Rugby - The beautiful game

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
I wonder if Finbar and Caligastia were/are backs

I was a back even though my size is more suited for a forward position. I play best as a back because I can run fast and defend well.

[LDiCesare]

Tamerlin, there is no such thing as "physical build not suited for rugby"! I am 1,63m (5'5'') for 60-65kg (140lbs?) and I have played everywhere except prop and lock (obviously lock). Although not in 1st div, mind you. At best I played winger in reserve 2nd div, and now play in "folklo", most often scrum half or hooker... The fact I have never been afraid of tackling people twice my weight or more probably explains why I often end up in the first row... that and the fact our president likes to play scrum half, too.

By the way, did I say I wanted to bet 20 civ gold on the ABs against the wallabies?

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
The fact I have never been afraid of tackling people twice my weight

Ooops! Everyone be very nice to LDiCesares!

that and the fact our president likes to play scrum half, too.

Your president and the Moderator of this thread have much in common.

By the way, did I say I wanted to bet 20 civ gold on the ABs against the wallabies?

You just did! Bet recorded.

[finbar]

Gee, we're a decadent lot!

Grizzle #1: I'd already written this post, done all the calculations, I was just about to hit the Post Reply button and IE froze! I had to start all over again!

Grizzle #2: There's a monumental wind, hail and rain storm steaming towards Sydney, predicted to pass right over the top of Australia Stadium just before or during the game! Happy kicking game, Andrew Mehrtens!

All that aside -

Havak & finbar's Rugby - The Game They Play In Heaven (Apart From The Western Suburbs Of Chester) Betting Update - Tri Nations Match #4.

After the bets have been placed for tonight, the Bank A/c reads as follows:

academia 92
Andydog 173-20 = 153
Caligastia 97-40 = 57
finbar 30-20 = 10
Havak 96-30 = 66
LDiCesares 102-20 = 82
Mickeyj 121
ravagon 134
Tamerlin 55-20 = 35

There is no margin on this match. It's straight out win/lose. In the case of a draw, bets are refunded. The bets are as follows:

All Blacks

Andydog 20
Caligastia 40
Havak 30
LDiCesares 20
Tamerlin 20

Wallabies

finbar 20

The pool stands at 150 Civ Gold. If you win your bet, you will receive (including your stake) as follows:

Andydog 23
Caligastia 46
Havak 35
LDiCesares 23
Tamerlin 23

finbar 150

I'd better hurry up and post this before *%$#! IE jams on me again.

*finbar departs to try to direct the storm away from Australia Stadium*

[finbar]

Halftime update:

Wallabies 8
All Blacks 3

The hail and rain didn't arrive, but the wind did. It's playing havoc with kicking for goal. Wallabies had the better of the first half. Had a try disallowed. An outrageous decision by the ref, who claimed Noriega had interfered with a player on the side of the ruck. The replay showed he clearly hadn't. The big worry at halftime is that it was Noriega's second warning. Next time, it's a card.

[finbar]

Final score:

Wallabies 16
d
All Blacks 14

With a Matt Burke penalty after the final bell.

I'm rich!

[Caligastia]

Once again the wallabies pull a houdini...

Now its down to bonus points to decide the winner of the tri-nations. Who ever does the best against SA will win it.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Once again the wallabies pull a houdini...

Well, yes, but they totally dominated the last 10 minutes. The Matt Rogers try came on the 15th phase. It was only brilliant AB defence that kept the Wallabies out. I'm also wondering how long it will be before Rogers starts a game. His speed, stepping and gift for picking the angles are outstanding.

It seemed to me, over all, that the ABs' strategy was too limited. Turning the opposition around with kicks is fine, but I suspect it was overdone. Umaga made a couple of magnificent runs and really threatened when he did so. More of that, I reckon, would have put more pressure on the Wallabies. As it was, the Wallabies pretty much knew they were going to be bringing the ball back. Running at the defence, putting it under pressure.

The really worrying thing for Eddie Jones would have to be the turnovers. The last stat I saw had 19. Sure, some of them were from massive AB pressure, but there way too many simple handling errors.

And the wind must have been appalling at ground level. I've never seen both Mehrtens and Burke kick so - by their standards - badly. Although Burke's missed conversion from almost right in front was just bad kicking. He really has had a couple of ordinary kicking weeks by his standards.

Regardless, it was a classic Bledisloe match. Well, when aren't they? Tough and hard, but played in terrific spirit.

Now its down to bonus points to decide the winner of the tri-nations. Who ever does the best against SA will win it.

