Rugby!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Any predictions for the games this weekend guys?

I reckon Australia will beat France by 10 points, and New Zealand will beat Ireland by 20.

Mmmm. Steve Larkham is going to have a cortisone injection in his elbow before the France game. I wish they'd just rest him till he's 100% fit. The Australians will obviously get better as the season progresses - that's their history - but I wouldn't be surprised if they went down. It all depends on how the French bounce back.

The ABs - let's just call them the Crusaders? - are going to have to improve, but they should still win comfortably. It will be interesting to see if their combinations improve.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia

USA by 20? Thats a bit optimistic...

Not if they play their World Cup goalkeeper in the second row. He's a big, athletic bugger.

[Havak]

USA by 20? Thats a bit optimistic...

It is, but I really want Scotland to get turned over. The only reason being that they are all supporting Brazil tomorrow...sorry brought soccer into it.

Actually seriously Scotland called up a guy I know and really like last week - Eric Peters, a veteran number 8. I had a few (!) beers with him in Cairns one night and I hope he at least gets onto the field and has a good game.

Anyway, serves the traitor right.

Absolutely right. I just do not understand border hoppers at all - including the Pumas and Boks who have suddenly become Aussies in the last decade. And in case you think I'm being biased yet again I'm not too happy seeing players like Mike Catt and Michael Horak don the red rose either.

M-hm. You obviously curse loudly at my posts in the same way that I curse loudly at yours.

If you see a Havak post with the words Tigers or Jonno or England in the first couple of words, don't bother reading it. You will have seen it all before

I can take this on the chin

But I'm not sure I dare mention now that whilst Zinny was a master of the rolling maul he was more than matched by the hero that is Dean Richards.

Of course all those names will mean a great deal more to frenchmen than to you guys anyway.

But allow me this counter point - Tamerlin if you see either of the SH guys saying "no never seen that from our players", "we didn't start that practice" or "none of those players you named are as good as anyone in our A team (reserves)" then you can be sure I have heard most of that before.

Fair point guys???

Oh and I almost forgot - what about Campo's latest verbal assault - on a fellow Aussie in Sailor this time???

Great player was Campo - but one of the worst personalities ever to grace the field?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

Actually seriously Scotland called up a guy I know and really like last week - Eric Peters, a veteran number 8. I had a few (!) beers with him in Cairns one night and I hope he at least gets onto the field and has a good game.

Congratulations to him. Presumably whatever tips you whispered into his great big cauliflower lughole helped him!

Absolutely right. I just do not understand border hoppers at all - including the Pumas and Boks who have suddenly become Aussies in the last decade. And in case you think I'm being biased yet again I'm not too happy seeing players like Mike Catt and Michael Horak don the red rose either.

I honestly have mixed feelings. On one hand, the authorities grizzle because they say they have wasted development money on players who do a runner just as they're about to produce the goods; on the other, there are players who move because the rugby opportunities elsewhere are genuinely better. Lifestyle choices obviously also come into it.

I can take this on the chin

Wouldn't post 'em otherwise!

But I'm not sure I dare mention now that whilst Zinny was a master of the rolling maul he was more than matched by the hero that is Dean Richards.

*A vague questioning look crosses finbar's face as he scratches his head in a puzzled fashion*

But allow me this counter point - Tamerlin if you see either of the SH guys saying "no never seen that from our players", "we didn't start that practice" or "none of those players you named are as good as anyone in our A team (reserves)" then you can be sure I have heard most of that before.

I would simply remind Tamerlin that the above is the post of a person from a country that voted Margaret Thatcher into office.

Oh and I almost forgot - what about Campo's latest verbal assault - on a fellow Aussie in Sailor this time???

Great player was Campo - but one of the worst personalities ever to grace the field?

No one here ever takes anything Campo says seriously. Brilliant player - a freak - but an utter idiot in every other way. Pity.

[LDiCesare]

My pronostic:
NZ should beat Ireland by 10 points.
I can't see the US winning against Scotland, even though Scotland are not what they used to be.
France Australia: I don't think France will win, but they can prove me wrong. I believe that a brand-new first row who isn't used to playing together is a bit of a mistake, and the scrum+fly halves may have some trouble against the opposition. I hope I am wrong.

