Rugby - The beautiful game

[finbar]

Originally posted by Patashu
what's rugby? is it related to cheese?

Only in the sense that it's the perfect game to watch with a glass of fine port and some good cheese.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
A win for the good guys.

Now that's what I call reducing a wonderfully complex sport to something akin to Rugby League.

Do any of the NH matches - sometimes played in the middle of a blizzard by all appearances - involve gloves (or maybe baseball mitts )?

ravagon - you forget that they're not only climatically-challenged in the NH, but purists. Ergo, rugby was meant to be played in sub-zero temperatures with the ball as tractable as a wet bar of soap.

Was going to try and get in on the betting thing but finbars mathematics made my head explode

Odd that the other Kiwis managed to nut it out. But then, maybe they only pretended to.

Anybody think to check what he did with that decimal point?

On the basis that I'm an Honorary Treasurer - and that I knocked back an offer from Arthur Andersen to audit the books in return for a percentage of Caligastia's win - I resent the inference. Besides, how far's 0.5 Civ Gold going to get me at the Armani Emporium?

I like that thought. A case of the more the merrier really. ie: More matches.

If Italy can make it into the 6 Nations, why can't the Pumas be admitted to our version?

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
The bit that I never really understood was how NZ managed to still lose last time when they won at home and drew in Oz. 1-0 in a 2-match series is generally a win for the side that won the match with the result.

The Bledisloe Cup in 2001? The Wallabies rolled the ABs 2-0, winning at Carisbrook and Sydney. Remember John Eales' famous penalty kick at Carisbrook? And Kefu's try in Sydney? The ABs had to win the Sydney match to take the Tri-Nations after the Wallabies had gone down to the Boks in one match and drew the other in Perth, after the ABs had beaten the Boks in both matches.

That and how many of the BC matches also seem to be other matches as well ...

The often play the BC series within the Tri-Nations series, I assume, because the schedule is too tight to allow for a separate series. Although they have happened independently.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

The Bledisloe Cup in 2001? The Wallabies rolled the ABs 2-0, winning at Carisbrook and Sydney. Remember John Eales' famous penalty kick at Carisbrook? And Kefu's try in Sydney? The ABs had to win the Sydney match to take the Tri-Nations after the Wallabies had gone down to the Boks in one match and drew the other in Perth, after the ABs had beaten the Boks in both matches.

Ok. It might have been the 2000 BC. I may have lost track. I'm sure it did happen at some point though.
*backpedalling frantically*

[PS: That decimal point crack wasn't intended as anything but a joke btw - No offense intended ]

[finbar]

In 2000, IIRC, the Wallabies beat the ABs in NZ (in Wellington, from memory) and the ABs beat the Wallabies in Sydney. The latter being that match they called one of the greats - the ABs had about 20 on the board before the Wallabies had handled the ball. The Wallabies came steaming back but lost by a handful of points. Anyway, the series score was 1-all, so the BC remained with the holders, who were the Wallabies.

I promise you there's never been a series where the team which has won the series hasn't taken the trophy. A lot of series are drawn - particularly 2-match series - and, in the case of a drawn series, the trophy stays with the holder. Which is an argument against playing the BC series within the Tr-Nations event. A 2-match series is rarely satisfactory. OTOH, where else can you fit a BC series into an already very tight schedule?

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon

[PS: That decimal point crack wasn't intended as anything but a joke btw - No offense intended ]

None - apart from that which allows mock outrage - taken! Jeez, abuse is the currency - pun intended! - in this thread.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

I promise you there's never been a series where the team which has won the series hasn't taken the trophy.

Well blah.
I guess that leaves only a few possibilities:-

(a) It wasn't the BC.
(b) It wasn't between Aus & NZ.
(c) It wasn't rugby at all.
(d) ravagons Monday brain chip was fried in the storm last night and he should refrain from further posting at least until Tuesday - at which time his senses may have returned.

Hmmmm ....

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon

... should refrain from further posting at least until ... his senses may have returned.

Mmmmm. None of us have ever countenanced that theory. How do you think we've managed to fill about 125,000 pages over the years with our utter drivel?