That's what it boils down to. I must check where they're being played. I wonder if either of them are at altitude?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


Well, yes, but they totally dominated the last 10 minutes. The Matt Rogers try came on the 15th phase. It was only brilliant AB defence that kept the Wallabies out. I'm also wondering how long it will be before Rogers starts a game. His speed, stepping and gift for picking the angles are outstanding.

Agreed, I will be suprised if he doesnt start in SA. For a rugby league player he has adapted to union very well.

It seemed to me, over all, that the ABs' strategy was too limited. Turning the opposition around with kicks is fine, but I suspect it was overdone. Umaga made a couple of magnificent runs and really threatened when he did so. More of that, I reckon, would have put more pressure on the Wallabies. As it was, the Wallabies pretty much knew they were going to be bringing the ball back. Running at the defence, putting it under pressure.

Yep, there were defintely a few occasions when they seemed to be just kicking away possession. They really got nowhere with that strategy (except for Cullen's kick which led to the McCaw try). Every time they kept the ball in hand they dominated.

The really worrying thing for Eddie Jones would have to be the turnovers. The last stat I saw had 19. Sure, some of them were from massive AB pressure, but there way too many simple handling errors.

The ABs also had their share of errors, but they forced the Wallabies into more.

And the wind must have been appalling at ground level. I've never seen both Mehrtens and Burke kick so - by their standards - badly. Although Burke's missed conversion from almost right in front was just bad kicking. He really has had a couple of ordinary kicking weeks by his standards.

I could see just by the way their hair and uniforms were whipping in the wind that it would be a tough night for kicking. So much for perfect conditions in Sydney eh?

Regardless, it was a classic Bledisloe match. Well, when aren't they? Tough and hard, but played in terrific spirit.

It was a great match, but it would have been better if NZ had won...

That's what it boils down to. I must check where they're being played. I wonder if either of them are at altitude?

IIRC Durban (where NZ is playing) is at a high altitude, whereas Johannesburg (where Oz is playing) is closer to sea level.

[NeoStar]

That was a brilliant game.

The winds kept it low scoring and Rogers and Burke combined in the final minutes to bring Australia home. I can't help finding it funny that the game was won with a kick when penalty kicking seemed useless.

How many times can it keep ending like this? It seems the Wallabies love to have us tearing our hair out until the hooter...

BTW What's 'Civ Gold'?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Agreed, I will be suprised if he doesnt start in SA. For a rugby league player he has adapted to union very well.

Unlike Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers actually has a rugby background. Played it at school and afterwards. He finished up in RL because his father was a top RL player. It will be interesting to see how Lote Tuquiri adapts. He has no practical rugby experience but his father and grandfather both played the game at rep level. We'll find out what part genes play in rugby.

BTW, I would bet some of my now Civ Gold fortune that Sailor and Tuquiri won't both still be playing rugby long after the WRC.

I could see just by the way their hair and uniforms were whipping in the wind that it would be a tough night for kicking. So much for perfect conditions in Sydney eh?

It was blowing a gale from the south but the layout of the grandstands at Australia Stadium turns any wind into a whirlpool. That's what made life difficult for the kickers. I'm just glad the predicted rain and hail didn't eventuate. We could see the cloud front approaching and it was almost purple/black with its intensity.

IIRC Durban (where NZ is playing) is at a high altitude, whereas Johannesburg (where Oz is playing) is closer to sea level.

Mmmm. If that's the case, and if history's anything to go by, it would seem to favour the Wallabies. The Boks at altitude seem to have been more of a problem over the years than at sea level.

[finbar]

Originally posted by NeoStar
How many times can it keep ending like this?

I don't care! As long as the results stay the same way.

BTW What's 'Civ Gold'?

As in the Civ 2 game "currency". We've got so many nationalities in our betting comp that it was easier to settle on a neutral currency for our bets. Thus we adopted "Civ Gold" - probably the only permanently stable currency in the universe.

Hopefully you'll be jumping into the betting pool for the next match?

[finbar]

Phew! Saved from humiliating bankruptcy!

After last night's result, the Bank A/c reads as follows:

academia 92
Andydog 153
Caligastia 57
finbar 160
Havak 66
LDiCesares 82
Mickeyj 121
ravagon 134
Tamerlin 35

*The wolf beats a hasty retreat from finbar's door*

[Caligastia]

I wonder who keeps giving this thread a poor rating?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
I wonder who keeps giving this thread a poor rating?

Rugby League-ites, I'd've thought.

Or, perhaps, some disgruntled soul who lost their shirt last night?