Rugby - Running Out of Titles

[Havak]

Feel free. Music to my ears.

Imagine my delight therefore when yet another Tory defected across the floor of the house on Saturday. They are quite unelectable.

It's quite common now but McQueen was the first to bring it to rugby.

Such a shame however that whenever his name comes up all I can think of is the disappointment of Plod’s one and only great moment of ball stealing.

I'll have a look for it. I'll need something to put me to sleep on the long flight to Italy.

Then I recommend “Lions, Tigers and Roses” by Austin Healey.

It's the Australian way to be seen not to be giving a stuff.

It’s an act? Hmm – it’s worthy of an Oscar then.

He must now be losing hope that Wilkinson, whose leg injury seems to be real for once, will make the tour.

I’m starting to wonder if he will still be a player at 27. Very fragile these days seemingly. Trouble is I think it is crucial to have either him or Martin in the Lions squad for morale – both have cracking records against NZ.

His feet don't always work as they should. We'll see.

And as soon as I praise him he gets a duck of course. Vaughan looks to be moving better and the flatter-to-deceive Trescothick is having a good knock. Thorpey has had a very bad test poor lad.

and the second best will be qualified but Leicester seems out anyway

Thank goodness for Castres and Perpignan.

Did anyone see Stade Francais against Gloucester? It was sublime. I have never seen Glaws play so badly and to see them blanked at home did bring a smile to my face – not least when the shed’s traditional chant of “cheats” was utterly silenced by the Dominici try. Bye bye boys!

Game of the weekend was Biarritz via Wasps though. You have to hand it to Biarritz they did it the hard way. I would have loved another crack at them in the knockout rounds though (the same way Toulouse have drawn a team from their own pool that they have already stuffed at home!!!).

Laugh of the weekend was Harinordoquoy being yellow carded for swinging his elbow nicely into Dayglo’s chin.

One aspect of BO that seems out of control is the way they fall over at the drop of a hat and all manage to continue – even the ones who were nearly dying on the floor.

I’d also like to see how the French clubs would do if they were salary capped to the 3 Million Euros of English clubs.

So Leinster it is – not an easy play to go an win. But if anyone can do it then it will be us. And to win the trophy it has to be done the hard way now – but bet against us at your peril.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Imagine my delight therefore when yet another Tory defected across the floor of the house on Saturday. They are quite unelectable.

I notice the Tories have also enlisted the paid assistance of our Linton Crosby, mastermind of our Liberal Party's successive election wins. Nasty piece of work he is. Working with our Howard, one of the most cynical opportunists of all time, they targeted and exploited this country's greed, selfishness and racism. Hopefully you lot will be less naieve.

Such a shame however that whenever his name comes up all I can think of is the disappointment of Plod’s one and only great moment of ball stealing.

Has it ever been suggested that you need to get out more?

Then I recommend “Lions, Tigers and Roses” by Austin Healey.

I gather it's a prohibited import along with rabies and smallpox.

I’m starting to wonder if he will still be a player at 27. Very fragile these days seemingly. Trouble is I think it is crucial to have either him or Martin in the Lions squad for morale – both have cracking records against NZ.

I could be wrong, but I suspect that Wilko's body could be suffering from the long-term, obsessive conditioning he's given it. It's worn beyond its years.

And as soon as I praise him he gets a duck of course. Vaughan looks to be moving better and the flatter-to-deceive Trescothick is having a good knock. Thorpey has had a very bad test poor lad.

And they won. I told you there was every likelihood. They're very evenly matched teams, both flawed. The Boks could come back and win the next one.

I’d also like to see how the French clubs would do if they were salary capped to the 3 Million Euros of English clubs.

Listen. They killed off Rugby L*****. They're entitled to a reward.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

You should read Clive’s book. I’m not changing my views of the man significantly but some things are thought provoking and I would like your views on Chapter 7 (Antipodean Adventure). It may surprise you that he is full of praise for Aussie rugby and individuals – and an admirer of Rod McQueen in particular. That gets balanced with the fact that he had a day job with Xerox and expresses his consternation with Aussie office culture – where Sales teams didn’t give a stuff that they were not selling for example - and took their birthdays off without taking leave to cover the day. And keep you eyes out for the part where he complains about his unit on Manly beach because the waves kept him awake – he actually pokes fun at himself over that.

