is one of the best books I have ever read, John Irving has a very special and efficient style, this is the first time I can see such a knack at describing shocking things and yet making you smile and even laugh.

I haven't read "Cider House Rules", but I have read "Garp". In fact, ironically, I read it the first time I was in Europe in 1979. Wonderful book, very fine writer. As you have discovered, he has a unique style. And the film adaptation of "Garp" is also pretty good given that Irving is a very difficult author to adapt because so much of his charm is in his style. An author's style is very difficult to transfer to the screen, which is why an author like F. Scott Fitzgerald - "The Great Gatsby", etc - can't be successfully adapted to the screen. You should also, at some stage, read some of F. Scott Fitzgerald's work, "The Great Gatsby" in particular. It's sublime writing.

[Havak]

Alcohol dilutes a state of mind, it does not enhance it...

Exactly the effect I am looking for from it.

Moi? If so, accidentally, I'm sure.

even his harshest critic and strongest enemy doesn't deny his playing skills

You are absolutely right – and I do not deny he was a super player.

She has two problems - she's a woman, from the Left.

I take your point. In our Labour party both those things prevent access to the cabinet – the latter factor is the equivalent of shouting ‘unclean’ wherever you go.

As far as Connys go I’m just grateful our Howard is never likely to see power the way Australia’s has.

I’m looking forward to doorstep arguments with the Labour canvassers as the election approaches. I’ll teach them the history of their party (created to represent the working man) before sending them off with a flea in their ear.

has had his work permit refused on the basis that there are locals who can do the job.

Couldn’t he claim asylum? On the grounds he faces persecution at home – or is that ridicule?

Seriously if he was likely to help the Tories I’m glad he was refused – I want them to face a third humiliation at the polls.

Little rugby of note this weekend except the Powergen Cup quarters. It’s left a very weak semi final draw from the following: Glaws, Leeds, Bath and London Irish.

So no big clubs left in the cup at all!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Couldn’t he claim asylum? On the grounds he faces persecution at home – or is that ridicule?

The Tories here are riding even higher than ever. With the Labor party publicly disembowelling itself yet again over a new leader, and Howard milking the tsunami tragedy for all it's worth pretending to be a statesman, things have never been more dire. I cannot wait to escape this country!

In fact, the only good news here is that we'll be getting the 6 Nations games live on FoxSports! Go the Paddys!