Rugby - The Ball's Out!

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
On a different note I am afraid I think this countryman of Caligastia's is a disgrace to the shirt and the nation. read more anti-English drivel here

Still I trust the French will make him look what he is - the world's fourth best stand off. And lets face it for an AB fourth is abject failure.

As you read the latest rant please consider two things - as the coach of a major international side Woodward is allowed to ask for clarification from the IRB on points of law.

And secondly Jones, who attacked S-12 on this occassion and produced an anti-English rant is damn well WELSH!!!!!

Can you tell Mehrts has annoyed me?

It makes good reading though.

I love Eddie's quote: "Mate, England are the best side in the world, so they know how to do everything."

I think if you got Woodward and Mehrtens in a room together they would probably communicate like adults. Its easy to shoot your mouth off when there are thousands of mile between you and the person you're insulting. Kind of like on Apolyton.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Havak
Finbar (who is hopefully fast asleep) picked it. My primary concern is the number of times Decoy runners seem to cause obstruction.

Then penalise obstruction. I don't know how it would be possible to outlaw decoy runners anyway, it would make the ref's job a lot harder, thats for sure.

I am afraid the talented men in black do manage to contrive this a little too often.

Did you notice a lot of it in the Tri-nations? I didn't. Perhaps there was more of it in the England game because the ref was letting it go.

[Havak]

Did you notice a lot of it in the Tri-nations? I didn't. Perhaps there was more of it in the England game because the ref was letting it go.

To be fair no I didn't. Finbar might have?

I definitely spotted several instances of it last weekend - but then I was both thoroughly motivated and looking for it.

[LDiCesare]

I think the decoy runners will be hard to legifer (?) about because there are lots of non-obstruction cases when you could look like a decoy (like long passes which jump over one or two players - are these decoys? do they become so if they keep running after the ball flies over their heads?). I do agree, however, that obstructions are far too common. Considering it is a hooker's best practice to hinder his opponent hooker's run against the scrum half after a lineout, there is a lot of job to be done to get rid of all these obstructions...

As for the SA scrums, it is really a scam. I find it ridiculous to pretend an international-level hooker couldn't play prop. I remember Laurent Rodriguez (ex France number 8, now Biarritz coach) playing prop in a match after there was no prop replacement left. He survived. Plus, the Bok hookers probably did play prop once or twice in their youth, and if they are fit to play hooker, they can probably play prop too (just don't tell my coach I ever said that).

[Tamerlin]

I have read the Article Havak submitted to our fair appreciation. Perhaps am I wrong but it seems this Gentleman called Andrew Merthens is a bit biased towards England and our fellow englishmen. Has he been recently humiliated because of someone related to England ?

Is he lacking fair play ?

BTW, about the weather and its influence on the game, a former french international and coach said bad weather was only an excuse for some coaches and players to avoid playing an ambitious game.

A curious thing, the players said the ball was very slippery during the France-SA game. Used to this infamous game called S***** the managers of the "Stade Vélodrome de Marseille" had actually watered the field an hour before the match. This would partly explain some ot the handling errors...

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have read the Article Havak submitted to our fair appreciation. Perhaps am I wrong but it seems this Gentleman called Andrew Merthens is a bit biased towards England and our fellow englishmen. Has he been recently humiliated because of someone related to England ?

He just seems to be a poor loser.

Also, just to let you know, that would be "biased against England", not "towards".

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Two props were injured (true for one of them but for the other one... ) and the SA skipper suggested the scrums should not been pushed anymore because two hookers were now in the front row though the laws of the game call for five players out of the twenty two to be able to play in the front row.

The ref was wrong. Any bona fide front rower is considered capable of filling any of the front row positions to make for a contested scrum. It happened here in the last season or so in a S12 match - the back-up hooker was called onto the field to contest the scrum as a prop. He left the field again after the scrum was played. Only when there are no bona fide front rowers available to fill a front row spot should the scrum be uncontested for safety reasons.

In fact, I'm sure Havak is waiting with bated breath to regale us with stories of how he was summoned from the bench to lead the pack to glory in a time of dire emergency.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I have read the Article Havak submitted to our fair appreciation. Perhaps am I wrong but it seems this Gentleman called Andrew Merthens is a bit biased towards England and our fellow englishmen. Has he been recently humiliated because of someone related to England ?

Is he lacking fair play ?

Just reading through that gave me the impression that said comments weren't actually intended for public consumption.
Is the "Guardian" known for such articles by any chance?

I'm also sure I saw another article earlier this week regarding Mehrtens "hitting back" against some Northern Hemispherian or other after said individual publically bashed the NZ use of decoy runners ...
Somehow though I just can't seem to visualize any NH supporter saying such a thing. Nor can I quite see how the two might be related.
[Something to do with Kiwi's being blind to that which is right in front of their faces, if I refer back to a certain comment a couple of pages ago]

All said and done though, Mehrtens has been around for long enough that he ought to know better than to vent such frustrations in public. Rather bad form all told...

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Havak

Rugby – we all love England!??

I really rather like that one.
How about keeping that aside for the one after next?

[Caligastia]

Which one sounds better to you guys? -

Rugby - One game to rule them all

or

Rugby - One sport to rule them all

[Bearcat]

Hopefully rugby training will start over here soon. Last year we started in January, but maybe we can start a little earlier this year, it would help first time players.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Which one sounds better to you guys? -

Rugby - One game to rule them all

or

Rugby - One sport to rule them all

The former is the lesser of the two evils.

Because sport is sport is sport. Rugby is a game.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Bearcat
Hopefully rugby training will start over here soon. Last year we started in January, but maybe we can start a little earlier this year, it would help first time players.

How far north is the game played there? It would be mighty mighty cold if you were too far north.

[finbar]

Originally posted by ravagon
All said and done though, Mehrtens has been around for long enough that he ought to know better than to vent such frustrations in public. Rather bad form all told...

Andrew Mehrtens is famous for his boorish outbursts. He's the Kiwi David Campese. Though much less talented in the rugby department.

[finbar]

Well, the Wallaby team selection suggests it's all or nothing on Saturday night with the ball to be thrown around a lot. They've brought in back-up 5/8 Elton Flatley to play at inside centre alongside Larkham, moved Dan Herbert back to where he belongs at outside centre, and Stirling Mortlock to the wing. That, in theory, gives the Wallabies two playmakers - two 5/8s - alongside each other. I only hope they don't get in each other's way. Regardless, Eddie says the entire backline will be given free rein to go where they like and do what they like. All of which - if it comes off - should make for a very entertaining game.

The front row has also been strengthened with Bill Young and Jeremy Paul's return - providing Paul is 100% fit - and young Dan Vickerman has been handed a huge challenge in the second row alongside Justin Harrison.

I can't wait for Saturday night. It's going to be fascinating.