Rugby - The beautiful game

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon

An interesting point actually and this may be just the place for it too - given the popularity of RU in NZ and that the "NZ Maoris" are pretty much just the AB's minus a player or two (and sometimes not even that).
I'm pretty sure that point wouldn't be lost on any of the visiting teams they've ever played against either.

Integration through rugby. (and maybe that little haka thing too ).

I might just slip in here before Havak. He'll still be stirring his artificial sweetener into his coffee. But I'm sure he'll be here in a sec. To ask - as I ask - just where the plethora of Pacific Islanders fit into the equation?

[ravagon]

Originally posted by finbar

To ask - as I ask - just where the plethora of Pacific Islanders fit into the equation?

Don't ask. They're all Maoris. The whole NZ population in fact. Its just simpler that way.

[Havak]

Excellent question there. Oh and spot on about the coffee.

I'm sure Giff got more than 5 points' satisfaction out of it.

All I can recall is him looking at Mr McHugh with an incredulous expression on his face – “who, me sir??”

Going off at the most inopportune times?

What would really bug me is if, having made such a spirited showing against the ABs, they now capitulated tomorrow. That’s the frustration of the Boks - totally unpredictable these days.

For crying out loud, without us the others'd be digging through the Off Topic Archives for this thread whenever they feel like the occasional post!

Indeed – we are carrying the thread on our broad shoulders.

But of course Tamerlin can do no wrong for me – he is mon ami spirituel in defending the NH against the overwhelming SH tide here.

Now that was mangling his beautiful language.

Self-delusion's up there with self-abuse as a form of exercise - initially pleasant but ultimately pointless.

Yep quite right. You see it with all teams of course.

with such a rich, vibrant and meaningful tricolour.

All it means to me is very pleasant country to vacation in.

There’s precious little history to Italy as a nation state?

Sadly our colours are based on a local Army regiment and therefore pre-date even the Kingdom of Italy by well over a hundred years. They are therefore our colours in our combination and if anyone should stop using them it’s the Italians.

What sh*ts me most of all is that you're about 2 hours flight away from the place! And I'm 22 hours away!

Did I mention I think I’m likely to be there again in Spring 2004 for the six nations test? I’ll probably pop into northern Italy next time I visit Monte Carlo as well.

[Havak]

Guernsey or Jersey top you for Commonwealth Games medals.

No I didn't miss this. I just didn't know what to say given it might be true.

Borrowing liberally from our Kiwi friends I can tell you I will be supporting two nations in the games - England and anyone else beating an Aussie in any event.

Manchester though - what a pit of a place to hold the games?

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
Don't ask. They're all Maoris. The whole NZ population in fact. Its just simpler that way.

*finbar tries to visualise ravagon doing the Haka and copes with it till the tongue-poking bit at which point finbar settles for Burke's Backyard*

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Excellent question there. Oh and spot on about the coffee.

Well, as a former tighthead prop, I imagine you'd have to keep an eye on the silhouette.

All I can recall is him looking at Mr McHugh with an incredulous expression on his face – “who, me sir??”

I really and truly love it when I see players doing that. Great theatre. There's also a pattern - the taller and wider and the more busted knuckles the player, the greater the incredulity in the expression. And they say rugby lacks nuance. Only in rugby, I say, only in rugby.

What would really bug me is if, having made such a spirited showing against the ABs, they now capitulated tomorrow. That’s the frustration of the Boks - totally unpredictable these days.

Verily. I also suspect their crap about Ben Tune and drugs is going to backfire on them. I gather the Wallabies are very, very motivated. If Owen "I See Something Shaped Like A Football, I Kick It" Finnegan can just harness the ferocity and do some legitimate damage ... if, in fact, he starts ... I wouldn't be surprised if David Lyons trundled on to begin with.

Indeed – we are carrying the thread on our broad shoulders.

And where's the thanks? Gallic moquerie!

But of course Tamerlin can do no wrong for me – he is mon ami spirituel in defending the NH against the overwhelming SH tide here.