The moral outrage I feel atm is utterly indescribable.
I've lived here, working my rear end off, for several years and only now do I find out about this 'taking birthdays off without taking leave' thing.
I suppose the source is rather 'questionable' to say the least, but still ...

[Insert expletive here]

Wonder if I should e-mail my boss, including a link to this thread and then walk out for a few days ...

On second thoughts ... probably not.

[finbar]

Coward! (He types, happily self-employed)

[Havak]

Hopefully you lot will be less naieve.

A country that has put New Labour (Old Tories) in twice with landslides? I’ll let you make your own call on that one.

Has it ever been suggested that you need to get out more?

Have you ever sat in a crowd with Aussies in it after they have won a game? Oh hold on - I forget you are Aussie from time to time…your countrymen are bad winners – and shocking losers. Sorry if that outside prejudiced view surprises you.

I could be wrong, but I suspect that Wilko's body could be suffering from the long-term, obsessive conditioning he's given it. It's worn beyond its years.

Good point I think. One nugget from a certain book – his parents employed specialist coaches for him (kicking and conditioning) from the age of 13!!

The Boks could come back and win the next one.

They could indeed. Fairly evenly matched yes – but I think England is a stronger bowling side myself.

Listen. They killed off Rugby L*****. They're entitled to a reward.

But three home semi-finals and a pass for Toulouse to the final is a little OTT.

Wonder if I should e-mail my boss, including a link to this thread and then walk out for a few days ...

On second thoughts ... probably not.

Clive never said it was West Coast culture. Perth residents are practically English compared to NSW aren’t they?

[Havak]

Serge Betsen has been cited for the incident that broke Stuart Abbots leg when BO played Wasps last weekend.

There is a very real chance he will be suspended for part of the six nations. It means a very different back row for France - no Magne and no Betsen. With Harinordoquoy playing all his club rugby at openside I'd like to ask the French lads what the back row will now be?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
You're playing in Toulouse, LDiCesares? If you need a replacement hooker to let you express your skills at #10, I'm volunteering Tamerlin's services.

A 60 kilograms hooker playing for the main team of the Stade Toulousain promise to be a funny picture.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


A country that has put New Labour (Old Tories) in twice with landslides? I’ll let you make your own call on that one.

Oh yes, sorry, I forgot. Blair has already locked up the cynical opportunistic racist vote.

Have you ever sat in a crowd with Aussies in it after they have won a game? Oh hold on - I forget you are Aussie from time to time…your countrymen are bad winners – and shocking losers. Sorry if that outside prejudiced view surprises you.

You will sit in the cheap seats with the unwashed and uneducated!

Good point I think. One nugget from a certain book – his parents employed specialist coaches for him (kicking and conditioning) from the age of 13!!

There you go. Clapped out.

They could indeed. Fairly evenly matched yes – but I think England is a stronger bowling side myself.

Mmmm. Again, I think it's a matter of which line-up gets it right on the day. Hoggard has had one good match. Giles and Boje cancel each other out. Pollock and Ntini on song are as good as England's lot. Hoggard certainly bowled well, but it was freakish. The ball swung all day, which is unusual.

But three home semi-finals and a pass for Toulouse to the final is a little OTT.

I would agree that Toulouse's luck is outrageous. Any break that Toulouse gets is outrageous.

Clive never said it was West Coast culture. Perth residents are practically English compared to NSW aren’t they?

Gee, and I thought I'd hurled some insults at the Sandgropers in my time.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


A 60 kilograms hooker playing for the main team of the Stade Toulousain promise to be a funny picture.

60 Kilograms?? Good heavens, Dermott the Old English Sheepdog weighs 41 kilograms!

Oh, and I saw you loitering on the fringes of the unveiling of that big new plane in Toulouse. Trying to stow away?

[Havak]

Blair has already locked up the cynical opportunistic racist vote.

He seems almost guaranteed a third term. They have done so little with their huge majority it’s almost criminal but the Tories are so woeful they just cannot make any inroads.

But if we are talking opportunistic the Lib Dems are promising to abolish University tuition fees and implement higher income tax for higher earners. That is a grab for the traditional Labour vote.

