Rugby - Last Feet!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Thanks!

Is this the only interesting thing I have said in all my last posts?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


Is this the only interesting thing I have said in all my last posts?

No, its not. I just don't have a lot of time at the moment.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Now that is something I wish I'd heard.

You would have liked to see a French Championship final in the mythical Parc des Princes.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
No, its not. I just don't have a lot of time at the moment.

I'am kidding, don't worry!

I have read an interesting article in the international part of the Midi Olympique about Wales and the Howlett case (apparently solved as he is staying in New Zealand), I will post more on this subject this week-end.

[Havak]

He's helped out in Gloucester by having a pretty good squad to pick from of course

True. And all the more remarkable because it’s a relatively small squad too. I still think long term injuries to your first choice half backs and you are in trouble to be honest. Our position is much healthier as we don’t have any first choice half backs right now!

Dead right about Leeds – though their demise bothers me not at all. I’m not a s***** fan in any way at all.

Now that is something I wish I'd heard

It doesn’t begin to compare to “Glaaaawssster” being chanted by them. Not a one of them knew the words to the 'La Marseillaise’ so they did what all Brits do at HQ – make it up and sing along.

“A rinky dinky Parlais vous..la la la la, au revoir”.

But what's the recipe for a good Lions coach?

In all honesty I think the first pre-requisite has to be that they be a Brit?

How different is it to the recipe for a good national team coach?

The main difference is one of time in which to work. National coaches these days name extended training squads and get to work with the same players at numerous training session throughout the year. A Lions squad of 37 players comes together for 8 weeks or so and a large number will be totally unknown to the coach. You need to ability to make quick judgements, to adjust to the strengths of your talent (and you may not have chosen some yourself!), and to be a diplomat all of the time as you pointed out.

It’s where Henry fell down – obsessed with shapes and patterns he imposed them on a squad dominated by English players who were being coached ‘thinking’ or ‘heads up’ rugby by Woodward.

It was a marriage made in hell.

Worse than that he used the same patterns Blues used in S12 apparently and all the Aussies knew exactly how to play that. Look at the first test in Brisbane – the Lions won because individuals made smart choices and managed good finishes. No team could have stopped the O’Driscoll try when he broke the tackle of your centre and few players can stop Jason Robinson going forward in space (though we have seen ample proof he lacks going backwards – the Flatley try!).

Back to Melbourne, back to patterns that the Wallabies closed down very effectively and different story. So he’ll give the English players their head in Sydney right. Wrong! I think the myth of Graham Henry as a decent coach died in Sydney that day? He’ll never work up here again. The only reason the Lions made a decent showing was that Andy Robinson was there marshalling the forwards, who looked good throughout the series.

There look – I got me started again.

[Caligastia]

Hey, did you guys know they have a rugby channel in New Zealand now? *drool* You have to pay extra to get it, of course, but I reckon it would be worth it! Now if only I could get one here in New York...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Hey, did you guys know they have a rugby channel in New Zealand now? *drool* You have to pay extra to get it, of course, but I reckon it would be worth it! Now if only I could get one here in New York...

Rugby 24 hours a day, its looks like the "land of eternal scrums" (you know, just remember, this is the strange little scene where seven players from each team, called forwards, were placed in three rows and used to push in order to gain the ball introduced by a little hoping man called a half-scrum).

[Myrddin]

But what's the recipe for a good Lions coach?

In all honesty I think the first pre-requisite has to be that they be a Brit?

Graham Henry??

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Hey, did you guys know they have a rugby channel in New Zealand now? *drool*

Haven't I always argued that New Zealand leads the world in the sophistication stakes? And here's the proof!

The closest we come to it here is a dedicated AFL (Aussie Rules) channel on Foxtel.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
It doesn’t begin to compare to “Glaaaawssster” being chanted by them. Not a one of them knew the words to the 'La Marseillaise’ so they did what all Brits do at HQ – make it up and sing along.

“A rinky dinky Parlais vous..la la la la, au revoir”.

Yet another contribution to international goodwill.

In all honesty I think the first pre-requisite has to be that they be a Brit?

I suppose it would be nice, and in-keeping, but I wouldn't have thought it a pre-requisite. Subject, that is, to whomever-it-is knowing the Brit set up - and the respective Unions, and the players - inside out, upside down and back to front, which, obviously, would mean they would already be somewhere inside the Brit system. I don't think G. Henry's failure can be put down simply to the fact that he wasn't a Brit.

The main difference is one of time in which to work. National coaches these days name extended training squads and get to work with the same players at numerous training session throughout the year. A Lions squad of 37 players comes together for 8 weeks or so and a large number will be totally unknown to the coach. You need to ability to make quick judgements, to adjust to the strengths of your talent (and you may not have chosen some yourself!), and to be a diplomat all of the time as you pointed out.

Mmmm. Fair enough. Very very tall order. So who, IYHO, would rank as the best Lions coach till this point? And who, IYHO, would qualify as the next Lions coach to be appointed?

It’s where Henry fell down – obsessed with shapes and patterns he imposed them on a squad dominated by English players who were being coached ‘thinking’ or ‘heads up’ rugby by Woodward.

It was a marriage made in hell.

Worse than that he used the same patterns Blues used in S12 apparently and all the Aussies knew exactly how to play that. Look at the first test in Brisbane – the Lions won because individuals made smart choices and managed good finishes. No team could have stopped the O’Driscoll try when he broke the tackle of your centre and few players can stop Jason Robinson going forward in space (though we have seen ample proof he lacks going backwards – the Flatley try!).

Back to Melbourne, back to patterns that the Wallabies closed down very effectively and different story. So he’ll give the English players their head in Sydney right. Wrong!

Very good assessment of the events. The Wallabies went into the series undercooked and their discpline and commitment - and reading of the Lions game - saw them through. Something more unpredictable might have seen them caught short.

There look – I got me started again.

Modern medicine has it that a Stress Relief Valve can lengthen your life. More than 8 gallons of bitter, anyway.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Myrddin




Graham Henry??

That's a very cryptic comment, Myrddin.

[finbar]

Results of interest - or otherwise! - to the thread:

Munster vs Gloucester 33-6

Henry Paul displayed his customary absence of quality at fullback.

Leicester vs Neath 36-11

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Results of interest - or otherwise! - to the thread:

Munster vs Gloucester 33-6

Henry Paul displayed his customary absence of quality at fullback.

Leicester vs Neath 36-11

I am rather surprised by Gloucester defeat, it would be interesting to know what the Union Sportive des Arlequins de Perpignan has done as they are playing in the same pool. Perpignan was promised to meet the Stade Toulousain at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Will it be Gloucester?

[finbar]

Viadana vs Perpignan 35-39

Defence didn't seem to play much of a part in the game!

Here's a link to the HC results.

[Tamerlin]

It won't be Gloucester as it is eliminated, Havak's Evil Eye seems to have somme effects, I think the team would have been qualified if the players had scored a try...

The qualified french teams are :

Stade Toulousain
Biarritz Olympique (very lucky on this one...)
Union Sportive des Arlequins de Perpignan which "has felt the wind of the cannonball" ("a senti le vent du boulet" ) as we say in France.

The Stade Toulousain (number two of the whole phase because of its defeat against the London Irish) should play at home against the Munster province.



Note the Stade Toulousain is the only french team playing at home.