[Tamerlin]

Yes we are purists beaterly fighting against the heretical visions of the SH officials and rules lawyers.

No, I have never seen a player using gloves in a NH game. As far as I know only a few atmospheric conditions can stop a scheduled game : storm (our rules don't allow a match to be played under the threat of lightnings), frozen field (players can injure themselves on the hard ground) and mist (a match has been scheduled again this year in Toulouse as we couldn't see the other side of the field).

Academia : don't worry, we are also used to play against 16 players each time we are facing a Tri-Nations country ( : this one is for you Finbar...).
I don't consider Argentina to be a minor Rugby nation (unless we strictly apply the rule you have previously stated a bit like the definition of what is a barbarian under ancient greek terms).

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Yes we are purists beaterly fighting against the heretical visions of the SH officials and rules lawyers.

Tamerlin - in Havak's absence, you're doing a mighty fine impersonation of him. The NH can rest easy while you have an internet connection.

Academia : don't worry, we are also used to play against 16 players each time we are facing a Tri-Nations country ( : this one is for you Finbar...).

Thanks, Havak.

I don't consider Argentina to be a minor Rugby nation (unless we strictly apply the rule you have previously stated a bit like the definition of what is a barbarian under ancient greek terms).

Edit. Tamerlin - I'm still interested to hear what you read about the SH attempts to change the tackle situation.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
I think next week will be a real case of margin betting. Who wants to put their hand up to calculate the margin? Someone who isn't either a Kiwi or a Bok? Well, we don't have any Boks! So someone who isn't a Kiwi.

You can calculate it this time if you want, or are there any margins in the Sydney morning herald on this one?

Your erstwhile Kiwi colleague Andydog said he had a Bok mate he was going to bring into the loop. I suspect Mickeyj's the man. That, or the planets have been somehow aligned.

I might see if I can get a SA friend of mine to start posting in here too.

[Mickeyj]

Interesting reports out of South Africa this morning. The Boks' Tri-Nations and S12 contracts expire in, I think, 2005. They are making preliminary noises about the possibility of transferring their commitments to the NH competitions.

When I read about that on Saturday I went into a flat F*&K and all web sites seem to agree. (planet-rugby is good). Thank goodness todays reports deny all rumours about it.

I see Umaga ,Lomu and Norm Maxwell are back in the kiwi squad. Maxwell will make it tough for the SA locks, as Mark Andrews is still out injured but should be back for the SA leg.

As far as I know only a few atmospheric conditions can stop a scheduled game : storm (our rules don't allow a match to be played under the threat of lightnings), frozen field (players can injure themselves on the hard ground) and mist (a match has been scheduled again this year in Toulouse as we couldn't see the other side of the field).

Flooded fields can prevent a game starting due to the risk of drowining (1995 WC semi), but I have no idea what would happen if the field flooded during the game.

The only South African rugby joke I know of is Butch James' tackling.

AND he's back from injury

Do you play civ or were you referred to the rugby thread by a friend?

Both, Andydog's a mate.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Tamerlin - in Havak's absence, you're doing a mighty fine impersonation of him. The NH can rest easy while you have an internet connection.

I knew you would appreciate Finbar.

Edit. Tamerlin - I'm still interested to hear what you read about the SH attempts to change the tackle situation.

You are right, although the changes are about the scrum, I have to read again the articles in order to sum up the important facts and I will then have some translation to make. I do it as soon as possible.

[academia]

Academia : don't worry, we are also used to play against 16 players each time we are facing a Tri-Nations country ( : this one is for you Finbar...).

That´s my point; referees usually favour the most powerful side. At least, i see that in international games.
But it´s normal, it also happens in football, basketball, volleyball ...

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia

You can calculate it this time if you want, or are there any margins in the Sydney morning herald on this one?

No, they don't do margins. I'll have a crack at calculating a margin. It's hard to know whether to take the weather into account. Another night like last Saturday night and any points start the Boks get - and they would, you'd reckon, have to have a decent start - would make the calculation meaningless. I mean to say, you could hardly call Wellington a balmy tropical paradise at the best of times.

I might see if I can get a SA friend of mine to start posting in here too.

Another Manhattan refugee?