Rugby - The Ball's Out!

[Frozzy]

Okay... so if I bet Aus by 10.5, do I get 10.5 CG at the end?

I bet 10.5 on WallyBees

[Havak]

How many walls do you have around your back garden?

Only the two. Can’t have any old riff raff just walking into one’s grounds you know.

You, presumably, bring something to the relationship that balances out the suds sagas

I must do. Give me some time and I’ll maybe think of something.

I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy.

And there was me having you pegged as a progressive!

As long as you bet your entire fortune on that result.

No thanks. I may not bet on them – even this untested Wallabies line up should be too good for them I think. I will be cheering for them to push you however.

having to settle for listening to a match via the BBC website.

Generally, unlike with S*****, the BBC audio commentaries are very good. After all you clearly picked up how stupid that attack on the Wasps stand off was?

Evidence, m'Lud? Evidence?

*cough* When did the Aussies last turn us over? *cough*

Okay, so how about two losses in our last twenty one tests? One to France who played superbly that day in Paris – and one to Ireland who achieved the same in Dublin – and as I say can easily do the same to you if their heads are right on the day.

I think after that isolated nepotistic little tournament you play every summer you guys forget that there is a wider world of rugger out there?

[LDiCesare]

(The half point in the "points handicap" is there to avoid teams winning by the exact "points handicap" meaning, technically, it should be money back)

Ah, finbar, we all know that is a lie. It is just a badly disguised attempt to make us think you are good at math.

I think a 11 1/2 margin looks better than 15 or 20, though I would have suggested 12 1/2? I don't know how the pumas fare today, in particular there were some rumours on who would play fly half and such.

[finbar]

Originally posted by redbull
Okay... so if I bet Aus by 10.5, do I get 10.5 CG at the end?

No. Well, put it this way - the most you can ever lose is your stake (the amount you bet).

How much you can win will wary. This is what happens. It's basically how tote betting happens at the races.

Example. Two teams - A and B - are playing. 3 people bet a total of 30 Civ Gold on Team A. 3 people bet a total of 60 Civ Gold on Team B.

That's a total pool of 90 Civ Gold up for grabs.

The bet on Team A wins.

The 3 people who bet on Team A receive the 90 Civ Gold pool divided up according to how much they bet.

If each person bet 10 Civ Gold, they each receive 1/3 of the 90 Civ Gold pool, or 30 Civ Gold each. So their nett win (after taking into account their 10 Civ Gold bet) is 20 Civ Gold.

If one person bet 20 Civ Gold and the other two bet 5 Civ Gold each, they would divide the 90 Civ Gold accordingly - 2/3 of 90 = 60 for the person who bet 20; and 1/6 of 90 = 15 for the two who bet 5. The nett win in each case is their winnings minus the amount they bet.

And so on.

Basically, to win a sh*tload, you want everyone to back the other team!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak


Only the two. Can’t have any old riff raff just walking into one’s grounds you know.

I'm now trying to picture a back garden enclosed on only two sides.

I must do. Give me some time and I’ll maybe think of something.

Put Mrs Havak on the line, let her tell us.

And there was me having you pegged as a progressive!

Only socially and politically.

No thanks. I may not bet on them – even this untested Wallabies line up should be too good for them I think. I will be cheering for them to push you however.

So what's your estimate of a margin?

Generally, unlike with S*****, the BBC audio commentaries are very good. After all you clearly picked up how stupid that attack on the Wasps stand off was?

The BBC calls seem intelligent and articulate. A bit like our ABC here, whose sports callers always lead the way.

*cough* When did the Aussies last turn us over? *cough*

Yes, you won the last two - one of them dubious in the extreme. Two Tests in so many years leads to rather misleading impressions, methinks.

Okay, so how about two losses in our last twenty one tests? One to France who played superbly that day in Paris – and one to Ireland who achieved the same in Dublin – and as I say can easily do the same to you if their heads are right on the day.

You're counting wins against Wales, Scotland and Italy - presumably at least 2, possibly 3 each of them - in your total?

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

Ah, finbar, we all know that is a lie. It is just a badly disguised attempt to make us think you are good at math.

You have no idea how many pieces of paper covered with multiplication and division I end up with! Or maybe you do ...

I think a 11 1/2 margin looks better than 15 or 20, though I would have suggested 12 1/2? I don't know how the pumas fare today, in particular there were some rumours on who would play fly half and such.

I wouldn't argue with 12 1/2. The Wallabies are going to be very, very rusty and Argentina isn't the place to be playing if you're trying to remember the game. As we found out once before.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by redbull
Okay... so if I bet Aus by 10.5, do I get 10.5 CG at the end?

I bet 10.5 on WallyBees

This is not exactly working like this, the margin is the same for everyone. As soon as we have agreed upon one, those interested just bet a number of Civ Golds.

If you win your bet, you receive a number of Civ Golds known before the game is played thanks to our Chief Accountant Finbar who is the only living being on earth knowing the right formula to compute the profits.

Your winnings largely depend on the number of Apolytoners backing the same team as you, the more we are to back the same team, the less we all earn if you win. In the current betting session, it's likely most of us will back the Aussies, if Argentina wins the game or loose by less than 12 points the few ones that will have backed the Pumas will earn a real jackpot.

[Tamerlin]

Oooops !

I should read all the posts before I reply, I have just repeated what you all have said before.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Oooops !

I should read all the posts before I reply, I have just repeated what you all have said before.

Anyway, it's nice to know I got it right.

[Havak]

I'm now trying to picture a back garden enclosed on only two sides.

