Rugby - The beautiful game

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar
And I hope to hell you're Australian, because the last poster resident in Australia to join our tawdry crew - if you can call Western Australia part of Australia - turned out to be a frigging Kiwi!

Nice to have you here Neostar. Greetings from the proverbial wolf-in-sh ... erm, bad choice of words.
Actually I think WA seceded some time ago. Its just that nobody in the Eastern states noticed.

Anyway, if you care to stick around, and check back over the last page or so, you'll notice we have out betting comp going. You're much more than welcome to join us!

Or in other words finbar needs a new influx of cash to top up his not-quite-full pot.

In anticipation of next Saturdays Aus/NZ match, how about generating a margin (if any) from all the non Aussie/Kiwi 's? ie: Havak, Mickey and the two French posters...

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
I don't know anyone who makes a difference between open and blindside there.

Maybe it's just a SH thing.

I do when I play centre. You run less that way).

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Havak and Finbar Rugby thread

There's another vote, Caligastia. That makes 4! Yeah, I know, I counted Tamerlin's vote last time, but after the farcical Presidential vote in Florida last time, I figured you'd probably accept it.

Finbar : do you think someone will care to lend us some gold if we keep betting like that ?

In your dreams, Tamerlin. This is a dog-eat-dog thread. Tous pour eux-mêmes. (That's another English idiom, I don't know how it translates)

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon

In anticipation of next Saturdays Aus/NZ match, how about generating a margin (if any) from all the non Aussie/Kiwi 's? ie: Havak, Mickey and the two French posters...

Yeah, we should start trying to nut out a margin. I can't imagine it being very big. I'd expect - given that both teams have now played the Boks, and that the Kiwis beat them by more - the ABs would have to start slight favourites. OTOH, you'd have to factor in homeground advantage.

[NeoStar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Welcome to Havak and Finbar Rugby thread NeoStar.

Cheers French eh? I bet you're rugby team will get a heap of support for the WC since the soccer team crashed out.

Originally posted by ravagon
Nice to have you here Neostar. Greetings from the proverbial wolf-in-sh ... erm, bad choice of words.
Actually I think WA seceded some time ago. Its just that nobody in the Eastern states noticed.

Greetings rav'o. If ARU have realised it we wont be seeing any Australia based Wallaby vs All Black games at Subiaco.

[Havak]

Deported to Saracens??? My god you must really hate me!!!

Fortunately I’m not just a member but a shareholder too so I’m going nowhere.

George Gregan's decision to try for the try (so to speak) instead of booting it out of play with 6 seconds to play is also to be applauded loudly, methinks.

Or, as the lobotomised summariser who sits next to Budda (however he spells that) said “you have to love it when Aussies back themselves.”

A brave decision, and to be praised, but would he have done it against the ABs?

Why the Boks don't play rugby from the outset instead of deliberately giving away penalties is beyond me.

But at least they are consistent? I cannot remember them playing any differently in the last decade?

He was chasing and looking like he wanted to deliver punches but wasn't quite sure how to!

I so wish I had seen it!

It goes without saying that whilst I generally don’t support the European pillaging of SH talent I would make an exception if Larkham felt finishing his career at Tigers would be a good thing.

Try to get the Butler book from a library? To be honest you may not like it. He isn’t Stephen Jones, but he is very much is the man behind the words attributed to Austin Healey (he also ghost wrote Healeys book of the tour which is quite scathing of all things Aussie sporting male in parts). He is no fan of your journalism either. It might be a hard read. I guess I ought to hunt it down myself.

Welcome to Neostar – but what a low blow about the soccer?

There is no need to worry about the French in RWC next year – their supporters will get behind them as per normal. Very passionate fans – but someone warn them not to try and take poultry through Aussie customs (this will only make sense if you have seen a french team in France – one of the French lads will explain).

[Havak]

News just in - SANZAR wimped out totally at the disciplinary hearings and did nothing but impose a restrospective yellow on a second bok player.

