Rugby - Running Out of Titles

[LDiCesare]

Well, Tamerlin, can you explain us how Toulouse managed to have 4 tries scored against them by such a poor team as Montbellier?

[Tamerlin]

The bonus point when you score four tries has encouraged Montpellier to play until the end while the Toulousains were taking some rest because the game was already won by a fair amount of points...

[Havak]

Relegation for Saints? Now there is a nice idea.

It's no misprint It is one of the most remarkable games I have seen at Welford Road.

Final score Tigers 83 Newcastle 10

And poor Mathew Tait had a nightmare whilst Smith only played the first half and still got man of the match. Are you watching Mr Robinson?

[LDiCesare]

Are you watching Mr Robinson?

Of course he is. He now learnt that a man of the match could be removed after the first half. I predict that, after realising he had badly coached last week, Andy will immediately replace any English player that looks like he's doing well, so the guy can get a man of the match award while sitting on the bench.
Of course, replacing good players might have some side effects, but it can't be worse than what he achieved until now.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

Of course he is. He now learnt that a man of the match could be removed after the first half. I predict that, after realising he had badly coached last week, Andy will immediately replace any English player that looks like he's doing well, so the guy can get a man of the match award while sitting on the bench.
Of course, replacing good players might have some side effects, but it can't be worse than what he achieved until now.

The only flaw in your theory is that an England player will have to be playing well to be taken off, meaning, on recent evidence, that no England player will come close to being taken off!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
The bonus point when you score four tries has encouraged Montpellier to play until the end while the Toulousains were taking some rest because the game was already won by a fair amount of points...

Lazy bustards!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

Final score Tigers 83 Newcastle 10

Mmmm. There's that misprint again.

[ravagon]

83-10!

Not only that but Goode kicked 13/13!

Now who were those ponces last week who managed, what was it again, 1/7?

You have to wonder whether Leicester won't need a replacement during the next 6N?
Or would that be asking for too much common sense?

[Havak]

Of course, replacing good players might have some side effects, but it can't be worse than what he achieved until now.

I cannot wait to see Robinson’s tactics for Dublin. I can’t help but feel ‘headless’ and ‘chickens’ will figure somewhere in the wording though.

And I have to say after Saturday I can no longer support any concept of Rob Andrew for England.

I’ll just quote a short piece from the BBC write up on the game:

Centre Ollie Smith scored two of the home side's 11 tries before coming off at half-time, ruthlessly exposing teenager Mathew Tait in the process.

Can you ignore THAT Mr Robinson? We will find out tomorrow.

Ollie was pulled at half time as a precaution because he had a tight hamstring. Luckily for Newcastle that meant facing Seru Rabeni at 13 instead.

I think the Tigers boys did all they could to stake a claim for next week – Goode kicked everything (28 point haul) and Chuter mis-threw just one line out to the back of the line.

And it looks like Corry will be doing his best to disprove Finbars point about England players playing well – Martin had a storming game on Saturday.

Perhaps the worst news for Finbar however would be that Healey had a fantastic game too. He may yet wear the rose again – it is certainly hard to see why players like Austin and Ollie are not when out of form players like Cohen keep getting a chance.

And on that note Saints are now three points adrift at the foot of the table – it is looking bleak for them with Tigers visiting them next weekend.

[Havak]

Goode kicked 13/13, Chuter nailed 10/11 line outs and Smith scored two superb tries.

So in conclusion I don't really expect Robinson to pick any of them. Why give yourself a fighting chance of winning for goodness sake?

The club are keen to get back Jaco Van Der Westhuyzen so that if Goode is missing we have a top class replacement - and the great thing is they will be missing at different times normally thanks to that messed up season you guys have down south.

[finbar]

I honestly and truly can't wait for (a) the team selection; and (b) the game against Ireland.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

And it looks like Corry will be doing his best to disprove Finbars point about England players playing well – Martin had a storming game on Saturday.

Yes, yes. Under LDiCesares' version of the coach's idea of strategy, Correy's game against France just about qualified him for removal from the field.

Perhaps the worst news for Finbar however would be that Healey had a fantastic game too. He may yet wear the rose again –

You need two d*ckeads to make a quinella of d*ckheads, so pick VD on the bench alongside H. Paul.

[Havak]

Or in the stands sat next to the Coach?

Ireland will almost certainly start the game without a genuine openside after club game injuries did for both squad men.

Unfortunately both D'Arcy and BO'D are back in training today. I'm not about to make wild claims like "Smith is better than BO'D" but I will say to you that in time he could be - the potential is there.

Not that it matters - Robinson will probably pick Tait again tomorrow - such is the underwhelming intellect of the man.

Do you get any ZP Premiership footage in Aus? It is well worth tracking down the footage of leon Lloyd running in a try with Tait being dragged along hanging desperately onto him.

[finbar]

No, we don't get ZP matches, only some HC replays about three weeks after the event.

I heard on the BBC World Service overnight that the prop replacement for Vickery was desperate to play for Wales last year. He even tried to argue that his selection on the bench for England during the '98 Tour From Hell shouldn't be taken into account. But, presumably, he's not the only one who thinks that tour shouldn't have counted.

[Havak]

Duncan Bell? Well how can one put this politely? Duncan is something of an old fashioned tight head. Solid as a bull - including inside the cranium. There was never any chance his try to be Welsh would work (it was only on residency anyway)

Duncan will give stability to the scrum - but he is not the type of player England likes for Props these days. Trouble is the other tight head in the cut - the young former Bok Stevens - is not getting much club game time let alone international. Personally i would punt Andy Sheridan in at 3 even though he prefers loose head - that boy is one mass of grissle and quite fearsome on the charge.

I never thought England would struggle in the front row but with White, Vickery, Woodman and Flatman all injured the resources are getting a bit scarce unless you start looking at youngsters.

Looking back the tour from hell was less scary than the current situation. We knew in 98 that a core of superb world class players were waiting to pop back in for the autumn games. Okay now we have a lot of injured boys that could return - but we also have a coach who impersonates an Ostrich. I am far more worried now than I was in 98 - a lot of good work could be wasted unless Robinson is canned quickly.

Tigers chairman also launched a blistering attack on Cotton over the player access comments by the way - essentially saying when things go right the RFU takes all the credit (i.e. RWC) but when things go wrong they always blames the clubs. There are legs in this disagreement yet.

Barkeley and Paul have both passed fitness tests - I'm really crossing my fingers that the coach has the courage to pick Smith as a starter - if he doesn't I suspect I am not the only one who will want his head for that alone.

Then again it doesn;t matter who he puts on the bench - he only ever uses a scrummie and one straight wing replacement from the seven. Did I say I think he is tactically inept?