You will sit in the cheap seats with the unwashed and uneducated!

As opposed to the expensive seats right next to those charming and fair minded folks who dress all in bright yellow?

Pollock and Ntini on song are as good as England's lot

I disagree – Harmison (inaccurate as he is) and Jones on song are a far more intimidating pair to face. Ntini tries hard I’ll give him that. Crucially we don’t have any weak link – and they do (Steyn? Not to mention the way the skipper uses himself at times). And no I don’t think Anderson is a weak link.

Having said that I do have to accept you know the game better than I.

I understand the young bowler who has flown out this week has a lot of promise – a lad called Jon Lewis and a Tractor boy no less.

I would agree that Toulouse's luck is outrageous. Any break that Toulouse gets is outrageous.

But to get a home draw against a team that was in your pool and that you soundly stuffed at home in that pool? It’s criminal. One might almost think ERC ltd was based in France eh?

Is it an insult to call an Antipodean resident English then? I had no idea.

60 Kilograms? There isn’t a position you could play and survive in at that weight is there. Not even scrummies are sub ten stone often.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
But if we are talking opportunistic the Lib Dems are promising to abolish University tuition fees and implement higher income tax for higher earners. That is a grab for the traditional Labour vote.

Pretty much what the Greens try to do here. They're the only alternative to the two major parties, both of which are as conservative to each other, but they're minor in the extreme. A handful of Senators and no one in the lower house.

As opposed to the expensive seats right next to those charming and fair minded folks who dress all in bright yellow?

Wattle!

I disagree – Harmison (inaccurate as he is) and Jones on song are a far more intimidating pair to face. Ntini tries hard I’ll give him that. Crucially we don’t have any weak link – and they do (Steyn? Not to mention the way the skipper uses himself at times). And no I don’t think Anderson is a weak link.

Having said that I do have to accept you know the game better than I.

Harmison is quick but wasteful. Jones isn't as quick as he was, but I haven't seen enough of him in this series. I don't think anyone has. Hoggard needs the ball to swing or he's relatively easy pickings because he can't bowl a consistent length. Anderson the same, only he's even easier pickings if it's not swinging because his control is even worse. I've never had much of an opinion of him.

Pollock is a deceptively fine bowler, moving it off the seam and swinging it. He beats the bat an awful lot. Ntini's problem is that he falls away in his delivery side, so he's always bowling at an extreme angle. He would rarely hit the stumps because the ball is always travelling across the batsman. That said, he's quick and can bowl quick for long periods. And he's taken at least one bag this series. Steyn's young, with a future, and the young bloke who broke his hand in the last Test looks promising too.

Bottom line: I stand by my view that there's not much between the attacks.

I understand the young bowler who has flown out this week has a lot of promise – a lad called Jon Lewis and a Tractor boy no less.

Yes, I think he's on standby for Harmison. I shall watch with interest.

But to get a home draw against a team that was in your pool and that you soundly stuffed at home in that pool? It’s criminal. One might almost think ERC ltd was based in France eh?

In Toulouse. In Tamerlin's sitting room!

Is it an insult to call an Antipodean resident English then? I had no idea.

You can't insult a Sandgroper. Believe me, I've tried.

60 Kilograms? There isn’t a position you could play and survive in at that weight is there. Not even scrummies are sub ten stone often.

I suppose he could carry out the kicking tee.

[Havak]

They could if they didn’t blow away.

Wattle!

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

Bottom line: I stand by my view that there's not much between the attacks.

I’ll offer another opinion after the final test.

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.

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

Oh – half way through that certain book – a healthy *cough* ego shines through – but it is interesting more for what he does not include. There is no gossip at all (a promise he made apparently) and he ignores pivotal episodes such as Dayglo’s drug debacle and player written books that caused well known problems for him.

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

[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!!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
60 Kilograms?? Good heavens, Dermott the Old English Sheepdog weighs 41 kilograms!

It could make for a very good fullback...

Oh, and I saw you loitering on the fringes of the unveiling of that big new plane in Toulouse. Trying to stow away?

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

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar

I suppose he could carry out the kicking tee.

When I am in shape I can bring the tee and the ball...