And Finbar - is that Eales protege one Nathan Sharpe? He seems to have caught the attention of some fans anbd got good press.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by NeoStar
If ARU have realised it we wont be seeing any Australia based Wallaby vs All Black games at Subiaco.

That'll never happen. I won't start worrying until I hear the NZRFU is administering WA rugby.

[LDiCesare]

About the AB/Wallabies margin, I am not sure we need one. I'd rank ABs as favourites as they have had better results, but the aussies are at home and will have strong motivation. I think a win by 1 point for the blacks would be enough, but since I plan on betting for them, that might be unfair. 3 points maybe?
Ans it is "chacun pour soi". That means "each one for oneself". The singular seems more appropriate in this case.
If no coq gaulois can pass the customs, we can probably tie feathers on an platypus and free it on the field instead. I heard the males had claws on their back feet, and they have a beak, so that should do it.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by NeoStar


Cheers French eh? I bet you're rugby team will get a heap of support for the WC since the soccer team crashed out.

I don't know if it is a low blow as Havak thinks it is but I'am immune to all the soccer related blows as I hate this sport (I should rather say I hate what is going on around this sport) and especially all the immoderate noise made around each WC. I was really fed up with this WC well before it started and was among the few french waiting for our (I should rather say "their") national soccer team to be eliminated as soon as possible in order to have some peace.

I really don't like soccer !

About the poultry and the French Rugby Team, I can only see two explanations :

1) The Rooster on the players' shirt
2) The habit of some french supporters to bring a live rooster (generally painted in blue, white and red) with them in order to release it on the field before the match. As Australia is also a continent and is thus protected from many diseases I guess the custom officers won't allow a chicken to enter the Australian territory or that the quarantine is so long the RWC would be finished before the rooster is freed.

I suppose Havak was thinking about the later explanation. Of course, throwing a painted Rose on the field before a game is less funny and far less spectacular.

About "Chacun pour soi", LDiCesare have corrected Finbar for me.

[Havak]

Two excellent posts on the ‘coq gaulois’ there – thanks LDiCesare and Tamerlin.

What worries me most is that if your fans did manage to release some poor animal (be it poultry or a marsupial) in the stadium some over enthusiastic Aussie policeman would probably shoot it – they take stadium security very seriously over there. I think France is more like England in that the few police in the ground tend to watch the game rather than ‘police’ it?

Of course, throwing a painted Rose on the field before a game is less funny and far less spectacular.

And far too expressive, or emotional even, for any Englishman to do it.

But if you think we are bad in that regard the Australians leave us standing – to even wear team colours the Aussies generally have to be given them free (thanks vodafone!) and during the game the Wallabies have to be totally in control before you get to see many fans hidden scarves and hats – and also before you hear the traditional “Go (You) Wallabies” which seems to be their only in game rhetoric?

Mind you they sing a cracking Waltzing Matilda before the game.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
What worries me most is that if your fans did manage to release some poor animal (be it poultry or a marsupial) in the stadium some over enthusiastic Aussie policeman would probably shoot it...

How naive I'am, I thought the barbarians were those that are releasing an animal in the middle of a crowded rugby stadium.

And far too expressive, or emotional even, for any Englishman to do it.

Hundred years of selective breeding can have some bad after-effects.

But if you think we are bad in that regard the Australians leave us standing...

Though I don't consider you are bad in that regard I have somme trouble to compare with our SH friends as I know nothing of their habits in the matter.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Deported to Saracens??? My god you must really hate me!!!

I knew I'd picked it like a scab! What a good memory I've got. Actually, before this thread came about, I used to be a very gentle soul, incapable of a bad word about anyone. Until I came upon your mistreatment of Celts. You stirred a sleeping Devil within me, Havak. To employ a 100% appropriate metaphor - I picked up the ball and ran with it!

Fortunately I’m not just a member but a shareholder too so I’m going nowhere.

Oh, I see. We're all here for the love of a great game. You're here for business reasons.