I understand the need for an each-way bet.

Now that was mangling his beautiful language.

Ssssshhhhhhhh! Listen carefully ... you can hear the fuse burning down ...

All it means to me is very pleasant country to vacation in.

I'd say the same about Scotland.

There’s precious little history to Italy as a nation state?

Ah! It's all in the subtext. They haven't been a nation all that long - as national histories go - but they're still basically a collection of regions, with all the same old differences, prejudices and hatreds. And, being Italian, they consider it important to outdo each other for magnitude in all three. Which is as it's been since time immemorial. So I think it's really a matter of ongoing history rather than a fresh start with nationhood. God bless 'em. If only this sh*thole had a zillionth of the character.

Sadly our colours are based on a local Army regiment and therefore pre-date even the Kingdom of Italy by well over a hundred years.

Okay, so it's some Colonel Blimp (dec.) that I need to boot around the bollocks?

They are therefore our colours in our combination and if anyone should stop using them it’s the Italians.

As I say, pop into your local Leicester Paint Emporium, pick up a colour chart, mull over the various options for green, and get back to me.

Did I mention I think I’m likely to be there again in Spring 2004 for the six nations test? I’ll probably pop into northern Italy next time I visit Monte Carlo as well.

You know what infuriates me even more than that I live 20 hours further away from the place than you do? You hardly ever bloody go there!

Mmmm. A pattern is emerging. I sail triumphantly through most of my post, only to stumble at the last. I must revisit my strategy.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Manchester though - what a pit of a place to hold the games?

I read somewhere that they tried Leicester but it was closed.

[Havak]

Only in rugby, I say, only in rugby.

Few, if any, sports provide better theatre of any nature.

I gather the Wallabies are very, very motivated

I would be surprised if they weren’t. You would think sides would learn no to feed the Wallabies Psych up material eh?

I don’t know much about David Lyons – I would guess he is slightly less of a psycho than Owen (safe bet eh?)

I understand the need for an each-way bet.

Good grief yes. I’m outspoken and marginalized enough as it is don’t you think?

I'd say the same about Scotland.

Scotland is very nice but freezing and wet in all but the very height of summer, and absolutely riddled with blood sucking midges even when the weather is good.

Okay, so it's some Colonel Blimp (dec.) that I need to boot around the bollocks?

Yup. Actually I think the regiment was recently absorbed into 22nd That’s the outfit that used to be based at Hereford. Jolly good luck with that booting.

(the above is not true – but I wish it was. I think the regiment was amalgamated into the Anglians a long time ago).

mull over the various options for green, and get back to me.

On reflection I could have had a lot more fun had I not pointed out the slight colour difference.

You hardly ever bloody go there!

I’ve physically stood inside the country the last two calendar years. I may yet make it there again this year. I’m not doing too bad surely?

We never appreciate things on our doorstep. I would like to bet more Brits in total have been to Miami than to Italy. But then you’ve spent time here – you know Yorkshire folk consider London too far to bother with let alone Italy.

By the way how often do you visit Melbourne?

I read somewhere that they tried Leicester but it was closed.

Actually the council still haven’t got around to discussing the initial request

Whilst I am a county lad and Tigers through and through I hold no love for the city.

My city of choice in the East Midlands would be Nottingham – a much nicer place to visit (dire rugger team though).

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I don’t know much about David Lyons – I would guess he is slightly less of a psycho than Owen (safe bet eh?)

I think I've mentioned him before. Young giant, #8 or flanker, quick, good skills. Only about 20. Big future. He's considered more mobile than Owen, but lacking the experience. Must more disciplined, obviously.

Scotland is very nice but freezing and wet in all but the very height of summer, and absolutely riddled with blood sucking midges even when the weather is good.

I loved the Highlands. Nicely eccentric up there, regardless of the weather. Or insects. I enjoy character.

On reflection I could have had a lot more fun had I not pointed out the slight colour difference.