[Havak]

Presumably whatever tips you whispered into his great big cauliflower lughole helped him!

If only that could be true.

The first words I spoke to him were "you are in my seat mate". I reconsidered them when he stood up. He is a cracking bloke though - took a load of drunken Enlgishmen barracking him in his stride

Lifestyle choices obviously also come into it.

Yes I have to accept that - I would rather live in Aus than South Africa or Argentina myself - but something about jersey switching still sits wrong with me - it's just an emotional response I guess?

*A vague questioning look crosses finbar's face as he scratches his head in a puzzled fashion*

Tell em you are winding me up? We are quite used to the great unwashed Aussie public not knowing who Deano is but a fan of the beautiful game really should know.

the post of a person from a country that voted Margaret Thatcher into office.

Ouch! Low blow.

Please be assured this person never voted for the witch and has never voted for anyone from the party she represented either. I detest her, everything she stood for and hate the changes she wrought in the country I love, turning us into a bunch of mainly selfish me first morons.

Sorry - got carried away OT there!

but an utter idiot in every other way. Pity.

it really is - with his talent he could have been a massive ambassador for the game world-wide. As it was he got this strange chip on his shoulder (about England in particular?), and therefore put backs up every time he spoke up here. As I have said before give me a Lynagh or Eales anytime - two guys I respect enormously.

And I am sorry here but I have to support France on Satruday - even though I suspect Aus in Aus is too big an ask for them. NH solidarity and all that.

Oh hold on, a whole post without mentioning....naa, won't do it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
France Australia: I don't think France will win, but they can prove me wrong. I believe that a brand-new first row who isn't used to playing together is a bit of a mistake, and the scrum+fly halves may have some trouble against the opposition. I hope I am wrong.

Australia were pretty ordinary last week. If France can play aggressively - not giving the Wallabies any time - they could surprise you.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

The first words I spoke to him were "you are in my seat mate". I reconsidered them when he stood up. He is a cracking bloke though - took a load of drunken Enlgishmen barracking him in his stride

"You're in my seat, mate!". Remind me to watch where I sit if we're ever in the same pub!

Yes I have to accept that - I would rather live in Aus than South Africa or Argentina myself - but something about jersey switching still sits wrong with me - it's just an emotional response I guess?

Put it this way - if someone you value zorfs, it's wrong. If they're expendable, c'est la vie! (That's for our Continental friends)

Tell em you are winding me up? We are quite used to the great unwashed Aussie public not knowing who Deano is but a fan of the beautiful game really should know.

Moi? Wind anyone up? I must stop with the French. I wonder if there are any Italian rugby fans out there. I learned Italian for 15 months and I wouldn't mind practising it.

Please be assured this person never voted for the witch and has never voted for anyone from the party she represented either. I detest her, everything she stood for and hate the changes she wrought in the country I love, turning us into a bunch of mainly selfish me first morons.

Yeah, well. We've had 3 terms of Little Johnnie Howard, possibly Thatcher's greatest fan. It's remarkable how people of that ilk manage to divide a country, turning it against itself.

it really is - with his talent he could have been a massive ambassador for the game world-wide. As it was he got this strange chip on his shoulder (about England in particular?), and therefore put backs up every time he spoke up here. As I have said before give me a Lynagh or Eales anytime - two guys I respect enormously.

I don't think Campo has a problem with England in particular. In fact, I don't think even he knows what's going to come out of his mouth next. I think it was Nick Farr-Jones - another great player but prize d*ck - who said there's a short-circuit between Campo's brain and his mouth.

And I am sorry here but I have to support France on Satruday - even though I suspect Aus in Aus is too big an ask for them. NH solidarity and all that.

We'll find out. I just want to see if the Wallabies can come up with a variation on the norm. I don't care if they stuff it up trying, as long as there's some progress.

Oh hold on, a whole post without mentioning....naa, won't do it.