Or, as the lobotomised summariser who sits next to Budda (however he spells that) said “you have to love it when Aussies back themselves.”

I did hear that. I think it was Poido.

A brave decision, and to be praised, but would he have done it against the ABs?

Yes, if he'd needed to. On Saturday night, a penalty goal would only have deprived the Boks of their bonus point. He was chasing a Wallaby bonus point for the extra try because the ABs had already picked up a bonus point against the Boks. Thus, if last Saturday night had been -v- the ABs, and if the Boks were leading the comp with a bonus point, he'd've done the same thing. I mean, yes it was brave, but he really had no choice. If we beat the ABs next week, and we both beat the Boks in SA, the whole series result will hang on bonus points.

But at least they are consistent? I cannot remember them playing any differently in the last decade?

You're right. I just think they handicap themselves. Still, it's their choice.

I so wish I had seen it!

Who shows the Tri-Nations over there? Here, the match is shown on free-to-air, but replayed endlessly on FoxSports. Can you see a replay? It's great fun to watch poor Steve chasing and ... dancing around ...

It goes without saying that whilst I generally don’t support the European pillaging of SH talent I would make an exception if Larkham felt finishing his career at Tigers would be a good thing.

I don't have the slightest problem with players finishing their careers elsewhere. Just as long as it's the -sh of finish and not the f-.

Try to get the Butler book from a library? To be honest you may not like it. He isn’t Stephen Jones, but he is very much is the man behind the words attributed to Austin Healey (he also ghost wrote Healeys book of the tour which is quite scathing of all things Aussie sporting male in parts). He is no fan of your journalism either. It might be a hard read. I guess I ought to hunt it down myself.

Look, if I don't like it, it's winter here and it'll make a change from using the Sydney Morning Herald under the kindling in the fireplace. BTW, the review notes that he skippered Wales. Presumably he can sing better than he writes.

In fact, I've just re-read the review. It's pretty glowing, talking about astute and fair observations, ending with calling it "sports writing of a high order". Unless, of course, the reviewer is an ex-coal miner.

There is no need to worry about the French in RWC next year – their supporters will get behind them as per normal. Very passionate fans – but someone warn them not to try and take poultry through Aussie customs (this will only make sense if you have seen a french team in France – one of the French lads will explain).

Australian rugby fans will support the French enormously next year. They like the French style.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
News just in - SANZAR wimped out totally at the disciplinary hearings and did nothing but impose a restrospective yellow on a second bok player.

That'll be their prop, Sephaka. He punched Stirling Mortlock on the run. It was amazing he wasn't cited. The Wallabies resisted the urge to retaliate that time. Later, unfortunately, they didn't show such discipline.

And Finbar - is that Eales protege one Nathan Sharpe? He seems to have caught the attention of some fans anbd got good press.

No. Nathan Sharpe has been around for a season or two for Queensland. He's one of those interesting cases of the Wallaby selectors seeing something that many others didn't. They nurtured him and he's starting to produce the goods. Good skills, mobile and a good rugby brain.

I'll get back to you with the name of Eales' protege.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
About the AB/Wallabies margin, I am not sure we need one. I'd rank ABs as favourites as they have had better results, but the aussies are at home and will have strong motivation. I think a win by 1 point for the blacks would be enough, but since I plan on betting for them, that might be unfair. 3 points maybe?

As I said, the ABs should probably - technically - start favourites. I think 3 points is a fair margin.

Ans it is "chacun pour soi". That means "each one for oneself". The singular seems more appropriate in this case.

Thanks for that, LDiCesares. This is terrific! Much cheaper than trotting off to Alliance Français! OTOH, on the basis that my cable connection costs the earth, maybe it's not.

If no coq gaulois can pass the customs, we can probably tie feathers on an platypus and free it on the field instead. I heard the males had claws on their back feet, and they have a beak, so that should do it.

I'll just pop out and set up a coq gaulois breeding program for you. Should be tons of 'em come RWC time.