Rugby - Last Feet!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
I thought Havak would have been the only one able to give this date...

A quick peek at any of Havak's diaries or calendars and I think you'll find 4/10/1997 has been utterly obliterated. The day didn't happen. In fact, if you ask Havak how old he is, I think you'll find he claims to be a day younger than he really is on the basis that 4/10/1997 didn't happen.

This game was very important as the Stade Toulousain had previously lost its home game against the Tigers.

Then I think it only fit and proper that you beat them at Leicester. Havak, of course, will deny being there because, he would argue, 4/10/97 didn't happen.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
I sat up waiting for the Heineken Cup replay and they showed another match from January 11th! Cardiff -v- Ulster at Cardiff.

Gee, Ulster's a schizophrenic bunch. They won, but mixed some wonderful rugby with some absolutely abysmal stuff. And to think they came out the next week and beat Northampton.

I have seen the Ulster playing against the Biarritz Olympique and the team was not very impressive, solid but unimaginative. The BO struggled to win because the Biarrots were themselves unimaginative.

Today, Cardiff is only the shadow of what it was once, in 1996 this team was considered as one of the best team, if not the best, in Britain.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Then I think it only fit and proper that you beat them at Leicester. Havak, of course, will deny being there because, he would argue, 4/10/97 didn't happen.

You are not fair with Havak, you should remember he has already given me the date in a previous thread.

[finbar]

There's a nice little news report about the weekend's Munster -v- Gloucester match in the newspaper this morning. It's apocryphal, because I've heard exactly the same story claimed about other events in other sports. But it's amusing nevertheless:

An Irish taxidriver has claimed on Irish radio that he found paperwork including the Gloucester game plan left by someone in his taxi. He says he passed it onto the Munster team and it was instrumental in Munster's win.

God bless urban myths.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin




You are not fair with Havak, you should remember he has already given me the date in a previous thread.

You will note, though, that Havak didn't post in the thread yesterday. My bet is that he opened the thread, glimpsed the date 4/10/97, had an immediate attack of the vapours, and took indefinite sick leave.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Today, Cardiff is only the shadow of what it was once, in 1996 this team was considered as one of the best team, if not the best, in Britain.

Good heavens. That's hard to reconcile with the team I saw last night.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
You will note, though, that Havak didn't post in the thread yesterday. My bet is that he opened the thread, glimpsed the date 4/10/97, had an immediate attack of the vapours, and took indefinite sick leave.

As far as I can remember, the Tigers demonstrated an impressive fair play as they waited for the Toulousains to quit the field and formed a "honour hedge" applauding at the great performance.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


As far as I can remember, the Tigers demonstrated an impressive fair play as they waited for the Toulousains to quit the field and formed a "honour hedge" applauding at the great performance.

Jeez, you NH people stick together, don't you?

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
Jeez, you NH people stick together, don't you?

We have to if we want to resist to the heresies coming from the other side of the world we won't name.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


We have to if we want to resist to the heresies coming from the other side of the world we won't name.

BTW, I want to know who keeps reducing our thread ratings down to 4 stars!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
BTW, I want to know who keeps reducing our thread ratings down to 4 stars!

He might be someone you have flamed because he was insistently writing about S***** or L*****.

The regular posters of this thread should obviously be the only ones authorized to rate it.

I love democracy...

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
BTW, I want to know who keeps reducing our thread ratings down to 4 stars!

Worse than that, he might be a S***** or L***** fan.

[Havak]

I am really struggling to keep up with the thread right now thanks to work but I would just like to say this.

4th January 1997.

And...

Jeez, you NH people stick together, don't you?

The "honour hedge" is a fixture of English rugby - and off all French sides I have seen 'live'. It's a tradition of rugger I really like and it is a shame it sometimes doesn't occur at internationals (witness England-Boks recently)

I was there that day and although that last penalty well into injury time was no such thing I certainly cannot argue that the French deserved the win on the day.

The Tigers squad changed massively in the following close season to that game and that is when the dominant run started domestically.

[vulture]

Originally posted by finbar

An Irish taxidriver has claimed on Irish radio that he found paperwork including the Gloucester game plan left by someone in his taxi. He says he passed it onto the Munster team and it was instrumental in Munster's win.

God bless urban myths.

The same story was on the BBC yesterday apparently. Naturally I'd like to believe it, 'cos it explains why our line out was such a shambles for instance. Naturally without a detailed look at our plans and calls, they wouldn't have beaten us by anywhere near enough to go ahead of us in the group

Most of the Glaws fans I know aren't blaming the loss on the game plan fiasco, but on the poor quality of play, and on the Munster enthusiasm. Many are hoping that Henry Paul has played his last game for Gloucester, but since we are only paying him 150 pounds per week (the RFU is paying the other 250,000) and need to trim some high-paid players at the end of the season, I suspect he'll be kept around for financial reasons.

[vulture]

A little digging has revelaed just what it was that Munster knew before the game:

Copy of the Glaws game plan -

TEAM OBJECTIVES: The clock is our friend, Our defence is their enemy, Target 30 minutes no score, HOME 1/4 FINAL DRAW.

TARGETS: Munster = no tries, Gloucester = + 2 tries, OPPORTUNITY IS SELDOM CHERISHED UNTIL IT IS LOST.

LINEOUTS: GLOUCESTER - Defence = First 3 have to be clinical in killing momentum. Attack = Front 3 to stay up, support quick onto jumper, patience in drive, throw high - think smart - be bold. MUNSTER - New 4 man format to counter their throw. Accurate hooker, will throw long in defence; must have air off all jumpers, think smart about using Springbok - JJ's - staying down.

SCRUMS: GLOUCESTER - Tight bind. Think smart about loosehead. Options on wheel. Referee management. Scrummage straight. Good option for straight contest. PRIORITY THINKING. MUNSTER - Hayes is very straight. Looks for gap between 1-2. Good contest.

RE-STARTS: GLOUCESTER - Split 3 to start. Sinbad to chase. Onside for 10. Think quick doesn't mean you have to act quick (Hartpury). MUNSTER - Stay high on line - good drill will quell big start they want. Standard 1 but expect change.

DEFENCE: GLOUCESTER = Pro-active defence. Pressure at ruck. 8 man chain. Inside O'Gara at lineout time. MUNSTER = Tight around ruck. Rush up in mid-field. Front 5 slow to recognise. Stringer follows play.

STRIKE MOVES: GLOUCESTER - OUR HALF: Simple direct, straight - look after the ball. ATTACKING HALF: 3 pod attack, use width and keep our depth. MUNSTER - Blindside wing inside 10, 10-12 dummy cut, 10 dummy cut and go. Double miss for width.

ROLLING PLAYS: GLOUCESTER - 3 pod will work if we use width. Narrow channels. 3 pod Kiwi lines - more depth. Clear 9-10 channel. No pick and go in 3 pod. MUNSTER - They will try to use their width. Defend their narrow channels.

KICK CHASE: GLOUCESTER = Our 22 touch. Middle third Snape A B C (bring them up - kick to space). Attack option - England off a slug or Aberavon. Chase hard. MUNSTER = Right footed 10. Kicks in behind to dissect 11-15. Chase hard. pressure 10 right foot.

Call me a cynic, but anyone who thinks that knowing that is going to make a huge difference to the game is probably delusional. It doesn't offer Gloucester any excuses.

One Glaws fan said that when he got a taxi back to the airport the following day, the taxi drivers were giving out copies of the game plan to all Gloucester supporters...Nice touch