Rugby - The Ball's Out!

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Choosing 6 1/2 for the England/ABs has been made in the obvious attempt to make it hard for me to decide who I'd back.

Picked it like a scab! (Now there's a colloquialism for Tamerlin to ponder over! )

I said I needed 7 to back the ABs so I'll bet 10 civ gold on England.

Gotcha.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
I've just checked the officials.

Jonathan Kaplan as ref?

He's famous for being the SH's most pedantic referee so the afternoon air will ring with the non-stop tweet of his whistle thus satisfying a NH crowd to whom the non-stop tweet of a ref's whistle is sweet music.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak

To be fair they also said if you live with our forwards for twenty minutes they would make you favourites – unless it started to rain then.
It was one of the Walkabout bar events – Aussie theme pubs across the UK – next week the chain hosts three Wallaby greats for a Q&A in the same vein and the week after three Boks. Nice idea – anything that supports the game is good after all.

Yeah, I've been to those Walkabout places a few times. Mostly the one in Covent Gardens, but also Shepherd's Bush. Great place for a homesick kiwi, even if it is mostly aussie. Which is your local?

[Havak]

The one I visit most often? Sheffield in actual fact.

I dislike theme pubs generally - prefering traditonal English public houses.

The current rugger nights are all in the Shepherds bush franchise.

Good luck to your boys tomorrow. Once we get this game out the way we can get back to real business - picking on the Wallabies.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
You know it makes sense.

Lets hope we all get a slice of Caligastias gold then.

If you do, each slice will be tiny.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak

Good luck to your boys tomorrow. Once we get this game out the way we can get back to real business - picking on the Wallabies.

Good luck to your lads also.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by finbar


He's famous for being the SH's most pedantic referee so the afternoon air will ring with the non-stop tweet of his whistle thus satisfying a NH crowd to whom the non-stop tweet of a ref's whistle is sweet music.

[Havak]

I like him already!!!!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia




Good luck to your lads also.

:Puke: !

BTW, we forgot about Wales -v- Fiji at the Millennium Stadium.

Does anyone care?

No? Thought not.

[Andydog]

Good morning chaps! It's match day! Actually the morning here in London is rather on the cloudy side, but according to the forecast it should be mostly dry today with some brighter spells.

For the sake of keeping this mini-civ-gold-economy ticking over, can I put 40, no what the hell 50 gold on the AB's please? Here's hoping that Taine will manage to harness the enthusiasm in the AB squad to make up for what they lack in experience.

And in case anyone's wondering, I'll be sitting in the east middle block, row 60 seat 20 at Twickenham this afternoon.

As for the other games, 20 on Ireland (I could never bring myself to back the Aussies), and 20 on the Boks please. If Finbar is going to take the French poster's gold, I'll have half of it thank you very much!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
He's famous for being the SH's most pedantic referee so the afternoon air will ring with the non-stop tweet of his whistle thus satisfying a NH crowd to whom the non-stop tweet of a ref's whistle is sweet music.

And some think it's better to hear that than being deaf.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Andydog
And in case anyone's wondering, I'll be sitting in the east middle block, row 60 seat 20 at Twickenham this afternoon.

Lucky guy, I've never been to Twickenham, I hope I will come one day for a six-nations England-France game.

It must be fun to hear the "Marseillaise" at Twickenham.

If Finbar is going to take the French poster's gold, I'll have half of it thank you very much!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog
Good morning chaps! It's match day! Actually the morning here in London is rather on the cloudy side, but according to the forecast it should be mostly dry today with some brighter spells.

For the sake of keeping this mini-civ-gold-economy ticking over, can I put 40, no what the hell 50 gold on the AB's please? Here's hoping that Taine will manage to harness the enthusiasm in the AB squad to make up for what they lack in experience.

And in case anyone's wondering, I'll be sitting in the east middle block, row 60 seat 20 at Twickenham this afternoon.

As for the other games, 20 on Ireland (I could never bring myself to back the Aussies), and 20 on the Boks please. If Finbar is going to take the French poster's gold, I'll have half of it thank you very much!

I've placed your bets retrospectively. Or retroactively, as Havak prefers to put it. He watches too many re-runs of "Lost In Space".

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
And some think it's better to hear that than being deaf.

Until, of course, the incessant tweeting deafens you and you can't hear it anymore.

[finbar]

Cripes. Talk about dedication to the cause. Had 6 people over for dinner last night. Spent all day slaving over the stove. The last guests left at 1.15am, just in time for me to tune in to the Wallabies -v- Ireland kick off at 1.30am, followed by the delayed telecast of England -v- All Blacks which finished at 5.00am. Staggered off to bed, woken up by the dogs at 8am demanding to be taken down to the park. :massive, massive yawn and stretch:

1. Ireland 18 -d- Wallabies 9

The Paddys simply deserved to win it. They played the terrible conditions so much better than the Wallabies with guts and determination, some good skills, terrific tactical kicking by their #10 and fierce defence. The Wallabies had a better second half with some well-constructed attack phases, but sloppy handling errors - which plagued them all through the game - cost them several outstanding try opportunities. The penalty count against them was pretty much deserved - they knew the NZ ref's methods and preferences from SH matches and infringed regardless. Fools. The bright spots - he says optimistically - were Adam Freir's first start at hooker with a very mobile, skilled performance, and the fact that David Giffen got through the game and showed some of his old skills.

Just to add to the Wallaby tour misery, Owen Finnegan dislocated his shoulder 15 minutes into the game. I'm not sure who they have left - fit - to select over the coming weeks. Regardless, unless the Wallabies solve the sloppy handling problems when in strong attacking positions, they're wasting their time turning up next week against England. The England team I saw last night will crucify them.

Edit. It turns out Owen Finnegan has dislocated the shoulder that has already been reconstructed. Minimum six months on the sidelines, possibly the end of his career.

Speaking of which -

2. England 31 -d- All Blacks 28

Very entertaining match with some high class rugby. Clive Woodward must be thanking God for Jonny Wilkinson. One of the best #10 performances I've seen for a long time - his chip and re-gather to score the try was pure magic - and England would have been rooted without him. The ABs obviously did lift to make up for the lack of experience, but it was the old hands - Umaga, Howlett, Lomu, Mehtrens in the second half, etc - who lifted the most to do the most damage. Some of their backline work was magical, blowing holes in the English defence. OTOH, no defence in world rugby would contain some of those backs in that sort of form. The England backs, by comparison, seemed to lack imagination and/or invention. But it's a tough comparison. Both teams would crucify the Wallabies in the situation in which they currently find themselves.

Havak - you'll be gladdened to hear that, prior to the match, Phil Kearns called England "probably the world's best team - or, if not, right up there". BTW, I was particularly impressed by your #6, a Leicester chap, apparently.

3. France 30 -d- Springboks 10

All I've heard is there were lots of penalties and goals. I look forward to the reports by our local correspondents.

4. Scotland 37 -d- Romania 10

Mmmm. I didn't even know this match was being played. Judging from the scoreline, Scotland didn't know either, it seems.

5. Wales 58 - d- Fiji 14

Another one for the stats sheet.

Now I have to settle down to sorting out the Civ Gold wins and losses.

Prior to a nap.