Big tactical boo-boo. I was able to undercut your triumph! I'll look for you on the English coaching bench!

I’ve physically stood inside the country the last two calendar years. I may yet make it there again this year. I’m not doing too bad surely?

... I feel another spleen-venting session coming on ...

We never appreciate things on our doorstep. I would like to bet more Brits in total have been to Miami than to Italy. But then you’ve spent time here – you know Yorkshire folk consider London too far to bother with let alone Italy.

By the way how often do you visit Melbourne?

3 or 4 times a year. Went down just to go to a t'riffic restaurant last year. I understand the difference between the Brit attitude to travel and ours. Here, it's basically a necessity. Or it becomes second nature anyway. For example, last weekend I had some of the Oz Civvers over for dinner. Hydey drove up from Melbourne, drove back again the next day. 2000 km in 3 days. Alexander's Horse came up from Canberra. 3 hours each way. He's coming up again this weekend because I'm having MOBIUS - a Pom from this forum who's out here for a while; well, okay, he's a Celt - and his girlfriend over for dinner on Saturday night. Another 3 hours each way for Horse. It's nothing to us. We've got friends with a weekender 3 1/2 hours drive up the coast.

My city of choice in the East Midlands would be Nottingham – a much nicer place to visit (dire rugger team though).

Can't say I've been to Nottingham. Derek Randall territory, wasn't it? Or was he Northants?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
What a fickle mob you lot are! Sniff a couple of easy pieces of gold and your pathological hatred of the Wallabies goes out the window!

Well this way if I win gold from my bet it will be at least a small consolation for watching the Wallabies win...

Hopefully things go the boks way though...

This will be an interesting game for me to watch. If the Boks look like winning I will be cheering for them, but if they dont, and the wallabies are, say, 12 points ahead, I will be cheering for them so I can win my gold.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
This will be an interesting game for me to watch. If the Boks look like winning I will be cheering for them, but if they dont, and the wallabies are, say, 12 points ahead, I will be cheering for them so I can win my gold.

That's what we like ... commitment!

[Havak]

Young giant, #8 or flanker, quick, good skills. Only about 20. Big future

One to rely on maybe – after the post RWC exodus?

You have mentioned him before I’m sure. I struggle to keep up when switching between work thinking and rugger thinking.

I enjoy character.

You might like NE Leicestershire then – character it has, and in spades.

I'll look for you on the English coaching bench!

If it’s good enough for the (hopefully – no offence) tri-nations winning coach then its good enough for me.

... I feel another spleen-venting session coming on ...

I’ll drop the issue then.

I understand the difference between the Brit attitude to travel and ours

Your point about necessity is well taken. Plus Brits are by nature both insular and lazy. Sweeping generalisation time?

Exalted company you keep. Mobius is a celt? Well whadya know, I always had him pegged as a southern pom type.

An yes Derek Randall was Notts. Nice city – better layout, better shops and better pub and club scene than Leicester. And if their rugger club had let us bail them out when we wanted to (to make them a feeder to us) they might still be in a decent division and not totally broke.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
Frankly, I reckon it's assez atroce - ought to get his Gallic blood boiling, murdering his beautiful language - that Tamerlin's slinging off at us. For crying out loud, without us the others'd be digging through the Off Topic Archives for this thread whenever they feel like the occasional post! In fact, I'm lobbying Caligastia for a change of name for this thread - Havak & finbar's Rugby - The Beautiful Game! I figured I'd let you go first. Put a bit of cheer into your life before Guernsey or Jersey top you for Commonwealth Games medals.

Indeed – we are carrying the thread on our broad shoulders.

More like wasting thread posts by nattering like a couple of old bags!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
Exalted company you keep. Mobius is a celt? Well whadya know, I always had him pegged as a southern pom type.

He his a southern pom type. He has a slightly "posh" accent IMO. Nothing celtic about him...

[Havak]

Well the 'old' I can put up with but if 'bags' means old ladies like I think it does I've got to say "oi, leave it out bloke".