Jonno, Tigers, England. There you go! Saved you the bother!

[Tamerlin]

Thanks for your support Havak, I will likely support all the British teams and especially Ireland which has developped one of the most attractive Rugby of the NH in a few years.

I have been rather surprised by the team designed by the french coach for saturday. Some changes are logical but I don't really understand why Nicolas Brusque has been removed or why the front row is completely changed.
On the other hand, if you don't make some experiences and don't introduce young players in test matches, when will you do it ? In the middle of the six nations tournament or the world cup ?

We should not forget the good results of the french team (what ? Argentina ? Don't know what you're talking about ! Don't know where this country is ! Argentina, you said ? ) have much to do with the new players introduced in previous test matches.
Many of the new players in the French team who won the Six Nations Tournament were introduced during the tourney of NZ and Australia in France.

Caligastia : no, it's not always your fault. The SH have given a new breath to the game of Rugby (in my own opinion of course), I'am only criticizing the changes brought by the new rules or the referees when they threaten to change the nature of the game and moreover when these changes are ordered by TV channels in order to make more money out of our favorite sport. I know there would be no professional high level Rugby without money but we should not go too far and create a new game.

[Havak]

Remind me to watch where I sit if we're ever in the same pub!

I'd gone to get the beer and it's a tour rule that you don't sit in the beer carriers seat. I'm meek as a lamb normally.

If they're expendable, c'est la vie! (That's for our Continental friends)

Extremely well put!

Moi? Wind anyone up?

Good luck - as far as I know there are more Kiwis than Italians in Italian rugby anyway?

there's a short-circuit between Campo's brain and his mouth.

Nicely put by the chap.

I've been to a dinner with Farr-Jones, seems okay if a little blinkered in his patriotic outlook. You get one or two people like that.

possibly Thatcher's greatest fan.

And just those four words condem him as a man worthy of only contempt from me. Throw him out soon or you will never recover. As it is we have a Labour administration more right wing than the Thatcher led Tories that won the 79 election (though not even close to the rabid fools the Tories were by 92).

I don't care if they stuff it up trying, as long as there's some progress.

Is it reasonable to say you are still holding final judgement on Jones as a coach?

There you go! Saved you the bother!

Cheers!

Thanks for your support Havak

No worries to borrow a useful phrase from Finbar's countrymen.

Ireland are a great team to watch these days - when they get it right. If they do get it right they are quite capable of providing an upset on Saturday - but I don't really expect it.

France definitely have the stronger chance but them darned Wallabies have a knack of pulling it out of the fire.

I know what you are hinting at with the TV - the pressure to produce a flowing game with plenty of scores and little intervention from the officials can be placed partially at the feet of TV companies. It's a dilemma - we need to game to grow it's support base which means games on TV, but we need it to remain Rugby Union which means I personally would rather TV producers were not wired to the refs com links as it seems they are now.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin

I have been rather surprised by the team designed by the french coach for saturday. Some changes are logical but I don't really understand why Nicolas Brusque has been removed or why the front row is completely changed.
On the other hand, if you don't make some experiences and don't introduce young players in test matches, when will you do it ? In the middle of the six nations tournament or the world cup ?

There was an interesting comment tonight on one of the rugby TV shows. The thought was that the French, like everyone else, have the World Cup in mind and there's a lot of trialling going on.

BTW, the French A team are also touring here with the main French team. French A lost very narrowly to Australia A last Tuesday night and play again next Tuesday night.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Good luck - as far as I know there are more Kiwis than Italians in Italian rugby anyway?

Just about. And there's an Australian playing #13 for France.

I've been to a dinner with Farr-Jones, seems okay if a little blinkered in his patriotic outlook. You get one or two people like that.

Nick's a bit of a joke in this country. Not that he wasn't a great player, but he's considered seriously up himself. His surname is of his own invention. He added the Farr to his birthname - Jones. Apart from that, I despise his arch-conservative politics.

And just those four words condem him as a man worthy of only contempt from me. Throw him out soon or you will never recover. As it is we have a Labour administration more right wing than the Thatcher led Tories that won the 79 election (though not even close to the rabid fools the Tories were by 92).