The missing two sides being accounted for by the house and then a fence and five bar gate. Which probably does not help the picture much?

Put Mrs Havak on the line, let her tell us.

Don’t you think its bad enough I keep setting myself up for ridicule here without letting an expert in that field join in?

You might gather, from the fact I keep getting away on tour, that the better half does not particularly buy into the beautiful game. Though thankfully she understands my addiction to it.

Only socially and politically.

Covers the important bases there really.

So what's your estimate of a margin?

New Wallaby line up, fired up Pumas. Hmm – give the Pumas 7-10 head start?

The BBC calls seem intelligent and articulate. A bit like our ABC here, whose sports callers always lead the way.

I’ve always assumed ABC was the equivalent of Aunty. And yes their ‘callers’ (we use the expressions commentators and summarisers mainly) tend to be as you describe.

Now ITV had the rights to the last world cup and that was almost entirely the reverse experience. One of their commentators got done for a racist comment during the England-Tonga game!

Yes, you won the last two - one of them dubious in the extreme. Two Tests in so many years leads to rather misleading impressions, methinks.

Well as you know I am playing the game to add spice to next month for us.

But you have to let this go – Lugers try was no more dodgy than the interference running in the lead up to your second try in the same game. We have to accept the officials call in the final analysis. And their call was you lost that one. To be fair Balshaws chip was so audacious for an Englishman that it probably deserved the score just on that basis alone.

As for last years game you were comprehensively beaten even if the cutting edge lacked, and I’ll be looking for a much better showing from your forwards this time out.

I’m no idiot however. I know no Wallaby side is easy to beat, and if we do so next month we will have earned it. But even if we are not better than you – we are definitely not worse these days. You cannot take us for granted like used to be the case.

You're counting wins against Wales, Scotland and Italy - presumably at least 2, possibly 3 each of them - in your total

Yup two against each in that run. Including Wales in Wales – which is still an achievement for England I can assure you. That fixture remains their summit of rugby passion – and is one of the few you can be sure they will commit to 100%.

There is also three wins against the Boks in that run of course. And France’s win in 2002 was their first in four years. We even beat them the year they ambushed the ABs.

Rugby is a strange game – it can throw up some beautiful results. I wait with interest to see France ambush the Wallabies in the same way they did us in Paris in March. That French performance would have beaten anyone – don’t doubt that for a second.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The missing two sides being accounted for by the house and then a fence and five bar gate. Which probably does not help the picture much?

So we have three fences!

Don’t you think its bad enough I keep setting myself up for ridicule here without letting an expert in that field join in?

Variety is the spice, as they say. Mrs finbar has taken to walking past me at the computer and saying: "What are you up to?". To which I reply: "Talking rugby".

Remember "Fawlty Towers"? Remember Basil Fawlty's wonderful noise of disdain that sounded something like: "Chtch". That's what Mrs finbar has taken to uttering as she continues on her way.

You might gather, from the fact I keep getting away on tour, that the better half does not particularly buy into the beautiful game. Though thankfully she understands my addiction to it.

Mrs finbar has her own addictions - various mindless computer games, gadgets for the kitchen, fitness regimes, etc - so she can't grizzle about mine. So I tell her.

New Wallaby line up, fired up Pumas. Hmm – give the Pumas 7-10 head start?

I think 11-12, which isn't all that much different.

You cannot take us for granted like used to be the case.

So, if we win, we can take you for granted again?

Yup two against each in that run.

I must set up a Wallaby -v- Romania match immediately!

Rugby is a strange game – it can throw up some beautiful results. I wait with interest to see France ambush the Wallabies in the same way they did us in Paris in March.

They did us in Paris! It's a wonder I even talk to Tamerlin and LDiCesares!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
They did us in Paris! It's a wonder I even talk to Tamerlin and LDiCesares!

As long as it is not considered the favourite, the french team has a real chance to win against any team.
Promise the french players an awful defeat and they win...

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar
I watched all bar the last 10 minutes. There was some good talent on show. Obviously I knew little about either team, but it seemed to me Waikato only really looked dangerous counter-attacking. Auckland seemed to have the better structure.

I agree, and its good to see that Mitchell has diversified his selection pool outside of Canterbury.

That's three converted tries. I think it's way too much. The Pumas can be very strong at home in front of their own crowd. They've beaten us there before - as Rod McQueen would remember from his very first match as Wallaby coach - and they have absolutely nothing to lose. Bear in mind, also, that 95% of the Wallaby squad haven't played since the Tri-Nations well over 2 months ago. Frankly, under all the circumstances, I think 11 1/2 would be reasonable (and probably still generous) - a try and a converted try.

I think your margin is too low, but I can agree on a compromise in the form of Tamerlin's proposed margin. How does that sound?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
I think your margin is too low, but I can agree on a compromise in the form of Tamerlin's proposed margin. How does that sound?

Havak's margin is even lower! OTOH, he'll probably offer me 25 points start against his mob that have racked up an extraordinary winning record against giants like Italy, Scotland, Wales and the Falklands.

I can wear Tamerlin's suggested margin. But I'll be happy with any win. I think we're going to see a few rookies in the Wallaby line up.

In other news - Wendell Sailor seems to have done further damage to his knee. They're now debating whether to send him home. What's to debate?

And the fat South African boofhead who tackled the ref got off with an OZ$1700 fine. What a joke.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
In other news - Wendell Sailor seems to have done further damage to his knee. They're now debating whether to send him home. What's to debate?

Will he be cured in time to play against France ?

And the fat South African boofhead who tackled the ref got off with an OZ$1700 fine. What a joke.

This is a real licence to kill.