This will be the last OT politics in this thread, I promise. The problem with this country is that it's dreadfully conservative, and, tragically, appallingly racist. All dressed up in the so-called easy-going Australian way. And John Howard has pandered to the very worst of Australian phobias.

Is it reasonable to say you are still holding final judgement on Jones as a coach?

Well, yes. He hasn't had a full season in charge yet. He inherited a team at the ***-end of last season that had - arguably - played above itself and had lost key players. He has to be given a decent opportunity. I'll start to form an opinion at the end of this season.

Ireland are a great team to watch these days - when they get it right. If they do get it right they are quite capable of providing an upset on Saturday - but I don't really expect it.

I saw the Irish hooker - Keith (and his surname has escaped me**) - interviewed on TV tonight. (He was with the Lions, wasn't he?) Seems like quite a charming chap. He thinks - on their day - they can beat the ABs. They also interviewed a couple of the ABs, who said the problem is essentially one of a whole lot of Crusaders players having to adjust to different plays, methods and calls.

**Edit. Keith Wood?

[Havak]

I must admit I thought Tony Marsh was a strange name for a Frenchman.

I think it's spot on about the trialling - only six survivors in the starting line up from the side that beat the Wallabies in November? Tamerlin should be fairly happy Ibanez is dropped to the bench though as the new captain, Pelous, is a Toulouse man.

His surname is of his own invention. He added the Farr to his birthname - Jones

I seriously didn't know that! It is muppetry of the very highest order!

I had clocked he affected what he thought was a middle-class English accent, but I guessed he was Aussie "old-money" as they say. Maybe Robert Jones was right to clock him one?

I understand - we'll leave the politics for other threads as it can be depressing. I suspect we have similar outlooks.

I'll start to form an opinion at the end of this season.

I'll save mine to November I think - if you beat us I'll rate him a terrible coach

Keith Wood, a smashing bloke all right , and yes the Lions hooker. To be fair he reflects most of his countrymen who on the whole are a charming bunch to raise a glass with. I wish he was English for one simple reason - he's a top class player.

Realistically the AB's have to improve as a unit this time around. I reckon if Ireland can keep it to the same kind of margin they will have done really well?

One thing I hope you can experience is the craic in Dublin after a game - win, lose or draw those crazy celts party regardless - it's great!

[Tamerlin]

Ok, Tony Marsh is not French but he is a very good player as is Peter De Villiers. Somewhere, I like the idea of playing for a Union rather than a country, the Rugby is, as far as I can remember, the only major sport allowing foreigners to play in its national team. Of course there are some abuse, but I like this.

And yes, I think the world cup to come is in the mind of the French coaches, as I'am sure the players had Australia in mind before the test match in Argentina.

Originally posted by Havak
I think it's spot on about the trialling - only six survivors in the starting line up from the side that beat the Wallabies in November? Tamerlin should be fairly happy Ibanez is dropped to the bench though as the new captain, Pelous, is a Toulouse man.

I don't think Ibanez is deserving to be on the bench, this player has fallen on hard times (mainly because of some stupid journalists looking for a scapegoat) and have managed to come back to the top. His performance against Argentina has not been bad, at least I think so...

About Fabien Pelous, of course I'am glad to see players coming from Toulouse but he is not the only one, the Half-Scrum Michalack is also coming from the Stade Toulousain. Michalack have been disappointing this year after his great final against Montferrand in 2001 but the other Half-Scrum Mignoni have never played well with the French team.
Though he is not coming from Toulouse , François Gelez (Half-Back) has confirmed what I thought about him since the beginning of this season, a very good player who have some troubles when he is under pressure. The final of the French championship has proved he is now able to play well while under pressure.

The question is : will the Aussies be too tough for these two young bloods ?
I hope not.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak

I had clocked he affected what he thought was a middle-class English accent, but I guessed he was Aussie "old-money" as they say. Maybe Robert Jones was right to clock him one?

His family is oldish-money but he's a pretentious ****er, to boot.